NEBUCHADNEZZAR PRAISES GOD
Daniel Chapters 3: -26-30
King James Version (NIV)
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar
came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth,
and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst
of the fire.
27 And the princes,
governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together,
saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of
their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had
passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar
spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who
hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have
changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve
nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a
decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss
against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and
their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can
deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
REMINDER:
Author:
Daniel
Date: Late
Sixth Century B.C.
Theme: God
Controls the Destiny of All Nations
Key Words:
Kings, Kingdoms, Visions, Dreams
Author Daniel was deported as a teenager in 605 B.C.
to Babylon where he lived over sixty years. He was likely from an upper-class
family in Jerusalem. The deportation of the descendants into Babylon had been
prophesied by Isaiah to Hezekiah (Is.
39:7). Daniel initially served as a trainee in Nebuchadnezzar’s court;
he was later an advisor to foreign kings.
His importance as a prophet was confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 24:15.
His importance as a prophet was confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 24:15.
Daniel means "God Is My Judge." His unshakable consecration to Yahweh and his loyalty to God’s people strongly affirmed that truth in his life.
Date: Although the siege and
carrying away of captives into Babylon lasted several years, the mighty men of
valor, the skilled, and the educated were taken from Jerusalem early in the war
(2Kings 24:14).
The date usually given for Daniel’s captivity is 605 B.C. His prophecy covers the time span of his
life.
Background: Along with thousands of
captives from Judah who were taken into Babylonian exile between 605 B.C. and
582 B.C ., the treasures of Solomon’s palace and the temple were also
transported. The Babylonians had subdued all the provinces ruled by Assyria and
had consolidated their empire into an area that covered much of the Middle
East.
To govern such a diversified
kingdom over such an expanse of space required a skillful administrative bureaucracy.
Slaves who were educated or possessed needed skills became the manpower for the
government. Because of their wisdom, knowledge, and handsome appearance, four
young Hebrews sere selected for the training program (1:4). The outstanding character of Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah secured positions for them in the king’s palace;
and it was Daniel who rose to excel all the wise men of that vast empire (6:1-3).
Personal
Application: One
of the beautiful themes of this book is the emphasis on separation to God, with
Daniel as the ultimate example. From
their decision not to eat the king’s food to the refusal to bow to the image of
the king. Daniel and his three friends (now called Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego) displayed such an uncompromising spirit that spectacular
opportunities were opened for God to display His power on their behalf. Their
courageous commitment presents a timeless challenge to believers not to
compromise their testimony of Jesus Christ. Even though it may mean a fiery-furnace
testing, the Lord’s protection and deliverance will be there.
Another theme of Daniel is
the absolute superiority of God over occult attempts to reveal or interpret
spiritual mysteries. Try as they did, all the magicians, soothsayers, wise men,
and astrologers of the king’s court could not arrive at the truth (5:8). This is an enduring encouragement to
believers. Spiritual counterfeiters can never stand before the wisdom
and power of the Holy Spirit
(2 Cor. 10:3-6).
The prophetic section not only
gives future understanding to a believer’s future, but serves to reassure us
that God has history under His sovereign control.
MORE BACKGROUND TO COME…
Daniels Friends Are Promoted.
3:26-28
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that the deliverance was of God.
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/President/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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