Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old
Testament: Saved From The Fiery Furnace.
Occasion: God's Presence, Power,
and Providence, Seen.
Location: Babylon.
Bible Text:
Daniel 3:19-30 NLT (The
Raging Fiery Furnace.)
19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious
with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted
with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter
than usual.
20 Then he ordered some of the
strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and
throw them into the blazing furnace.
21 So they tied them up and threw
them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes,
and other garments.
22 And because the king, in his
anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed
the soldiers as they threw the three men in.
23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.
24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar
jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we
tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your
Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.
25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar
shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire
unharmed! And the fourth looks like a God!”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close
as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted:
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of The Most High God,
come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped
out of the fire.
27 Then the high officers,
officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that
the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed,
and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of
smoke!
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise
to The God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His Angel to
rescue His servants who trusted in Him. They defied the king’s
command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God.
29 Therefore, I make this decree: If
any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word
against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn
limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble.
There is no other god who can rescue like this!”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of
Babylon.
This is the (above
verses) story we are about to look at, and yet we cannot really
understand it unless we read antecedent to this, the order of events
that lead up to this situation.
Daniel 3:1-18
NLT (Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Statue.)
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold
statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain
of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2 Then he sent messages to the high
officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges,
magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the
dedication of the statue he had set up.
3 So all these officials came and
stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then a herald shouted out, “People
of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s
command!
5 When you hear the sound of the
horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical
instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s
gold statue.
6 Anyone who refuses to obey will
immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7 So at the sound of the musical
instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or
language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Dear friend,
this actual event, is prophetic to that which is soon to occur. Take
warning!
Revelation
13:1-9 KJV (First Beast From
The Sea-The Anti-Christ-Son of Satan.)
1 And I stood
upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up
out of the sea*, having seven heads and ten
horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of
blasphemy.
*Revelation
17:15 KJV
And he saith
unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth,
are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
2 And the beast
which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of
a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon
(Satan)
gave him (The Anti-Christ)
his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one
of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was
healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they
worshiped the dragon (Satan)
which gave power unto the beast (The
Anti-Christ): and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is
like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was
given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and
power was given unto him to continue forty and two months (3 1/2
years).
6 And he opened
his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his
tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was
given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and
power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all
that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not
written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world.
9 If any man
have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that
leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with
the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the
faith of the saints.
(Second Beast, From The Earth.)
11 And I beheld
another beast (False
Prophet-Religious Leader.) coming up out of the earth; and
he had two horns
like a lamb,
and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he
exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and
causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first
beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth
great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the
earth in the sight of men,
14 And
deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles
which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to
them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the
beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he
had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of
the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not
worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he
causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to
receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no
man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the
beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is
wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the
beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six
hundred threescore and six.
(The "mark," is in consequence of worship of the beast.)
I Kings 19:18 KJV (The Lord reminded the Prophet Elijah.)
Yet I have left
Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto
Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
Returning to
Daniel.....
Daniel 3:8-18 NLT
8 But some of the astrologers went
to the king and informed on the Jews.
9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar,
“Long live the king!
10 You issued a decree requiring
all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue
when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,
pipes, and other musical instruments.
11 That decree also states that
those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12 But there are some Jews—Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province
of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse
to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set
up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a
rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought
before him. When they were brought in,
14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is
it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my
gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?
15 I will give you one more chance
to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the
sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be
thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god
will be able to rescue you from my power?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves
before you.
17 If we are thrown into the
blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He
will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.
18 But even if He doesn’t, we
want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve
your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
In Revelation 13:15 KJV our Lord warned John of a last day
beast leader, who would be worshiped, and the consequences for those
who would not!
Revelation 13:15 KJV
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast,
that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many
as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Bow and, worship the beast, take his number or be killed.
Thank God, for Godly people like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
who remained true to their faith!
Revelation 12:11 KJV
And they overcame him by The Blood Of The Lamb, and by the
word of their testimony; and
they loved not their lives unto the death.
Daniel 3:19-23 NLT
19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious
with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted
with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times
hotter than usual.
20 Then he ordered some of the
strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and
throw them into the blazing furnace.
21 So they tied them up and threw
them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes,
and other garments.
22 And because the king, in his
anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames
killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in.
23 So
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring
flames.
Many today, believe that they will be whisked away from all coming
troubles, but we do not know the future, only God does, we may too
like the three Godly Hebrews, face the fire.
Will the church be taken into the Tribulation, No, but
that does not mean there will be no trouble before it comes!
See these blog postings:
Fiery Trials Facing The People Of God:
Isaiah 48:10 KJV
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen
thee in the furnace of affliction
Matthew 10:16-22 KJV
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the
councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake,
for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye
shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye
shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but The Spirit of your Father
which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the
father the child: and the children shall rise up against their
parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he
that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Luke 6:47,48 KJV (Jesus, the Rock of ages.)
47 Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them,
I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and
laid the foundation on A Rock: and when the flood arose, the
stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for
it was founded upon A Rock.
John 16:33 KJV
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.
Acts 14:21,22 KJV
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had
taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and
Antioch,
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to
continue in the faith, and that
we must through much tribulation
enter into the kingdom of God.
I Thessalonians 3:2-4 KJV
2 and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s
co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to
strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith,
3 and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going
through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.
4 Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would
soon come—and they did, as you well know.
I Peter 4:12-14 KJV
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which
is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's
sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad
also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for
The Spirit Of Glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is
evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.
So, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, kept their faith, and were
thrown into to a fiery furnace, and what happened?
Daniel 3:24,25 NLT
24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar
jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we
tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your
Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.
25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men,
unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks
like a God!”
The Lord With
Us In Trouble:
Genesis 28:15 KJV
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places
whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I
will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to
thee of.
Deuteronomy 4:30,31 KJV
30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come
upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to The Lord Thy God,
and shalt be obedient unto His voice;
31 (For The Lord Thy God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake
thee..."
Deuteronomy 20:1 KJV
When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies...be not
afraid of them: for The Lord Thy God is with thee..."
Psalm 31:23,24 KJV
23 O love The Lord, all ye His saints: for The Lord preserveth the
faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye
that hope in The Lord.
Psalm 32:6,7 KJV
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time
when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they
shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my Hiding Place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Psalm 37:28 KJV
For The Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not His saints; they
are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psalm 42:7,8 KJV
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy
waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet The Lord will command His loving kindness in the day time,
and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the
God of my life.
Psalm 66:12 KJV
"...we went through fire and through water: but thou
broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
Psalm 91:5 KJV (Read
the whole chapter.)
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the
arrow that flieth by day;
Isaiah 30:20,21 NLT
19 "...He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will
surely respond to the sound of your cries.
20 Though The Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for
drink, He will still be with you to teach you. You will see your
Teacher with your own eyes.
21 Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the
left.
Isaiah 41:10-13 KJV
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am
thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will
uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.
11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be
ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that
strive with thee shall perish.
12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that
contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing,
and as a thing of nought.
13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto
thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Zechariah 13:9 KJV
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine
them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they
shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My
people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.
Matthew 18:20 KJV
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am
I in the midst of them.
Matthew 28:20 KJV
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Amen.
Romans 8:28 KJV
And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
II Corinthians 4:17 KJV
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for
us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
II Corinthians 12:9 KJV
And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I
rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest
upon me.
Hebrews 7:25 KJV
Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come
unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrew 13:5,6 KJV
5 "...for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake
thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not
fear what man shall do unto me.
Revelation 7:13,14 KJV
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these
which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me,
These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes, and made them white in The Blood Of The Lamb.
Revelation 21:4 KJV
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Our God, is
our Helper, Shield, and Deliverer!
II Samuel 22:2 KJV (David)
"...The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer;
Psalm 18:1,2 NLT
1 I love you, Lord; you are my Strength.
2 The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior; my God is my
Rock, in whom I find protection. He is my Shield, the power that
saves me, and my place of safety.
Psalm 40:17 KJV
But I am poor and needy; yet The Lord thinketh upon me: thou art
my Help and my Deliverer..."
Psalm 50:15 KJV
And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and
thou shalt glorify Me.
Psalm 70:5 KJV
But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my
Help and my Deliverer..."
Psalm 144:2 KJV
My Goodness, and my Fortress; my High Tower, and my Deliverer; my
Shield, and he in whom I trust..."
II Timothy 4:18 KJV
And The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Daniel 3:26 NLT
Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the
flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
servants of The Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire.
How could this be?
Daniel 3:21 NLT
So they tied them up and threw them into the
furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other
garments.
The only thing the fiery furnace had done, was to burn up the ropes
that had bound the three Hebrew young men, they stepped out of
the fire, the God of heaven and earth, in whom they had trusted,
delivered them!
Trust In The
Lord:
Psalm 4:5 KJV
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in The
Lord.
Psalm 32:10 KJV
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in The
Lord, mercy shall compass him about.
Psalm 37:3 KJV
Trust in The Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land,
and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psalm 73:28 KJV
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in
The Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.
Psalm 112:7 KJV
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed,
trusting in The Lord.
Psalm 115:11 KJV
Ye that fear The Lord, trust in The Lord: He is their Help and
their Shield.
Psalm 118:8 KJV
It is better to trust in The Lord than to put confidence in man.
Proverbs 3:5 KJV
Trust in The Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding.
Proverbs 16:20 KJV
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso
trusteth in The Lord, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:25 KJV
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in
The Lord shall be safe.
Isaiah 26:3 KJV
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Jeremiah 17:7 KJV
Blessed is the man that trusteth in The Lord, and whose hope The
Lord is.
Daniel 3:27-30 NLT
27 Then the high officers,
officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that
the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was
singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell
of smoke!
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise
to The God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His Angel to
rescue His servants who trusted in Him. They defied the king’s
command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God.
29 Therefore, I make this decree: If
any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word
against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn
limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble.
There is no other god who can rescue like this!”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even
higher positions in the province of Babylon.
Dear child of God, near the flames of trial?
II Timothy 1:7 KJV
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of
love, and of a sound mind.
Fear not, The Lord, who will never leave nor forsake us, tells us yet
in this late hour...
Isaiah 43:1-5 KJV (A message to all God's people.)
1 “...Thus saith The Lord that created thee,...and He that formed
thee..., Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by
thy name; thou art Mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou
walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the
flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am The Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior..."
4 Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honorable, and
I have loved thee..."
5 Fear not: for I am with thee..."
Psalm 34:19 KJV
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but The Lord delivereth
him out of them all.
