*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*IS YOUR FAITH THREATENED? (2)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Dan 3:15, 18 *Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?*
*But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
1 Cor 10:23 *All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.*
*Scripture Commentaries.*
As believers, our faith is under fire and threatened when we are faced with laws that, though, are legally enforceable but are against God's moral standard.
Every nation has laws, and according to their laws or constitution, they are legally binding on all subjects of these nations.
It was lawful in Babylon and its provinces to bow to the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up, but it was defiling the sacredness of God and the purity of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Paul tells us that all things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.
The story of these three Hebrews tells us that not all laws are edifying.
The kings law and fury were horrifying, but no one is God, and God is not man, Numb 23:19.
People like King Nebuchadnezzar, who are not God-fearing, wish to take the place of God in people's lives. They see themselves as God.
The faith of the Hebrews boys tells us there are people who *....did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die* (Rev 12:11).
Life means nothing to people who are ready to die for the course of God's service.
To say to Nebuchadnezzar that if God did not deliver them, they *....will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.* is parallel to Esther's, Daniel's boldness and other notable declaration of the people of faith.
Prov 16:14, 19:12, 20:2, Eccl 10:4, all speak about the anger of a king. Nebuchadnezzar was furious, punishment was imminent,and instrument of judgment: the fiery flaming fire was ready for their execution, but God was ahead of Nebuchadnezzar!
Prov 16:14 says *The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it.*
The wise man was Jesus the fourth man in the fire, Dan 3:25.
He did not only bring the king's anger to no effect, He doused and pacified the fire and made it harmless.
The Hebrew boys *'....were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.*, Dan 3:27.
The king was afraid, and his anger turned into the fear of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednegthreatened? What a turnaround.
Is your faith threatened?
*Remorse corner.*
No matter the fury of any king and no matter how deadly his heart can be, it is in God's hands!
Prov 21:1 *The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.*
*Call to Word action.*
No law or king is greater than God!
Dan 3:28 *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.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
The power of God will overule the power of any king!
Dan 3:22-30 *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.*
*Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.*
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me to overcome things that are lawful but are not edifying to your sacredness and holiness as God, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.
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