“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” – 1 Peter 4:12-13
In today’s devo, let’s take a look at a few important points from the life of King Nebuchadnezzar, one of the other main characters in the book of Daniel.
Here in Babylon, in Daniel 3, they are having a counterfeit church service. They have counterfeit worship with instruments of all kinds, a counterfeit altar in the form of a giant statue, a counterfeit preacher called a herald, and a counterfeit Jesus in King Nebuchadnezzar.
Not only did Nebuchadnezzar set up a counterfeit worship service, but he also set up a counterfeit Hell. Anyone who wouldn’t bow down and worship his statue would be thrown into a fiery furnace.
Can you imagine seeing 300,000 people bowing down in worship and just three guys standing up? The incredible thing is that many of these people who bowed down said they were believers, but they bowed down in Babylon once they received a certain amount of pressure. They compromised their convictions for peace and security instead of the presence of God. Sometimes, to worship God means you’re going to be lonely. If you cannot lose a relationship over your convictions and have conflict, then you cannot worship God.
By not bowing down, Daniel’s three friends – who are more well-known by their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – knew their fate. Even if God didn’t deliver them, they would still worship Him. What they’re saying is that our God can do anything, but we can’t make Him do anything because He’s sovereign. God can cure your cancer, and if He doesn’t, worship Him. God can heal your marriage, and if He doesn’t, worship Him. God can bring your wayward child home, and if He doesn’t, worship Him. God can improve your financial condition, and if He doesn’t, worship Him.
Nebuchadnezzar is, of course, filled with fury. Daniel 3:19 says, “He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.” The three men get thrown into the fire fully clothed, and because they have the presence of God with them, only one thing gets burned up. What is it? The Babylonian robes. Nothing that belonged to the believers was touched, but the one thing that belonged to the Babylonians was burned up. A couple of guys did get burned up, and it was the unbelievers. The point is this: a greater fire is coming in the end, and it’s the unbelievers who will experience it, not believers. An amazing thing then happens in the fire: Jesus shows up! The king and his men are confused, looking at their clipboard, shocked and astonished, like, “Didn’t we put three guys in there?” But now there are four! Jesus gets into things that nobody wants to get into, and He stands with people that nobody wants to stand with.
Jesus literally shows up, and Nebuchadnezzar still doesn’t convert. Some of you may say that if Jesus were alive in your lifetime, you’d be a believer. But I’m telling you, Jesus has already shown up in your life in one way or another, so you need to believe.
The three men were let out of the furnace, and their hairs were not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and they didn’t smell like fire. Nebuchadnezzar says, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.” (3:28) He wants God to benefit him, but he doesn’t want to worship Him. So, just like Daniel, he promotes them in the Babylonian government. He sees the power of their God, but he still doesn’t want to submit to their God.
In tomorrow’s devotional, we will move to Daniel 4 and King Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream.
The fiery trials of Daniel and his friends often happen while at work in the Babylonian government. What spiritual tests have you gone through at your job, and how can you pray to overcome them?
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