Observations From Daniel Chapter Three

Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to this Sunday broadcast. Now, I have a whole chapter to read, but I'm not going to read that chapter first.

I want to deal with Daniel chapter three, and what I'll do is I will make some comments and read and read and make some comments, make application as I go through and read it. So as I said, I'm not gonna read it all first, then go back and make comments. I just want to make some comments and let us look at this Daniel chapter three, kind of a verse by verse look at Daniel chapter three. And my title for this message would be this, Observations from Daniel chapter three.

First of all, Here's the observation I got as I began to read this chapter. I got this thought came to my mind. First, man loves to establish his own religion. which impresses his own opinions. You see it? Verse one. Look at Daniel chapter three, verse one. Again, I say, man loves to establish his own religion, which impresses his own opinions.

Nebuchadnezzar, the king, made an image of gold, whose height was three score cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits. Now it's a, sizably large statue and it's made of what of an image of what gold I mean this thing had to look splendid was this as gold now whether it was solid gold or covered with gold we we don't we're not really told but we know it was gold what you see was gold and it was what it was Three score cubits was the height of it, and the breadth of it was six cubits, and he set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. So again, man thought about that. Man loves to establish his own religion, which impresses his own opinions, and this is why we see so many religions in the world, because everybody's got their own opinion.

This is why you see denominations even splitting. They don't just take thus saith the Lord and compare scripture with scripture with scripture and seek God's guidance and lead us in it. This is what I think. So they come up with their own opinions, their own denominations. But here's a second thought. Second, man in his own religion, has his own ego stroked when the masses are included. They love the masses. People love the masses. Listen to what it goes on to say. Then, verse two.

Then Nebuchadnezzar, the king, sent together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the province. He just gathered up everybody, didn't he? He was glad about this. He was happy about this. And look, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar, the king, had set up.

Then the princes, and the governors, and the captains, and the judges, and the treasurers, and the counselors, and the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then an herald cried aloud, to you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages. Do you hear it? Okay, so think about it.

Man loves to establish his own religion, which impresses his own opinions, and even expresses his own opinions. The second thought I got for this, this observation here, is that man in his own religion, he has his ego stroked when the masses are included, and the masses love to be included. I mean, today, it's just seems to be just the greatest thing in the world to have some celebrity come to your church, put that in quotes, and speak. And yet, when God sent me and stand behind the podium and preach the word of God faithfully every Sunday, Sunday night, midweek service, special services, it's just like, oh, well, that's just the same old thing. But again, as I read this, I thought about even our day that man in his own religion has his own ego stroked when the masses are included in, and the masses love to be included in this, but here's another thought. Here's a third observation from Daniel chapter three. Man loves his religion to have entertainment. Verse five, look at it. Look at that verse five. That at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, Sack butt. So now, why is it necessary that God mentions all these people? Why didn't He say a great host of people?

Why? Because just about everybody loves to be included in human opinion religion. And why all these things, all these instruments? Look at it. Why? Because man loves his religion to have entertainment. that at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, the dulcimer, and all kinds of music. Now here it is. Here's what they're really getting it for. And we get people worked up. This is why they love all of these instruments. They love all this entertainment. You fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar, the king, has set up. So again, I say man loves for his religion to have entertainment.

It's sad that I have to say this, but there are some folks that they would never go to, again in quotes, they don't even go to church unless they're entertained. have people even talk about it. They don't talk about the glory of God they heard from the pulpit. Well, maybe because they're not hearing that. But they don't talk about the glory of God they heard from the pulpit in the reading and the proclamation of the scriptures.

They just like the entertainment. They love the music. They love the choirs. They love the specials. And I'm not saying that having instruments is wrong or having a choir is wrong Having a special song is wrong, but we do it for entertainment. But here's what the entertainment is intended for, to get you to worship what the people who established this religion intend for you to worship, and it's not the worship of the one true and living God.

There's three observations I've had so far. As I read through this, this was some observations I had. Now here's another one. Think about this, here's the fourth observation. Man is not opposed, think about it. Man is not opposed to punishment for disrespect to his ego-stroking religion, is he? He's not opposed to punishment for it, look at it. When you hear the, what is it? You hear the flute, the cornet, the harp, the sakhba, all of these that you fall down and you worship. But look, listen to verse six and seven. And whoso falleth not down, and worshipeth.

Shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace? That's where it all comes down to. You either believe like we'll believe or we, not God, not the image. We will punish you. Do you see that? Nebuchadnezzar wasn't even stupid enough to say, well, this image will do this to you. No, he said, I'll do this to you.

And all the masses and all the hierarchies, all the higher ups, they just love this. Look. and whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore, at the time when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. And it's the same thing.

In other words, they might not threaten to cast you into a fiery furnace, but we're going to ostracize you. You actually start believing the word and that the word actually has right and wrong. The word actually talks about truth and about lies. The word actually talks about the gospel and this false gospel that's not another gospel but is a perversion of the gospel of Christ.

We don't need all that, just give us something to be entertained. You know what, we'll worship, we'll worship. And you know what, we can go ahead and punish everybody that don't, everybody that is opposed, they disrespect our ego-stroking religion. Well, we'll just take care of them, won't we? It's the same, it's no different. We think about this King Nebuchadnezzar and all of his pride, putting his fingers in his suspenders, if he wore suspenders, and this boy here's that old pride. We're just like that today. We're just like that today.

We love to establish our own religion, and we like to impress upon ourselves and everybody else our own opinions as to what or who ought to be worshipped. And man in his own religion has his ego stroked when the masses are included. You know, there are people today that are more about quantity than they are about quality. They're more about the quantity of the people that come to their church, put that in quotes, than they are about the quality of the messages that they're hearing preached concerning the true and the living God of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's sad to say, but in most so-called churches today, the one true and living God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who he really is and what he really accomplished at Calvary is not even mentioned in most so-called churches today.

Why not their entertainment? They love to have their instruments. They love to have their movies. They like to have their football teams, their soccer teams. They like to have the old people's reunion, the young people's reunion. They just love their religion.

But not only that, they're not opposed to punishment for anybody that disrespects their ego-stroking religion. But here's another one. Here's the fifth observation I thought about as I read this chapter, Daniel chapter three. This world loves to single out and if not outright punish with threats of death, but to criticize. to look down on, to kind of point the finger. This world loves to single out God's covenant people. Listen to the verses. Listen to verse eight now. Wherefore, at that time, certain Chaldeans came near and accused the Jews.

They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the image. Do you see it? Fall down and worship the image, and whoso falleth not down. and worship it, that he should be cast in the midst of a burning, fiery furnace.

There are certain Jews. Do you see that? Certain Jews. Now they didn't point out everybody that was a Jew, no. And not everybody that goes to church is an actual Christian either. But they love that there are certain people. Certain them Bible thumpers, you know. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not regarded thee. They serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Yeah, this world loves to single out God's covenant. That's what I'm pointing out by these Jews, covenant people. You realize that in that covenant nation, that is that nation chosen on a national scale, in a national way, inside or within those literal Jews were some people who were chosen in God, chosen by God in Christ before the world began, that there was a remnant inside that group of Jews, and this is what we see pointed out here.

We see that even Nebuchadnezzar had set these men at one time up in a high position, but now these men refuse to bow and worship this golden image that Nebuchadnezzar set up. All the entertainment didn't matter to them. It didn't matter whatsoever. And what happened?

These people came along and said, but there are certain Jews. Again, I tell you, this world loves to single out, to criticize, maybe even punish. And in times, it's sad to say, but at times, even bring upon God's people, God's coveted people, God's elect, God's chosen ones, God's gospel-called, believing people, and they love to punish them because they will not respect this world's religion.

But here's a sixth observation. Think about this. I read through this. I could see, though this was hundreds, a few thousand years ago, Things haven't really changed all that much, have they? Now listen to me, here's another thing. Here's the sixth thing I want to point out, an observation from Daniel three.

Let us not be surprised when old friends turn on us. You hear me? Let us not be surprised when old friends turn on us if we do not join their enthusiasm for their religion. Now if you're a believer in Christ, if God's called you by his gospel, If you understand to some degree, you have some understanding by the free and reigning grace of God as to who God really is and who Christ really is and what he actually accomplished at Calvary. Don't be surprised when old friends, put that in quote, when old friends turn on you if you do not join up with their enthusiasm for their religion. Listen to it. Listen to verse 12, I'll go back and read several here.

There are certain Jews whom thou set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not regarded thee. They serve not thy gods nor worship the golden image that thou set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar, remember he'd set these men up on high places, huh? But don't be surprised here, believer. Don't be surprised that these so-called friends might turn on you.

Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage, and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Do you see it? Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Do you see it?

Don't be surprised when even those that are close to you turn on you. When you don't what? When you don't show respect. Some kind of reverence, at least a little bit. We understand you. Oh, we understand you worship something different, but worship with us too. This world loves to single out God's covenant people, and let's not be surprised when old friends turn on us if we do not join their enthusiasm for their religion. But here's a seventh observation that I had when I was reading this chapter. Seventh thing, this world, think about it, this world lays great claim to compassion, Think about it.

Second chances and all around tolerance. But, did you hear what I just said? Note the words I just said. This world lays great claim to compassion, second chances, and all around tolerance. But look at it, verse 14 and 15, Nebuchadnezzar spake, I read this one, Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?

Do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I set up? Now, if ye be ready, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the soft notes, you got to have some respect for all their religion. and everything to do with it, all of our entertainment, everybody is included. We got the masses, we got the crowds. Now, if you be ready, that at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and the dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made well. It'll be good, but if you worship not, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning, fiery furnace, and who is the God that shall deliver you out of, now we get down to it, out of my hands?

Just like Nebuchadnezzar, he thought he was in control, didn't he? He thought he was in here, his ego, he said, I want to set up a religion. Kind of new. Got this brand new golden image, really tall, really wide. All kinds of music and entertainment. When you hear all that music, you just bow down and worship. Everything will be fine. I know you didn't respect it to start with, but we're tolerant, you know? We have great compassion. We believe in second chances.

Lord knows how many people think that they are in charge of this world, but they are not. And let me say to you, as we will read from these three Hebrew children, these three Jews, they recognized that this king's heart was in the Lord's hand. The Lord would turn it whether so ever he would. And maybe, just maybe, God Almighty might give that king, that old Nebuchadnezzar, authority over them. He might throw them into the burning, fiery furnace. They may be consumed, but let's look at what happens now.

Remember, remember what I said, man loves to establish his own religion, which impresses his own opinions. Man in his own religion has his own ego stroked when the masses are included. Man loves his religion to have entertainment. Man is not opposed to punishment for disrespect to his ego-stroking religion. This world loves to single out, to criticize, maybe even punish corporally God's covenant people, but let God's covenant people not be surprised when old friends turn on us if we do not enjoy, we do not join up with their enthusiasm for their religion.

And they'll be very tolerant and very compassionate and offer second chances, but, but, now here's the eighth observation. This eighth thing that kind of dawned on me as I was reading this Daniel chapter three. Here's the eighth thing. Gospel called people. Do you hear what I said? Gospel called people. Not people that's made their decision for Jesus. No, I've seen hundreds and thousands of them, and they cave at the first time. They bow to this world's religion at the first chance they get. A little strike of fear in their ears, a little threat of violence, and they'll say, well, we just won't say anything. We'll just back up. We'll just take our own religion. We'll give you a little bit of leeway, though.

Gospel called people. Believers in God's Christ do not relent in their devotion to Jesus Christ alone. Do you hear what I said? I said gospel-called people, believers in God's Christ, do not relent in their devotion to God's Christ alone. And let's look at what happens here. Here's this observation, this eighth observation, verse 16. Listen to what it says. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. In other words, we're not gonna slide this under the rug, we're not gonna try to make light of this thing.

Listen, if it be so, our God who we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. Would you think about it? Whether God allowed them to be burned up, or God spares them from this burning death, He's gonna deliver them. If they're burned up, they'll go to glory and be with Jesus Christ. Do you see it? He will deliver us out of thy hand, O King, 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. Do you see it?

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Therefore he spake and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. That is seven times hotter than what they normally had. Think about it. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the fiery furnace. Listen. Then these men were bound. You see it? Then these men were bound in their coats, and their hosin, and their hats, and their other garments.

Not only were they gonna be cast into the fiery furnace, but all these clothes put on them, bound up to where they couldn't try to get away, get any relief, and they had all of these fiery, these flammable clothes on, you see it? And were cast in the midst of the burning, fiery furnace, do you see it? Therefore, because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego."

Kind of backfired, didn't it? And let me tell you, there's observation. No matter what men do to God's people, it will backfire one day to them. It may not happen immediately like this did, but it'll backfire on them. Listen, and these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego fell down, bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Bound up, you see it. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste and spake and said unto his counselors, did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? Now think about it.

What was it that these Three believing Jews, these three gospel called Jews, what was it that they had when they went into the fiery furnace that left them once they were in the fiery furnace? The very bonds that bound them. And what did they not have before they went into the fiery furnace that they had after they went into the fiery furnace? They had the presence of one who is above all things.

Listen to what it says. Verse 23 again, and these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, rose up in haste and spake, and said to his counselors, did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto him, O king, true, O king. He answered and said, lo, I see four men, Loose, do you see that?

Loose, the bands are gone. Yeah, they had those bands before, but what did the fire do? It didn't hurt them. It burnt their bands off. It burnt the chains off of them, the rope, whatever it was they were bound with. He answered and said, lo, I see four men. Wait a minute, what? Four men loose. Walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like unto the what the Son of God Yeah, remember Gospel called people, believers in Christ, do not relent in their devotion to Christ alone, no matter what the consequences may be. But here's my last observation, number nine. I want you to see an amazing turnabout. An amazing turnabout, but yet no inner change. Amazing turnabout, listen to what I'm saying. I want you to see an amazing turnabout, but no interchange of being, of character.

Verse 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, come forth and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth of the midst of the fire. Now notice, Nebuchadnezzar couldn't command that fourth man to come forth, could he? And the princes, governors, captains, kings, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was the hair of their heads singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

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 worship any god except their own god, therefore I make a decree, now watch this, therefore I make a decree that every people, nation, language, which speaketh anything 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 sword.

You think, well isn't that good? No. He still thinks that the worship of the true and living God comes from outward threats. His old religion's still right there in him. And just listen, believers, just because somebody says, well, I believe that too. And you mention to them a truth about God or this truth about God or that truth about Christ or that, they say, well, yeah, that's in the Bible, I believe that.

Just watch out, they don't believe that. Listen, then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. You see this amazing turnabout, but yet there's not this interchange. He did not realize that this was an act of God, that this was a work of God. And he thought he could threaten people to not speak against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's God. Now, I've given you nine observations from Daniel chapter three. I just have two questions, one for me, one for you. On which side am I? Look at it there. Daniel chapter, on which side am I? On which side are you? Amen.

Observations From Daniel Chapter Three

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Observations From Daniel Chapter Three

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