Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-02-12-2019
This is devotional thought number 16 in our devotional series, “Stewarding the Heart.”
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine 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.” (Daniel 3:16-18).
God had given Nebuchadnezzar a dream concerning the succession of world empires. The order in which they would rise and fall was expressed in terms of an image, built with different materials, signifying the strength and longevity of the respective kingdoms. In the interpretation of the dream given him through the prophet Daniel, God revealed that the head of the image made in gold was a symbol of Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon. Seeking to defy the revelation of the end of his absolute rule, he decided to erect an image made entirely of gold, in the plain of Dura. He thought that if the dream depicted him as the head of gold and that his kingdom would have an ending, he would show that he fully intended to remain as the world’s absolute ruler forever.
When the image built to boost Nebuchadnezzar’s ego was finished and in place, he commanded that a worship ceremony including all kinds of music be organized. As the people, both heathens and Jews were gathered; they were to wait for the pomp of music as the signal to bow themselves to worship before the image. The music began, and the majority of people did as commanded; they worshipped. Three boys stood out. Three Hebrew boys, also in captivity, stood erect when all others bowed to the earth. It is clear from what follows in the story that even the professed people of God worshipped the image. The king was informed that these boys did not worship and as one would imagine, he was angry. He called for them and inquired concerning their defiance. The three worthies, in spite of a second opportunity extended to them to worship, respectfully yet deliberately said that their God was able to deliver them from his threatened penalty of death, but even if He did not, they would not bow down. The astonished and angered king commanded that these bold young captives be thrown into a furnace that was heated to a temperature seven times hotter than usual. What happened next demonstrates the awesomeness of God. “Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 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 Abed-nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellers, being...