Daniel’s Friends Refuse to Bow
Shared on September 8, 2024
Faith is often met with challenges to get it to break and conform. However, the sincere faith of one can inspire others to stand in faith. Join Pastor McCrary as he takes at how Daniel’s friends were inspired by the faith of Daniel not to conform.
Introduction
We have seen the conviction of Daniel’s faith as he chose to keep God’s law and not defile himself. In our lesson this week, his friends will come face to face with the king in a challenge of their faith. Let’s take a look at how your conviction of faith can influence those around you to also take a stand in faith.
The Wickedness of Nebuchadnezzar
Our lesson opens with Nebuchadnezzar having an image of gold made and set in the plains of Dura, a province of Babylon (Dan. 3:1). The image of gold stood at a height of sixty cubits (90 ft.) and had a width of six cubits (9 ft.). Where did this image of gold come from?
Inspiration for the gold image
In Daniel 2, scripture covers a dream that Nebuchadnezzar had which none of his people were able to interpret. In fact, Daniel 2:1 tells us that Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, which means he had quite a few dreams. Those dreams, we are told, troubled his spirit – troubled him greatly – that he couldn’t sleep. This is why he was so adamant throughout the opening of Daniel 2 for someone to tell him what his dreams meant.
After nobody could interpret his dreams, Nebuchadnezzar sought to kill all the “wise men” of Babylon (Dan. 2:10-12). This led to men seeking to kill Daniel and his friends. When Daniel heard about why the men sought to kill him and his friends, Daniel said he could interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams (Dan. 2:14-16).
The interpretation of the dreams was given to Daniel by the Lord, which led Daniel to telling Nebuchadnezzar that nothing is secret to God (Dan. 2:17-19, 28). The interpretation of the dream included a vision of a “great image” (Dan. 2:31). The head of the image was of fine gold, its chest and arms were silver, and its belly and thighs were bronze (Dan. 2:32). The legs were of iron and its feet were a mix of iron and clay (Dan. 2:33).
As great as the image was, a stone struck the image on its feet and caused the collapse of the great image (Dan. 2:34-35). The stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth (Dan. 2:35).
Daniel broke down what all of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream meant. The head of gold represented Nebuchadnezzar as he was the king of kings in that day (Dan. 2:37-38). As great as this may have sounded to him, Daniel warned Nebuchadnezzar of more kingdoms rising. One of those kingdoms would be inferior to his but the third kingdom of bronze, would rule the earth (Dan. 2:39). Then the fourth kingdom, Daniel told him would be strong as iron and it would crush all the others (Dan. 2:40).
After hearing the interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face at the saying. If he had any questions or doubt, Daniel told him that since the interpretation came from God, all that was certain and would come to pass (Dan. 2:45).
Nebuchadnezzar’s defiance
Rather than heeding the warning of the things to come, Nebuchadnezzar chose to be defiant. He had an image made with the implication being that the whole image was covered in gold, not just the head. One could say that this image likely represented Nebuchadnezzar and his greatness. Or the image could have represented Babylon and its greatness with the notion being that neither could be destroyed.
To take his defiance even further, Nebuchadnezzar commanded all the people in the province to worship the image (Dan. 3:4-5). Those who chose not to bow and worship the image were to be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. So, the people in the province, under the threat of death, worshiped the image of gold.
As I pointed out last week, I want to repeat to you again this week – the Babylonians were a sinful people. The Babylonians worshiped their gods and participated in idolatry like it was nothing. Then, on top of it, Nebuchadnezzar is forcing sin onto the people again.
I want to be very clear about this – Nebuchadnezzar was a prideful man committing all out blasphemy. Some of you may wonder, how was he blaspheming God? Well, Nebuchadnezzar knew of the Lord, through Daniel, and had an opportunity to accept God. The building of this image and forcing other to worship it was an open and blatant attack of sin.
The Faith of Daniel’s Friends
Though they had heard the decree, Daniel’s friends refused to bow and worship the image of gold. As I pointed out with Daniel, I want to point out that refusing the king’s command took conviction. Let’s keep in mind that Daniel’s friends were refusing to worship the image under the threat of death.
God first mentality
Why were Daniel’s friends refusing to bow to worship the image of gold? For the very same reason that Daniel refused the king’s delicacies! These young men did not want to corrupt their soul with idol worship.
In the Mosaic Law, the children of Israel were commanded to have no other gods before the Lord (Ex. 20:3). The children of Israel were commanded not to bow down to nor serve another god (Ex. 20:5). The children of Israel were commanded not to take the name of the Lord in vain (Ex. 20:7). The goal was for the children of Israel to keep God’s commands and that’s exactly what these young men were doing!
Like Daniel, these young men were putting God’s law over everything, even their own life! In essence, God was what was most important to them – He and His way came first. While Nebuchadnezzar caused the other people to fear, these young men feared God’s punishment more. When you fear the Lord, you are going to do everything you can to please Him.
Conviction to stand against evil
Now, certain Chaldeans (Babylonians), went to the king and told him of the defiance of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Dan. 3:8-12). As I often like to remind you, whether you realize it or not, you are always being watched and judged – good or bad. For this very reason, as Paul said, we must be true to the faith so that there is no blame in our ministry (2 Cor. 6:3).
Now, how upset do you think Nebuchadnezzar was when he heard that three young men were defying his command? We are told that in rage and fury, he commanded that three young men be brought to stand before him (Dan. 3:13). Nebuchadnezzar was going to force these young men to obey his command! I find it interesting that he had no problem defying God, but someone defying him was a big no-no in his mind! This shows the pride and ego of Nebuchadnezzar.
So the three young men stood before Nebuchadnezzar, a man of wickedness. Would they now fold in their faith or would they have conviction? When the going gets tough, many of us give up right quick in our faith. What good does it ever do us to give up? Fear and doubt can paralyze us but faith will always desire to move you forward.
Nebuchadnezzar asked the young men if it were true that they had defied him (Dan. 3:14). He then commanded them again, under the threat of death, to worship the image of gold (Dan. 3:15). Notice that he asked the young men, “who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” This, agian, shows the arrogance, pride, and ego of this king!
You see, Nebuchadnezzar has conviction as well but notice what it is built on – foolishness. As Proverbs 14:12, “there is a way that seem right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” This is why one should never follow the way of a fool – one who despises the wisdom of God (Prov. 1:7).
Here is where I remind you that the Lord blessed Daniel and his friends with knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom (Dan. 1:17). Yes, by their faith and wisdom in the way of God, these young men knew better than following Nebuchadnezzar’s commands. So, they said to the king, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand (Dan. 3:16-17).
Again, this took great courage and conviction to say to Nebuchadnezzar’s face! This was a man who thought so highly of himself that he had the audacity to openly defy God. This was a man that thought so highly of himself that he was forcing others to sin. This was a man that thought so highly of himself that nothing could destroy him. Yet, these young men just told him no to his face!
This is how you take a stand in faith. We have no reason to ever fear what someone will do to us. The reason why that is the case is because God is greater. Do you trust that the Lord is greater? Danile’s friends certainly did!
Fully Trusting in the Lord
Now, some of us may think to ourselves, “But Pastor, what if someone does attack us and try to hurt us?” Some of us may wonder, “But Pastor, what if I stand up and move in faith, but then I fail in what I’m doing?”
Do you know what my response is to such questions? These are thoughts that do not sound like faith and trusting in the Lord. Here is a fact: you are going to mess up sometimes – it’s inevitable. Here is another fact: people will talk against you and even move against you – we all have haters. One more fact for you: you are going to fail – it is inevitable.
The fact of the matter is that we have to learn how to accept good and bad, success or failure. We allow failure to have rule over us when failure is nothing but a teaching tool to help us grow. So what if someone rejects us! So what if someone speaks against us. So what if we make a mistake, big or small. As Paul said, “all things work together for good to those that love God (Rom. 8:28).”
The devil often uses the potential of something bad happening to create doubt in our heart so that we don’t move forward in faith. You can never get your blessing by doubting yourself and doubting the Lord.
To close this lesson out, let’s take a look at the final thing Daniel’s friends said to Nebuchadnezzar. They said to him, “[If God doesn’t deliver us], let it be known to you, O king, we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up (Dan. 3:18).” This is how you stand up to evil! This is how you stand committed in your faith. Never give in to the intentions of wickedness.