Overview
By Raufu Spagnoletta
Scripture Lesson Text: Daniel 3:1, 8-18
Some say that the Bible is the best commentary in itself and by comparing scripture with scripture the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to behold the wondrous works in God’s Word. Some comparative Scriptures for today’s lesson are, Exodus 20:5a, and Proverbs 29:25 and respectively. “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to any [image] nor serve them.” “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”
In our lesson, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego trust God to deliver them out of the fiery furnace, because it was the penalty for refusing to obey the king’s decree. King Nebuchadnezzar was infuriated by their bold refusal, and had his mighty men increase the heat in the furnace seven times. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, bound in their clothes were cast into the burning fiery furnace. The urgency of the king’s commandment, coupled with the exceeding heat of the furnace, caused the flame of the fire to kill the king’s men. King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished 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” (vs. 25).
King Nebuchadnezzar approached the fiery furnace and called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to come forth out of the midst of the furnace . When they came out it was evident, “the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of the fire had passed on them” ( vs. 27). The miracle was so great, that King Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, 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” (vs. 28).
Related Scriptures
By Janice Hall
Related Scriptures: Isaiah 43: 1-7; Daniel 6: 19-27
In Isaiah 43: 1-7, we learn that God assures us that He will redeem us when we pass through difficulties, as addressed to the nation of Israel. When God is with us, He is for us, and who can be against us? God’s presence and blessing with Israel would be demonstrated by unleashing the shackles of their exile. When we are glorifying God, we are fulfilling the purpose of why we were created….” for His glory”. These verses are a prophecy to Israel from God that He would bring them back to the land they once possessed.
Daniel 6: 19-27, brings us to the conclusion of Daniel’s encounter in the lion’s den. The next morning, the king could not wait to see if Daniel’s God saved him from the lions. When King Darius cast Daniel into the den, he had hope that Daniel’s God would save him. The story comes to a joyful conclusion. King Darius condemns the conspirators and families to death, to the same lions.
Practical Points
By Charlene Brown
A) Our enemies cannot bind what God has set free.
Scripture tells us in John 8:36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free you shall be free indeed.” Even our enemies cannot bind us with fear, trials , or sin. As He was with the Hebrew boys, God steps into that burning furnace with us and delivers us, heals us, restores us and revives us, because we put our faith and trust in Him. God delivers us and grants us freedom from the schemes of our enemies. God ensures us that we are not destroyed by the trials we face, we are shaped and refined by them.
B) Our trials provide opportunities to trust God and see His power at work in our lives.
Our trials do offer us the opportunity to trust God and witness His power. John 1:2 encourages us, “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Trials give us the opportunity to trust God completely, regardless of what the outcome may be. They give us the opportunity to trust God’s sovereignty above all else as they become the perfect platform for God to be God. Trials allow us to see God’s marvelous and miraculous power at work in not only our lives but also a witness to those around us.
