In order to successfully break away from England, 13 representatives from the colonies met and formulated a covenant stating what was wanted. They called this new land the United States of America. It was presented to the King of England; of course it didn’t go over well. However the 13 representatives stood firmly together. They spoke as one. We all know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and it’s one we admire. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego spoke, it was as one. There are many lessons for us in this story.
Daniel 3:13 “Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 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? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 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. 18 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.”
Making a statement tells what is on a person’s heart and describes how he or she wants to be. We all make statements. Here these 3 young Jewish men were put in the position of being told to bow to an image King Nebuchadnezzar made of himself. He commanded everyone to bow when the music played. The people were to worship him; he saw himself as nothing short of a god. Whether these three young men were standing together or separated throughout the crowd didn’t matter. When everyone else bowed down these young men stood where they were. They stuck out like a sore thumb.
The king was angry; he had them arrested. With a three-fold question he began his speech. Verses 14 and 15 show them. 1) “Is it true”—is what I’ve been told about you true? 2) “Do not ye worship and serve my gods?” 3) “Who is that God that shall deliver you?” Their response was three-fold. 1) They were not afraid to answer the king. 2) God was able to deliver them. 3) Their God was the only God regardless of what happened or what Nebuchadnezzar said.
They made their statement. They said “HE IS OUR GOD.” He was Shadrach’s God. He was Meshach’s God. He was Abednego’s God. Whether they wanted it or not made no difference. This same God was Nebuchadnezzar’s God, though he would not acknowledge it. The God of these three young men was the only God. Of course the king, as many do today, made fun of it. The image came from the elements of the earth carved out by man. There was nothing “God” about it. Whatever we choose to believe doesn’t affect the fact. He’s always been God. He is God. He will always be God. He’s our God.
Even with the threats, the three Hebrews were not hesitant, ashamed or afraid to answer the king. The devil uses every threat he can. Christians are expected to go along with the crowd and not say anything contrary. Otherwise, we’re considered judgmental. When it comes right down to our rights to be what we want to be, it’s turned around and we are judged. When we speak out, others act surprised. Is it true? When we serve the Lord, say no to temptation, and follow the morality of the Bible, it stirs up the world. The darkness of the world does not like the light of God; the devil tries to absorb it. He can demand all sorts of things; he can turn the screws tight on us, but we don’t have to worship anyone or anything else than the one and true God. The world has made a statement to us. It’s time to make one back.
Those three young men knew what God said. There were to be no other gods before their God. They knew their God was the true God. There was no need to bow down to the king’s “god”. What was the point? They knew it was utter foolishness. They stood and made their statement. No matter what the devil had crafted, they stood for the God of glory.
It’s not money, popularity, or fashion that we serve as God. We are not our own master. The king said “who is that God” that will deliver you? He belittled God. Who does he think he is that he can deliver you from almighty me? He saw it as foolish to believe an invisible God. He also asked them who they thought they were. He’s the same God he’s always been. He’ll call all the wicked into judgment, but he also gave his Son to save us from hell.
Nebuchadnezzar would soon die. Where was his deity then? Throughout all generations there have been kings and rulers; they have all died. They didn’t know it all. Many would lead us to believe we don’t need God. One says this is what you need. Another says this is it. Do this. Do that. Worship this. Forsake God. Nebuchadnezzar’s throne was just a piece of furniture. God’s throne is eternal; it has always been occupied by God and only God. It will stand forever.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t say “maybe our God is able.” They said “our God is able.” In spite of what God chose to do, they were not going to bow to the king’s image or worship it. They didn’t bargain with God; there were no “Lord, if you’ll do this I’ll do this” statements. They stood strong. Whether they were delivered from the furnace or not, they would serve the Lord. The three made their statement.
We’re living in a time in which we have to make a statement. We are a trinity—heart, mind, and body. These three must be in agreement just as those three Hebrews were. It can’t be with just the mind, just the heart or just the body. It must be all three. The heart is the feeling. The mind is the thinking. The body is the doing. It’s what we serve, what stand for, and what walk away from. We’re here to glorify our God and not our own wishes. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not trying to be nasty. They were simply serving their God and not worshiping the king.
Meshach is our mind. Shadrach is our heart. Abednego is our body—our life. It’s what we believe, serve, stand for, and then do. It’s our statement. The world needs our statement. Are we willing enough? Do we believe it enough to stand? It is no coincidence there were three of them. It takes our three in order to stand. Our body, mind, and soul must be in agreement. Do we need to pull it in line? Do we need to tune up our statement? Nebuchadnezzar is waiting.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 