Have you ever had to speak truth to power? Desmond Tutu once said “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”[1] Nebuchadnezzar was the elephant of world super powers of the time Daniel & Shadrach, Meschah and Adebnego. These men were all captives from Jerusalem put into 3 years of training and now pressed into service as Babylonian wise men, courtiers. They were trained to interpret the stars. Also trained in the languages of Akkadian and Aramaic, and able to read incantations, as well as being story tellers of all the Babylonian myths and legends. Today we are called to recall when Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a great statue that none of the other astrologers, magicians, enchanters, or sorcerers could tell him. Only Daniel could, and he put it bluntly to King Nebudchadnezzar back in Daniel 2:27-28:
Daniel answered the king, “No mere human can solve the king’s mystery, I don’t care who it is—no wise man, enchanter, magician, diviner. But there is a God in heaven who solves mysteries, and he has solved this one. He is letting King Nebuchadnezzar in on what is going to happen in the days ahead. This is the dream you had when you were lying on your bed, the vision that filled your mind: (The Message)
Nebuchadnezzar today has taken his dream, and making it a reality. He created a gold statue standing at 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. Today Shadrach, Meschah and Adebnego faced a choice. The heat was being turned up. Thr question is would they dare say NO! We’re not going to bow down to your idol and wear the consequences? Even if that meant death for doing so? Life for them as captives in a foreign land was under the microscope, all their actions were watched. As we read in verse 1
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.
These were all the officials of the empire, the administrators of government. They were the movers and shakers with political clout and influence, and here all gathered around King Nebuchadnezzar’s herald
4 … "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
The empire’s band would strike up, and once the music’s played they were all to bow to the statute. It showed your allegiance to the king. The question is what would it take for you or me to bow down to that?
In that significant situation reveals who we are and what we believe. What will it mean to have hope here? As we can face idols of so many different kinds. They are what rules my motivations and behaviours, not by just what I say I believe but by what I do how I live that out. What we notice is that so often our wants, hopes, fears, expectations, needs crowd our hearts; or our desires sometimes mean we run to false loves as they become life ruling, inordinate desires to want what I want because I want it. Like here the want of Nebuchadnezzar to be worshipped by all, we get an insiders look into how idols counterfeit aspects of God’s identity and character. We are asked to think about the last time you were angry with someone, was it because they didn’t give you what you wanted? If so did we hurt them in some way, either withdrawing our care or shutting them down in some way. What we observe is that our motivations are always relational; just as worship is not far away from anything we do in life. The question is how will we turn from idols to the living God. Be humbled. Do we trust that God really wants us. That he is the generous giver, the fair and final judge. That he loves us and gives us grace and is purposefully sovereign, and turn and see Jesus by repentance and faith?[2] As James 1:2-5 puts it this way:
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.
Here despite the present appearance God is in control when King Nebuchadnezzar scanned the plain of Dura he saw large crowds on their knees before this statue. The King’s contentment was soon shattered by a report against some of the Jews who wouldn’t bow down, and even though a foreign power may make you captive it can’t capture your heart if your resolve to be faithful to God. As we read in vs 13-15
So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
Nebuchadnezzar conducts his own personal ceremony, the band strikes up and these 3 friends stand their ground verses 16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” (The Message)
They dared to say no! We are not going to bow to your idols. Their decision was about to be met with costly discipleship in what was taking premier place Nebuchadnezzar doubt that any god existed who could challenge him or his decree. Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego trusted God. They also knew that is no guarantee of a life free from suffering
God will rescue them was their hope. Either way their hearts allegiance was for God. As we continue to see in scripture how God opposes the proud and destroys those who stand in his way as our sins lead to death
As James 4:4-10 puts it this way:
You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.” So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. (The Message)
We are invited to have an honest reckoning with God. God cares so cast your cares on him. The invitation is to go to him and name your anxieties and cares in the light of his care. King Nebuchadnezzar doubted that there was any God who could challenge his decree. Shadrach Meshach & Abednego were confident God would work out this situation to show his power. They trusted that God’s power transcends even death; just as Jesus gives us life that extends beyond the grave
only God the true and living God is truly all powerful yesterday – today and tomorrow.
Let’s pray
David Hassan @ Tamworth Community Presbyterian Church 25-6-17
- [1] As quoted in Unexpected News : Reading the Bible with Third World Eyes(1984) by Robert McAfee Brown, p. 19
[2] ideas taken here from David Powlinson “Idols of the heart” The Journal of Biblical Counseling Vol.13.No.2.Winter 1995 p.35-47