Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.”
Several things strike me about this section of Daniel 3. Both verse 13 and verse 19 describe the king as furious, with 13 articulating that he was furious with rage. I have learned in my own life that when anger, fury, rage enter the equation, I’ve got to take several steps back and breathe. Nothing good happens when I function in anger. The other thing that strikes me here is the utter calm of the trio facing the irate king.
Daniel 3:17 “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.”
The king has the power of life and death over them, and they know it, but that aren’t afraid because God is their defender. They are confident that He CAN deliver them and He WILL deliver them, but the next verse is what really gets me. “But even if He does not….” They recognize in His sovereignty that He may choose not to deliver them from the fire but that regardless, He will be with them and He WILL deliver them from the king’s hand. Lord, give me that level of strength in my faith.
Daniel 3:18 “But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the mighty example of faith shown in Daniel 3. Help all those who feel like they are walking through the fire to feel Your mighty presence with them. Help them to understand that even if deliverance does not come in the way they hope or expect, that You are still in control, that You are still present, that You WILL deliver them. Help us all to have the level of faith that we see in these verses. Draw us closer. Amen.
Jeremiah 1:8 “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
Have a blessed day.