January 30, 2022 - Daniel 3
January 30, 2022
Lessons Learned
Daniel 3
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. Hebrew name Hananiah means Yahweh is gracious.
Babylonian name Shadrach means Command of Aku. (Babylonian god of the moon.)
2. Hebrew name Mishael means Who is what God is.
Babylonian name Meshach means who is like Aku. (Babylonian god of the moon.)
3. Hebrew name Azariah means Yahweh is a helper.
Babylonian name Abednego means servant of the shining god Nebo.
4. Normal physical proportions for people is 5:1. The proportions of this image is 10:1, therefore it would appear to be tall and skinny.
5. Nebuchadnezzar summoned every type of public official from all the territories he ruled over to worship the image (v5, 6, &7).
6. Nebuchadnezzar challenged the power of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s God when he said, “who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
7. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were confident that God had the power to rescue them (v17), however, they were not demanding a miracle (v18).
8. The fire demonstrated it power over Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers by not over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
9. The fourth man in the fire was either; a physical appearance of Christ before his incarnation (Christophany) or an angel. ESV and NIV study notes.
10. Nebuchadnezzar did not call for the fourth man to come out of the fire. See v26.
11. People from all over the world were gathered to witness this miracle that glorified the God of the Jews.
12. God used the faith of these men to protect the religious liberty of the exiled Jews. See v29.
13. Trust God in every situation.
14. “...having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 1:18-20
15. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12
16. “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” Matthew 5:13
17. “...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
18. Nebuchadnezzar did not express faith in God, rather he referred to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
19. Application:
God does not abandon His followers that chose to stand firm in their faith.
The lost world becomes angry when believers refuse to agree with their system of beliefs.
Believers bring honor to God by standing firm and not compromising with worldly standards.