“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us...”

Daniel 3:12-18, “There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

The nation was commanded to worship a golden idol that the king had established as their god. Daniel’s three friends are arrested and told to submit or else they will be cast into the fiery furnace! They refuse and in humble faith declare that God is able to deliver them according to His will. “But if not” they will not abandon their faith to save their own lives. Pressures are rising against people of faith in our own culture; are we willing to stand in faith no matter what the consequences?

Thank You for the gift of faith; thank You that You are with us always. Thank You that You have told us that when we fear God we need not fear man who can kill the body!

ESV Lectionary