Old Testament Reading - Daniel Chapter 3 & 4

Hi everyone, what powerful passages!

Just two quick thoughts, one from chapter 3 and the other from Chapter 4.

First: In Chapter 3, I was struck again by the fact that God's people get noticed and God gets glorified when we are prepared to take a sacrificial stand for what we know to be right. I'm not speaking about upholding religious culture, but being prepared to stand up for the honour of God's name.

living for what we know is right, as God's people, for his glory, can place us in danger, cause us to be ridiculed and challenge the comfort of our lives. That is why Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are such an inspiration for us today.  

 Daniel Chapter 3

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

 Their stand led the king to quite a conclusion...

Verse 29
for no other god can save in this way.

Inspiring! 

Second: In Chapter 4, it is interesting to see how God works with us as people. The king of a great kingdom has become proud. His achievements were great, but his perspective was all skew.

Daniel Chapter 4
³⁰ he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"

But God was gracious enough to challenge the kings heart, and to bring him to recognise his own pride. When the warning of the dream failed, when the prophetic interpritation had no impact, God was prepared to act. God's disciplin in our lives can be a great blessing, though not always easy at the time.

In the king's words...

³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

I think that, within a humble heart, there is a recognition that although we are intimately involved in everything good we have done, every great achievement we have made, there is a God who stands behind and in front of us; a God who has prepared good works for us to do.

Reminds me of the parable of the foolish farmer in Luke 12...

Challenging!