Post by Woody Williams on Apr 24, 2006 7:12:31 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Daniel 3:4-6, 12-13, 16-20, 24-25
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The herald proclaimed aloud, 'You are commanded, O peoples, nations,
and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre,
trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you are to fall down
and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown
into a furnace of blazing fire.' There are certain Jews whom you have
appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O king. They do not
serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue that you
have set up.'
Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the
king.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar,
we have no need to present a defence to you in this matter. If our
God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing
fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be
it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will
not worship the golden statue that you have set up.'
Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the
furnace to be heated up seven times more than was customary, and
ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing
fire.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said
to his counsellors, 'Was it not three men that we threw bound into
the fire?' They answered the king, 'True, O king.' He replied, 'But I
see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are
not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.'
Devotional
----------
The Scriptures recall many great acts of God delivering his faithful
people. Some of these acts are quite remarkable. The story of the
three men in the fiery furnace, accompanied by a fourth who appeared
to be like a god, is a strong testimony of God strengthening and
delivering those witnessed to him in this foreign land. God can give
life in the face of and in the midst of death.
Prayer
-----------------
Give me courage to speak your word, Lord. Amen
----------
The herald proclaimed aloud, 'You are commanded, O peoples, nations,
and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre,
trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you are to fall down
and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown
into a furnace of blazing fire.' There are certain Jews whom you have
appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O king. They do not
serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue that you
have set up.'
Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the
king.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar,
we have no need to present a defence to you in this matter. If our
God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing
fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be
it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will
not worship the golden statue that you have set up.'
Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the
furnace to be heated up seven times more than was customary, and
ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing
fire.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said
to his counsellors, 'Was it not three men that we threw bound into
the fire?' They answered the king, 'True, O king.' He replied, 'But I
see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are
not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.'
Devotional
----------
The Scriptures recall many great acts of God delivering his faithful
people. Some of these acts are quite remarkable. The story of the
three men in the fiery furnace, accompanied by a fourth who appeared
to be like a god, is a strong testimony of God strengthening and
delivering those witnessed to him in this foreign land. God can give
life in the face of and in the midst of death.
Prayer
-----------------
Give me courage to speak your word, Lord. Amen