Post by Woody Williams on Apr 20, 2009 5:32:24 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 defense 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 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 counselors, "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 record many marvelous deeds of God in delivering his
people from their trials. Some are quite remarkable. The story of the
three men in the fiery furnace, accompanied by a fourth who had the
appearance of a god, is a strong testimony of God's strengthening and
deliverance of those who witnessed to him in faithfulness. God can
give life in the presence and face of death. Such an act as this is a
forerunner to the resurrection of Jesus. God restoring life in his
most faithful witness, Jesus.
Prayer
--------------
Help me in my weakness, Lord, to be a faithful witness to your love
and resurrection power. 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 defense 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 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 counselors, "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 record many marvelous deeds of God in delivering his
people from their trials. Some are quite remarkable. The story of the
three men in the fiery furnace, accompanied by a fourth who had the
appearance of a god, is a strong testimony of God's strengthening and
deliverance of those who witnessed to him in faithfulness. God can
give life in the presence and face of death. Such an act as this is a
forerunner to the resurrection of Jesus. God restoring life in his
most faithful witness, Jesus.
Prayer
--------------
Help me in my weakness, Lord, to be a faithful witness to your love
and resurrection power. Amen