A stand AGAINST worship?

Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to worship the king’s statue:

i) The Decree to Worship the image: (Dan. 3:3-6)

(1)   We read about this life-threatening decree in verse 5 and 6.  

5“That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:”  6“And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

(2) This decree was, in a way, purposed for Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego.  The King and other officials knew that these 3 men were Godly men so this decree was devised as a way to back them into a corner.

(3) Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego heard of this decree and still they were bold to stand up to what they knew was wrong.  In spite of the deathly consequences for not bowing down to this image, (verse 6)  Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego were not going to compromise their relationship to the Lord for even a couple of seconds, just to simply bow a knee before this great image. To these 3 men, to compromise their relationship to the Lord, would have been sin.

ii) God IS able…

(1) Verse 17 tells us the response of these 3 men and that they KNEW that God IS able to deliver them from whatever trial they face.

(2) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were YIELDED and accepted God's way of deliverance....and to them meant a fiery death.

iii) The 3 men are cast into the fire. (Dan. 3:20-23)

(1) These 3 men would NOT compromise their relationship to the Lord and the only other option they had was death.  Death by fire.  Can you imagine being thrown into fire and having to suffer, for who knows how long?  What a price these men chose because they did NOT want to disregard the Almighty God.  There is one option, however, of deliverance that these 3 men did not consider.

iv) Deliverance THROUGH the fire (Dan. 3:23-27)

(1) These 3 men were cast down into the midst of the fire.
            (a) These 3 men should not have even hit the floor.  According to verse 22, they should have been already dead.

(2) Verse 25 tells us of their magnificent deliverance!!  The king noticed 4 men loose and walking in the midst of the fire...and the form of the fourth like THE SON OF GOD!

God wants to meet us in the midst of our trials....after we choose to stand for righteousness.   What a blessing!