DANIEL CHPT 3 STUDY GUIDE

​Daniel 3 Comp
 
Nebuchadnezzar the king, made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, and the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then an herald cried aloud, to you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musik, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.
 
After having dreamed a dream and had been given the interpretation thereof, He still took it upon himself to make an image/idol. In his dream there was a head of gold. This king decides to make an image of himself in gold. He set it up in the midst of Babylon. The Lord reveals that there is a powerful spirit in operation that has all of the people of the province that have an authority come together in unity to celebrate the beauty of such abomination. They had all kinds of instruments and various kinds of music and were told that when they heard it they would fall down and worship the image the king set up. There is a force behind every going through and there are forces within praises and worship that we hear. They will bring you either to worship in spirit and in truth or to bring you to a position of falsehood.
 
And whoso falleth not down and woshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
 
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and duLcimer, and all kinds of musik, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine own hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which though hast set up.
 
Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
 
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
 
After having these dreams and receiving the interpretation, the king did not take heed to the fact of the revelation of the true and living God. King Nebuchadnezzar showed numerous temporary moments of recognizing the God of all truth, but because he is operating according to the spirit of the age and the seducing spirit, the king's acknowledgment of the living God is a temporary one.
 
These things are taking place while the children of the Most High are in a fight for their lives and are in the midst of much persecution. The children have been taken captive. They see many men, women, and children die and they see their cities burned. However, while having survived as a remnant of such destruction, the three Hebrew boys are favored and chosen for a work. They simply have the duty to humble themselves and learn of the Lord, to seek the face of God and be a light in the midst of darkness. They had no clue that the king would rise to such a level of pride, vanity, and self righteousness. We know that we do not do the separation, but the Spirit of God does the separating. There comes an appointed time where the Lord God is separating the true worshippers from the falsehood.
 
The decrees are heralded amongst most of the province that they should worship an image that had been created by man.  There was a threat given that those who did not would be cast into a burning fiery furnace. Remember, the Lord Jesus Christ is the true and living God. His Spirit is the refining and all consuming fire. The fire that the enemy has cannot compare and is counterfeit. The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and there is only one who can cast both body and soul into the pit of Hell.
 
Matthew 10:28
 
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: But rather fear him which is able to destroy both  soul and body is Hell.
 
When you don't come into unity and compromise with your adversaries, they often attempt to create turmoil, chaos, and tempt to conspire to bring forth fiery trials in the lives of the true saints of God. So the king commanded that these true believers who were taking a stand on their Most Holy Faith should have a fire seven time hotter. How many times have we looked at our situations and circumstances and it seems like the Lord has allowed our trial or test to be seven times more frustrating and bewildering than those we see around us? The king commanded his people to bind them up with that they had and throw them into the fire bound. These men were put into a situation that they didn't have a choice. They had to trust completely and go through the fire. Sometimes there is no way out of your situation. You must endure and overcome. Go through the fire with Jesus Christ. To whom much is given, much is required.
 
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth of the midst of the fire.
 
So we see those who are faithful servants of the Most High are the ones who came forth out of the fire even in the presence of their enemies and those who conspired to put them in the fire from the beginning. The fire of the enemy had no power and because of their trust to the very end, the Lord elevated them before all within the province of Babylon.