Free Course: Encounter the Faith & Wisdom of C.S. Lewis!

Recognising the true God II (Daniel 3 v 28-30)

Chapter 2 ended with Nebuchadnezzar saying how great Daniel’s God was because He could reveal mysteries. Chapter 3 ends in a very similar way.
A daily blog on Christianity.com
Published Feb 08, 2012
Recognising the true God II (Daniel 3 v 28-30)

Chapter 2 ended with Nebuchadnezzar saying how great Daniel’s God was because He could reveal mysteries. Chapter 3 ends in a very similar way.

A great summary
Read Daniel 3:28

• List all the details in this verse that sum up what has happened in the whole chapter.

It is a great summary: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did defy the command of the king and so were willing to die rather than betray their God. They did trust their God to rescue them if He so wished. And He did send His angel and rescue them.
So praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego!

A granting of freedom
Read Daniel 3:29

• What is being given here?
• What does Nebuchadnezzar recognise about the true God?

This is effectively granting freedom for Jews to worship their God. It is giving respect to Him so He cannot be spoken badly of—and presumably His people can’t be persecuted for worshipping Him.
Nebuchadnezzar once again recognises something unique about this God—no one can save as He does.

Back to the main theme

Remember the main theme of the book of Daniel: God remains the true God so stay faithful to Him. The trouble is that when political leaders like Nebuchadnezzar are throwing their weight around, it can easily look as if God isn’t still the true God.
Later in the book there will be moments when leaders act like this again and God doesn’t intervene. And today there are many times when God doesn’t appear to be present and powerful. But Daniel 3 tells us—God remains the
true God, so stay faithful! There is no other God who “saves in this way”, either to give His people life instead of death, or to give His people life beyond death.

.................................................
TIME OUT… Read Acts 4:5
• What are the similarities between this situation and that in Daniel 3?
Notice that Peter talks about Jesus in just the way that Nebuchadnezzar was prompted to about the one true God.
• Re-read verses 18-20. What will we do today if we share the attitude of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?
.................................................
.................................................
PRAY THRU
Pray that God would give you a real certainty about what He does, and that He saves people from death.
.................................................

This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from the good book company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.

Click here and enter the code bstexplore57 when you check out to get the current quarter’s Explore for $5.84, a 10% discount.

Click here and enter bstexploresub when you check out to buy a year’s worth at 25% off—just $16.

Keep a record of what God is teaching you with "my bible" at biblestudytools.com

more bible reading plans

SHARE

Christianity / Explore God's Word Daily / Recognising the true God II (Daniel 3 v 28-30)