Week 11: God Sends His Angel to Deliver His Servants
WEEK 11 | Daniel 3:19-30
Day 1 Devotional Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Isaiah wrote his prophecies before Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were born. He prophesied their nation’s exile, so we can imagine they studied his book to seek understanding on their past, present, and future. To prepare for our concluding Daniel text of the semester, we are going to do something different today. We are going to read a prophetic text in Isaiah where God outlines His plan in broad poignant (arousing deep emotion) strokes that shift in time. You can simply read and reflect on this text; however, commentary is provided to help you understand the shifts.
42:1-9 God presents His Servant to the nations in this first Song (See 49:1-3; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12 for remaining three Servant Songs.) He alone is God’s (My) Servant; He will be filled with God’s Spirit at His incarnation and God will uphold Him at His first coming; at His second coming He will judge the Gentiles (v1f). The manner of the Servant’s ministry shall be one of quiet confidence (v2) and His conduct among the broken shall renew their hope (v3). He will succeed in His mission and distant lands will wait for final justice at His second coming (v4). This Servant will be both the maker and the essence of the New Covenant because only He fulfilled the Jewish covenant. He is the Jewish covenant and the light to the Gentiles (v5-6). By keeping His covenant, God will heal spiritual blindness and deliver spiritual prisoners. His glory is that He Yahweh alone can keep His covenants, something no carved god can do (vs7-8).
Reflect – How might those in exile in Babylon have been encouraged to know about this Servant to come? How did Jesus of Nazareth, God’s True Servant, open your eyes and deliver you?
42:10-17 The world should sing because the Messiah at His second coming will defeat all God’s enemies (vs10-13). The result is that the earth shall be devastated, Israel healed, the idolatrous Gentiles judged (vs14-17).
Reflect – How might those in exile in Babylon have been encouraged in this text to know God’s plans for the nations and Israel? How does knowing the results of Jesus’ Second Coming affect the manner and conduct in how you live your story now?
42:18-25 In Israel’s present time, God addresses her failure as His servant to be a messenger to the Gentiles (vs 18-20). Because God is righteous, He must uphold the Mosaic Law and punish Israel for her failure (vs21-22). He will judge Israel/Jacob by delivering him into the hands of the Gentile nations (including Babylon). Sadly, Israel failed to realize God was at war with him; even when God burned him up, Israel did not examine his sin.
Reflect – How might those in exile in Babylon respond to God after personally experiencing the fulfillment of these prophecies? Christ has paid for the sins of the world, yet you live among those who are still at war with God. Why would you want serving as God’s messenger to those at war with Him to be part of your story? How has that already been part of your story?
43:1-7 In verses 1-4, God affirms He is Israel’s kinsman redeemer (Leviticus 25:47-55) who will deliver her from the Babylon in the end times. Under the Mosaic Law, God, as their Goel, is their near relative who both created and formed Jacob/Israel, meaning He made Israel His before Egypt and kept Israel as His even in Egypt (v1). During the Tribulation, God will be Israel’s kinsman redeemer because He is willing to pay the price to save her (v2). Third, as Goel, He can pay the price of their redemption, and the price is that He ultimately and utterly defeat the nations (v3). God shifts in verses 5-6 to describe how He will regather Israel after the tribulation to prepare for the Messianic Kingdom. Of His people whom He will regather at this time, God states that He created (bara), formed (yatzar), and made (asah) them. In Genesis, these words are used together in the Creation story (1:27; 2:7; 1:26 respectively).
Reflect – How might those in exile in Babylon have been encouraged in this text about the unchanging mind and heart of God? God will complete what He started in you. Today how can you cooperate with God who is recreating you into the image of Jesus, His Servant and Son?
Perhaps close by praising God as you listen to the songs “Son of Suffering” (various artists) and “Fiel” by Majo y Dan.
Day 2 Part 1 Central Passage Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 Andthe satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Daniel 3:19-27 ESV
OBSERVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
1. List every action that finds its origin in the King’s fury, even if another person is performing the action.
V19 ex. Nebuchadnezzar’s face changed against SMA; he ordered furnace heated to “seven times more” than usual.
V20 ex. He ordered “mighty men of his army” (valiant warriors) to bind SMA and to cast them into the furnace.
V21
V22
V23
How many times is the detail that the men were bound included (v19-23)?
What details in these verses strike you as unnecessary or illogical?
2. What details does Daniel include to show the King’s astonishment and the validity of his astonishment?
V24
V25
3. What details prove that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are completely unharmed by the fire?
V26
V27
Bonus – How do the clue words (highlighted in darker purple) affect the pacing of this exciting story?
OBSERVE DICTION
Ask: Which words/phrases might provide clues to the author’s message? What do they literally mean?
Ex. expression > image or idol. This same word is used of the image Nebuchadnezzar set up. See Daniel 3:1, 5.
Ex. urgent > figuratively, urgent, harsh, showing insolence; literally, to shear or cut close. See Daniel 2:15.
Ex. astonished > startled, alarmed
Ex. haste > to frighten, alarm, dismay; to hurry
Ex. power > to have power or rule or dominion. See Daniel 2:38-39; 5:7, 16; 6:24.
Ex. like a son of the gods > Nebuchadnezzar perceived this fourth man as some divine being. He calls him a malak “angel,” but this term can express an appearance of deity (Montgomery as quoted in Daniel by Tanner (253)
INTERPRET
Ask: Why did the author choose to include these details, use these words, & make any figurative comparisons?
1. The Hebrew friends had said to Nebuchadnezzar that they had no need to “answer” the King regarding his command to bow to the image he erected. They were not going to change their minds and the result is Nebuchadnezzar changes the expression of his face.
Note the word “expression” in the diction box to see some more of Daniel’s tongue-in-cheek writing.
Read Daniel 2:11-12. What is the pattern for what makes Nebuchadnezzar angry?
Last time the King was angry, Daniel revealed his dream and Nebuchadnezzar’s sin was restrained. What is different this time? Why is it different?
2. In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar demanded to be told his dream and its interpretation, and God revealed the answer that concluded with a Stone cut by no human hand crushing the Gentile kingdoms.
Now how does God show the answer to Nebuchadnezzar’s question: “And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Consider the details and diction boxes in your answer.
How does God conclude His answer this time? (v25). Why is that significant?
3. Read Isaiah 43:1-3a about how God delivers Israel from tribulation fire and Revelation 20:7-9 about how God judges the nations after the Messianic Kingdom through fire.
But now, this is what the Lord says, He who is your Creator, Jacob, and He who formed you, Israel. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3a
When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. Revelation 20:7-9
Consider our story in Daniel and the texts above. Of the pre-incarnate Christ in the fire with these faithful Hebrews, a commentator noted that first, God was in the fire with them before saving them from the fire. What pattern do you see in how God chooses to deliver and judge people throughout His story?
Prayer – Praise God who is with you in all fires. Ask Him to help you to stand firm on the Stone.
Day 3 Part 2 Central Passage Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3:28-30 ESV
OBSERVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
1. List the details that support Nebuchadnezzar’s conclusions regarding --
GOD
V28
V29
SHADRACH, MESHACH, ABEDNEGO
V28
V30
2. What does the King decree for anyone who speaks against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
OBSERVE DICTION
Ask: Which words/phrases might provide clues to the author’s message? What do they literally mean?
Ex. set aside > to change, alter, frustrate. See Daniel 3:19 where the same word is used to show the King’s change of face.
Ex. promoted > caused to prosper, more likely referring to gifts of wealth than a promotion in rank
INTERPRET
Ask: Why did the author choose to include these details, use these words, & make any figurative comparisons?
1. How does Nebuchadnezzar recognize God’s power and yet show he somehow thinks God needs his protection?
2. These faithful Jews -- Hananiah, Yahweh is gracious, Mishael Who is what God is? and Azariah Yahweh has helped -- set aside (changed) the King’s decree. Why do you think Nebuchadnezzar was willing to admit that?
A The King issues a decree ordering all to worship golden image. (3:1-7)
B Three Jewish men are accused. (8-12)
C Three Jewish men are threatened. (13-15)
D Three Jewish men affirm their faith (16-18)
C Three Jewish men are persecuted. (19-23)
B Three Jewish men are vindicated by God. (24-27)
A The King recognizes the One True God and issues a decree. (28-30)
3. Warning. Hard Question!
Review the chiasm above. Keep in mind that the purpose of a chiasm is to place the central truth of a text at its center.
In his commentary Daniel, Fruchtenbaum lists four observations about the Age of the Gentiles that began when Babylon overthrew Jerusalem and continues until this day. A) During this age of rampant idolatry, Jews must remain Jews. They should not acculturate. B) During this age, Jews will be given honor and promoted to places to authority because God has promised His favor to them. C) Gentiles will be jealous of any honor given to the Jews. D) Persecution of the Jews will follow. During these tribulations, some Jews will acculturate, but God will always preserve a remnant.
Nebuchadnezzar is the first Gentile ruler of the Age of the Gentiles. Consider the chiasm above and how God revealed Himself to this “king of kings” using four faithful Hebrew men in all we have read so far. Why do you think God chose to progressively reveal Himself to Nebuchadnezzar in these ways?
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Prayer – Before a watching world and city, pray that we at Grace would together stand firm in faith.
Day 4 Deeper Daniel Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
1. Last time we read of Nebuchadnezzar’s unrighteous anger we thought through the root of our own anger, our own patterns and idols. In whatever form anger takes -- in the silent treatment, in bitterness and unforgiveness, in clamor and shouting, in gossiping and slander, in violence of any kind – it is demonic in nature. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah responded to such anger against them by trusting God to deliver them in His timing. Reflect and write a prayer of confessing any anger you carry, any anger you habitually act upon. Ask God to remove your anger and fill you with His Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.
2. In Day 3 we read Revelation 20:7-9, which describes how after the Messiah reigns on earth for 1000 years, Satan is released, how he gathers rebellious nations against God, and how God destroys these nations with fire. The next verse states “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
In his article “Why Must Satan Be Released” (bibletools.org), David C. Grabbe helps us understand why God releases Satan from the abyss and also why Satan would wage war against God and His people if he knows he will be defeated. What is most convicting in his article is that Grabbe explains, by means of examining the motivation of our own flesh, how our “old man” still wages battles against God even though we delight in God’s law (See Romans 7:21-25). Read two quotes taken from his article and underline what you find convicting.
Once let loose, our old man resists God. He bends the truth or even lies boldly for camouflage, self-preservation, or self-advantage. He radiates pride, antagonism, competition, selfish ambition, and unflinching confidence in his own rightness, even if it means God Himself would be wrong. He challenges God's sovereignty in his thoughts, perhaps in his words, and even in conduct.
Our old man has no problem using people for his own ends—even sacrificing them like Satan does the nations—because his ends always justify his means. Just as Satan gambles that he can skirt the consequences that always fall, our old man also bets that it will be different for us and the consequences the Bible foretells will not happen. God recorded the effects of sin for us millennia ago, yet when we are in the moment, we still convince ourselves that His Word is not absolute—that all those bad things will never happen to us. Yet Revelation 20 tells us—just as it tells Satan—where those choices lead. We, too, know the result of sin, for it is written in advance.
Reflect and write a prayer confessing any ways you resist God and use people for your own ends. Ask God to clothe you with the character of Christ, His faithful Son and Servant.
3. Praise to God that in Christ He has made us incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:53). Read one more quote from Grabbe’s article:
While Satan's influence and work amplify the perversity of human nature, carnality is a malignant force on its own. The real solution to sin is to replace human nature entirely with God's nature—one that is incorruptible, will not follow Satan's urgings, and will never become another adversary of God. This is what God is doing, and when the divine purpose has been fully worked out, nothing will ever again defile the Eternal's magnificent creation.
Reflect and write a prayer of praise.
How to Stand Firm Against the Devil
1. Recognize how the devil works and resist Him with the Word of God which states: Victory is ours. (Colossians 2:13-15; Revelation 12:10) Authority and protection are ours (Luke 10:18-20). Position is ours (Ephesians 1:18-2:6). When you recognize the enemy is shooting fiery darts at you, read these passages out loud.
2. Draw near to God and stand firm against Satan in prayer (James 4:7-8). Praise the Holy God and confess your sins. In your petitions, pray both defensive and offensive prayers. When we pray defensive prayers, we ask for God to be our refuge and defense. In offensive prayer we pray things like “Lord, beat that demon that is trying to beat me down. Send the arrow that demon just shot at me back at him. For models of offensive prayer read Psalm 35, 37, 57, 58, 59, 83, 91, 109. As you read, remember that our enemy is not blood and flesh, but the evil one and all fallen angels (Ephesians 6:12). Close with thanking God. Not that we enjoy suffering, but we enjoy being in the will of God. It is our honor to be tested in our faith. He will not allow us to endure beyond what we can handle (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
3. Confess your sins and/or battle in spiritual warfare with a strong believer. He or she can stand with you in your fight in prayer.
4. Keep in fellowship with believers and keep serving God in some way even in the midst of pain and recovery (1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 Peter 4:19). Do not let the enemy isolate your from others. Remember Job who said, “But He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” ( Job 23:10). Satan tells us our suffering means we are less valuable to God and this tempts us to isolate ourselves. But God refines us through fire so that we can better serve Him and others.
When we stand firm in this way, we resist Satan who thinks “How can they glorify Him in their suffering?” God must truly be worthy if we can praise Him by standing firm in the midst of suffering. This patient endurance by God’s grace confounds the world. Remember Nebuchadnezzar’s praise for the three who remained loyal to their God by yielding their bodies to Him.
Day 5 Use this day to finish writing your story if you have not done so (See Lesson 10).
Prayer – Pray for your group’s discussion and story sharing time.
Group Reflection Faithful in Exile
Directions – Plan for how your triads/quads might continue praying for one another. Enjoy a time of sharing your stories with one another in the last hour of the lesson.
Prayer
Leaders, pray a blessing over the group to close your semester.
God’s joy & strength to you!