They Wouldn’t Bend, Bow or Burn
by Pat McIntosh
One of the greatest biblical examples of faith we have involves three teenaged young men: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were taken captive to Babylon with Daniel and other young men. They were snatched away from everything they knew and taken to a land about which they knew little or nothing. All decisions made would be their own as, apparently, no grandparents or parents were taken with them.
While they were in captivity, they were commanded to bow down to a 90-ft. image of King Nebuchadnezzar. They were called upon to go against what they had been taught and worship this golden image. They refused to do so. The king was angry and threatened them with a horrible death; burning in a fiery furnace. As horrible as that would have been, they did not waver in their faith. They clearly manifested a strong faith in God and leaned on Him in this crucial time. The king threw them into that furnace and went to watch them be incinerated. However, he saw something that puzzled him. Only three were thrown into the furnace, but he saw four figures. They had been delivered by the power of God in that fourth figure.
Numerous lessons can be learned. There are situations in which we might be influenced to “bend” in relation to our spiritual values. We simply cannot do so, no matter how dire the situation might be. Others would have us “bow” to their views or ideals, often contrary to God’s. We cannot do so and remain in a right relationship with God. We may have to suffer consequences for our faithful decisions, yet God promises victory, even in dire situations.
May we look to these young men and realize the value of this great biblical account. May we neither “bend” nor “bow” in our Christian walk, choosing rather to attain victory in a heavenly reward.
Sunday A.M. Sermon Outline – They Wouldn’t Bend, Bow or Burn (Dan. 3)
- Introduction – Dan. 3:1-7; Jer. 9:7; Isa. 48:10
- They Wouldn’t Bend – Matt. 22:15-22; Jno. 12:48-50
- They Wouldn’t Bow – Dan. 3:8-19; Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Prov. 6:16-17; Rom. 12:1-2
- They Wouldn’t Burn – 1 Jno. 5:4; Rom. 8:35-37; 1 Cor. 15:57-58; Rev. 12:11