Read: Daniel 2:24-3:30; 1 Peter 4:7-5:14; Psalm 119:81-96; Proverbs 28:15-16
Daniel went before the king and told him that what he had asked of the wise men was something that no human could do, but their was a God in heaven who knew everything and he had told Daniel the dream and its interpretation. He then told the king that he had dreams the future. He had seen a huge statue with a head of gold, shoulder and chest of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. A huge rock cut by God struck the statue at its feet and the whole statue fell into peices and dust which the wind blew away. The rock became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
Then Daniel interpreted the dream. The head was Nebuchadnezzar. The other parts working from the top own were coming kingdoms that would arise. In the end there would be two that were divided. The rock was God’s kingdom that would crush all of them.
When King Nebuchadnezzar hear Daniel’s words he fell down prostrate before Daniel and recognized Daniel’s god as the God of gods and Lord of kings. He promoted Daniel to a high position and gave him many gifts. He was made a ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed in charge of the wise men. Daniel requested that his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be administrators over Babylon while he sat at the royal court.
King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image 90 feet high and 9 feel wide and had a huge dedication. He made a decreee that when the trumpet blew everyone was to bow down and worship or they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. Some of the jealous wise men took note that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow. They brought them before the king and when questioned they told the king that they could never bow before the stature but only to God. They were sentenced to die in the fire. Before they entered they told the king that their God was able to deliver them but if he didn’t they would not bow. This only made the king madder so he had the fire heated 7 times hotter than usual. It was so hot that the men that threw them into the fire burnt alive. But as the king watched he noticed 4 men walking unaffected in the fire. He was so astonished he called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out. They came out with no smell of smoke on them and no burns. He then praised their God and decreed that anyone who spoke against their God would be cut to pieces.
Peter warned the people that the time of the end was near. We are nearer than them. He tells us to keep our conscience clear and walk in self-control so we can pray. We are to love like Jesus loved and rejoice when we suffer for Christ’s sake. If we are elders we should serve the people with meekness and humility. We are to cast all our cares on Jesus because God’s hand is mighty to deliver us and give us peace.
Lord, we thank you that you save us from all our fiery trials and set us on solid ground. You are always faithful.
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