How Free is Free?

Daniel 1: 1-7 (NKJV) In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god. Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

After a lifetime of church, I was still calling the wonderful men of the faith by their Babylonian names. I got convicted about this. In the epic tv show, ‘Roots’, Kunta Kinte didn’t want to take the name Toby. I’m going to be spending eternity with these men, and I’m not going to be calling them by their slave names. This is my personal conviction, and I don’t visit that on anyone else.

We know from continued reading of the book of Daniel that both Daniel and his three friends were elevated to positions of power and influence-much to the chagrin of the sorcerers and advisors in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court.

Psalms 75: 6-7 tells us: For exaltation comes neither form the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.

That’s great for us, but we also know that creates jealousy and potential enemies in the weak of character. As Christians, it is of no consequence. We control what we can control and trust God to handle the rest. Amen?

When we move forward to Daniel chapter 3, I believe some years have passed, based on King Nebuchadnezzar’s conduct. He creates a huge (90 ft tall) golden idol that he commands the populace to fall down and worship. He does that in an interesting way.

Daniel 3:4-6 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

In the Holy Land today, the muslim call to mandatory prayer is accompanied by an announcement and singing. I’m not saying there is a connection, just saying it’s an interesting parallel. So, food for thought.

What do you think of when you think of a burning, fiery furnace?

Mark 9:43 …to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—

Luke 16:19-31 (The Rich Man and Lazarus Parable) And being in torments in Hades …for I am tormented in this flame.

Smarter men than me have said that, “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, while the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” With that mindset in mind, let’s look again at the events of Daniel 3.

The jealous Chaldeans snitched on Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and King Nebuchadnezzar became very angry with his once-favored advisors. The king asked them if they, had indeed, refused to bow down and worship the idol, as he had decreed. Here is how they responded:

Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

This answer enraged the king, and he ordered the furnace to be made 7 times hotter than usual. (We see numerous examples of this in God’s Word, where the “odds” are stacked against God or God’s people. Read I Kings 18, where Elijah confronts Ahab and the prophets of baal, for instance.)

Daniel 3:20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, (Another example of “stacking the deck”, as we discussed. They were securely tied, at multiple spots, by some of the strongest men in the kingdom.) and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.

Just remember, these young men knew Genesis 12:3 – I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you

Daniel 3:23-24 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

Remember, these are the king’s “yes men”. They would have agreed the sky was green if Nebuchadnezzar said it was.

Daniel 3:25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Many modern Biblical scholars believe that the ‘Son of God’ stated in Daniel 3:25 is actually Jesus. If so, the symbolism is unmistakable. Our faith in Jesus saves us from the fires of hell, doesn’t it? But is there more that God wants to show us in this well-known Biblical story? Let’s see!

Daniel 3:26-27 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

There is an interesting parallel to this last verse in I Corinthians 3:15. Verses 5-15 tell an important story in their own right.

So, is it safe to say that nothing was burned in the fiery furnace? What, if anything, was burned? Here are some scriptures from the beginning, the middle, and end of the Bible.

Leviticus 26:13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.

Nahum 1:13  [Thus sayeth the Lord…] For now I will break off his yoke from you, and burst your bonds apart.

Acts 12:7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly” And his chains fell off his hands.

The recurring theme here is of God breaking off our fetters and shackles, setting us free. In our main example of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, they walked out freely when the king called them forth. So Jesus, (or the angel, if you prefer), did Two things in the furnace, didn’t He? He protected them from the Fire (Hell), and showed us how we should live our lives-free from the bonds of this fallen world.

John 10:10 (Amp) …I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

The Amplified translation says we are ‘Unquestionably Free’!

If we have accepted Christ and been “Saved” for a long time, it’s possible to take it for granted. There are Christian denominations out there that routinely joke about “getting your fire insurance”. But when I reread this treasured Biblical story of three Jewish slaves standing firm in their faith, I see that salvation from the “fire” is only part of the story. Jesus intends for us to be Completely Free in Him! Tonight, are you walking in All the freedom Jesus intends for you? Can you say that you are living the ‘Abundant Life’ that your Savior has already purchased for you? As you take these moments of self-reflection, we can share in these closing scriptures of encouragement.

Daniel 3:29-30 “Therefore I [King Nebuchadnezzar] make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king [further] promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.