God’s people in exile were asked to bow down to other gods, but refused, and God delivered them. What are we pressured to bow down to today, and will we stand for what is right?
Worship with Holy Communion this weekend –
Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel
Sunday – 8:30 a.m. traditional worship
9:30 a.m. Sunday School and Adult Bible Study
10:30 a.m. Contemporary worship
December 1, 2013
Daniel 3:1, 8-30
Key Verse: “Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him.’” Daniel 2:28
Time: mid 500’s BCE
Background: The book of Daniel was written at a time when God’s people were in exile. They had been conquered and were being ruled by a succession of kings. These kings held terrible power and regularly behaved with evil intent.
Many of God’s people remained faithful, even in the face of danger. Three such followers were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They continued to worship God, even when the penalty was death.
King Nebuchadnezzar tried to have them burned in a furnace for failing to worship his gods. The three remained faithful, and God saved them from death. Their faithfulness, and God’s dramatic rescue, turned the mind of the king. He decreed that all people should respect their God, and he promoted the three to positions of power.
Community: What lies or false idols has culture perpetuated that influence the way your community behaves? How might God’s truth be told so as to influence your community differently?
At Home: To what cultural pressures have you bowed? Do one thing this week to resist the pressures of the world, and turn your attention toward God.
Read This Week:
Monday, Dec 2, Four Young Israelites at the Babylonian Court, Daniel 1:1-21
Tuesday, Dec 3, Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream, Daniel 2:1-16
Wednesday, Dec 4, God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream, Daniel 2:17-23
Thursday, Dec 5, Daniel Interprets the Dream, Daniel 2:24-35
Friday, Dec 6, Daniel Interprets the Dream, Daniel 2:36-45
Saturday, Dec 7, Daniel and His Friends Promoted, Daniel 2:46-49
Next Week: Sunday, Dec 8, Valley of Bones, Ezekiel 37:1-14
