King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Daniel 3:1-2
A herald loudly proclaimed, “People of every nation and language, you are commanded: When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, you are to fall facedown and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.”
Daniel 3:4-6
They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever. You as king have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music must fall down and worship the gold statue. Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have ignored you, the king; they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Daniel 3:9-12
Do not have other gods besides me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.
Exodus 20:3-6
Civil disobedience for the people pf God is allowed, when the laws of the land require one to switch their allegiance from Hod to something or someone else.
Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire — and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”
Daniel 3:15-18
henotheism – the recognition that many gods exists, and yet, only one god is chosen to be worshiped.
3:25 – “the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
3:26 – “you servants of the Most High God – come out!”
3:28 – “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego!
3:29 – “For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.”
Current societal belief:
a) All religions are different on the outside, but the same at the core.
2. Reality of all religions:
a) All religions are similar on the outside, but different at the core.
As God’s people, we must lean into His Word and Spirit to never waiver our allegiance to Him.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
As citizens of the heavenly Kingdom, we do not give our allegiance to anyone or anything other than the, “Most High God.”
How would your group define civil disobedience? As Christ followers, when do you believe it is okay to exercise some form of civil disobedience? Are there times in the context we live in (America) where it is okay to exercise this?
There are many “gods” out there, but as Christ followers, we only believe in the One True God, the God of the Holy Bible. What are some of the “gods” that currently exist in our western culture? Why do you think there are so many nowadays?
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown in the fire and coming out unscathed is a powerful story of faith and God’s provisions. Share a time when you felt your allegiance to God was tested and yet the Lord provided a way to victory/out.
Speaking of allegiance to God, what are some commonplace areas that we may be tempted to give our allegiance to, other than God?
