Message by Dr. Gary Jarnagin
Trusting in God
Regardless of the Circumstances
Daniel 1-4
Our text for today focuses on a king who could possibly be the most influential king in all of human history and how that king came to honor and praise the King of Heaven, all because four believers trusted in God regardless of the circumstances.
Daniel and his three Jewish friends found themselves in difficult circumstances. They made the decision to follow God. They made their decision based on 3 points:
1. They purposed in their hearts to follow God regardless of the circumstances.
2. They decided to promote God through their faith and service.
3. We are going to see that because of their faith and their actions,
others decided to praise and honor God.
I. Purpose in our heart to follow God regardless of the circumstances.
Daniel 1:1-4 (NKJV)
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 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.
3 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,
4 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.
We read in verse 5 that it was a three year program of learning, indoctrination and brain-washing.
Daniel 1:5-7 (NKJV)
5 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.
6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 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.
Our text tells us that it was Daniel who was first up, with his difficult circumstances, who purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.
Daniel 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Why is it important to God that we live holy lives?
1 Peter 1:15-19 (NKJV)
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy”…18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, …19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
What then? What happens after we accept God’s gift of salvation?
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
II. Promote God in our lives through our faith and service.
Daniel 2:46-49 (NKJV)
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him.
47 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”
48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
Now it is Shadrach’s, Meshack’s, and Abed-Nego’s turn to promote God and show their faith in God.
Daniel 3:1-6 (NKJV)
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
5 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;
6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
King Nebuchadnezzar threatened the three Jewish lads who wanted to promote God through their faith and service. Their answer…
Daniel 3:16-18 (NKJV)
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 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.
18 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.”
God received the glory because the three young men promoted God through their faith and service.
Daniel 3:26-30 (NKJV)
26 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.
27 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.
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
29 Therefore I 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.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
III. Honor and praise God for who He truly is.
Reviewing Daniel 1-4:
1. Chapter 1…God had made Daniel and his three friends ten times better than anyone else in the court because they had purposed in their heart they would follow God regardless of their circumstances. King Nebuchadnezzar honored them by having the four serve in his courts.
2. Chapter 2…Daniel interpreted a dream of the king’s, and he and his friends were promoted because their god (Yahweh) is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets.
3. Chapter 3…Daniel and the three friends were promoted again because Yahweh had saved them from the fiery furnace. They had promoted God through their faith and service and would not serve any other gods.
4. Chapter 4…King Nebuchadnezzar directly rejects Yahweh and Yahweh deals with the king directly. The king has another dream and no one except Daniel could interpret the dream. God wanted King Nebuchadnezzar to know that HE had given him the kingdom of Babylon and to acknowledge that God is sovereign.
Daniel 4:24-25 (NKJV)
24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
25 They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.
Daniel declares what the king must do to avoid God’s punishment…
Daniel 4:27 (NKJV)
27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
King Nebuchadnezzar rejects Yahweh…
Daniel 4:28-33 (NKJV)
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.
30 The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
31 While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!
32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
King Nebuchadnezzar returned from his rejection of God and praised Yahweh for who He is…
Daniel 4:37 (NKJV)
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
Will you purpose in your heart to follow God regardless of the circumstances?
Will you promote God in your life with your faith in Him and in serving Him?
Will you honor and praise God for who He truly is?