Sunday School Lesson

1. DANIEL
Chapters 2-3
RISK EVERYTHING FOR GOD
They wouldn’t bend, They wouldn’t bow, They wouldn’t burn!
August 3, 2014
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
USA
August Memory Verse
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
THE BOOK OF DANIEL
• Theological Theme: God’s Sovereignty
Daniel 5:21
… the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them
anyone he wishes.
God controls the destinies of both pagan empires and His exiled people.
REFERENCES
Where God Was Born by Bruce Feiler, Harper Collins, 2005.
Daniel: God’s Pattern For The Future, A Study Guide by Charles R. Swindoll, 1992
Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy by Beth Moore, 2006
Daniel – Chapter 1 Summary
• Nebuchadnezzar: King of Babylon 605 BC
• Daniel & 3 friends deported to Babylon
• They resolve not to defile themselves
• Successful 10 day test of no royal food & wine
• Spend 3 years in “Babylon University”
• Entered the king’s service
• God blessed their resolve to serve Him

2. Daniel 2:1-2
1 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was
troubled and he could not sleep. 2 So the king summoned the magicians,
enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When
they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, "I have had a dream
that troubles me and I want to know what it means."
4 Then the astrologers answered the king, "May the king live forever! Tell your
servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
5 The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do
not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces
and your houses turned into piles of rubble.
Summary of Daniel 2:6-23
• Nebuchadnezzar orders all wise men killed
• Daniel asks for time to interpret dream
• Daniel & friends prayed: “plead for mercy from God concerning this
mystery …”
• God reveals the dream to Daniel that night.
• Daniel praises the God of heaven
Daniel 2:27-28
27 Daniel replied (to Nebuchadnezzar), "No wise man, enchanter, magician or
diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,
28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King
Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions
that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:
Daniel 2:31-35
31 "Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an
enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of the statue
was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of
bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While
you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the
statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay,
the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like
chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without
leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain
and filled the whole earth.

3. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Meaning of the Dream Statue

4. Daniel 2:44-49
44 "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will
never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those
kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the
meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands
—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to
pieces. "The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The
dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy." 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar
fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and
incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the
God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able
to reveal this mystery."
(Setting for Daniel 3)
48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him.
He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in
charge of all its wise men. 49 Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of
Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
Daniel 3:1-6
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits
wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then
summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges,
magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the
image he had set up.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "Nations and peoples of every language,
this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the
horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and
worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever
does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing
furnace."
Daniel 3 Background
• The other advisors to Nebuchadnezzar are jealous of Daniel & friends
because of their wisdom & authority over them.
• These advisors were setting a trap
• Advisors probably appealed to the king’s ego to build a statue from the
dream
• Advisors knew that these Jewish men would not worship the golden idol.

5. Image of Gold
3 Do Not Fall Down & Worship

6. To Bow Down
• Outward sign of reverence for God
• Implies submission, reverence, obedience, humility, respect
Exodus 4:29-31
29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron
told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs
before the people, 31 and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was
concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and
worshiped.
Bowing in Heaven
Philippians 2:9-11
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 4:9-11
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on
the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty- four elders fall down
before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."
Angels are NOT to be Worshiped
Revelation 22:8-9
8 “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard
and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been
showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant
with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this
scroll. Worship God!"

7. Summary of Daniel 3:7-15
• Advisors tell Nebuchadnezzar about Jewish administrators who “do not
serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
• Nebuchadnezzar is furious with rage!
• He gives them another chance, but they refuse
• “What god will be able to rescue you?”
Daniel 3:16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we
do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into
the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will
deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to
know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of
gold you have set up."
Lessons in Daniel 3:16-18
• You cannot negotiate or compromise with evil
– God will honor your faithfulness
• You do not always know how or if God will rescue
– God knows the plan, even when you don’t
• Keep your faith fully resigned to God’s will
– God may be more glorified by how you handle a failure or set-
back, than people seeing your success
Daniel 3:19-24
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven
times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his
army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the
blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other
clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command
was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers
who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly
tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his
advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"
They replied, "Certainly, Your Majesty."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and
unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
• Who was the fourth person?
• What happened to the ropes that bound them?

8. Theophany
• Theophany = Physical appearance or personal manifestation of a god to
a person.
– In human form, visions, Angel of the Lord, Not in human form, As the
name of the Lord
• Christophany = Physical appearance of pre-incarnate Christ to a person.
– Incarnate Christ: The deity and humanity were joined for the time
on earth & then all eternity

9. Daniel 3:26- 27
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and
shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God,
come out! Come here!
"So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps,
prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the
fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes
were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
Isaiah 43:1-2 (Prophecy)
1 But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
Daniel 3:28-29
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him
and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather
than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that
the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be
turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
Lesson From The Fiery Furnace
How many are always present in the fiery furnace of a suffering Christian?
• How many are always present in the fiery furnace of a suffering Christian?
– 4
– Suffering Christian + Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
– You are flanked by the power and presence of God the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit!

10. The Lingering Question
• Where was Daniel during this time??
– The Bible does not say
• Out of the country on the King’s business (removed from the situation)-
• Exempted from worshipping statue - NO
• Yielded to the mandate - NO
3 Scenarios When We Face Fires
1. We can be delivered from the fire.
- Our faith is built.
- Conclusion of today’s lesson
Daniel 3:30
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in
the province of Babylon.
2. We can be delivered through the fire.
- Our faith is refined.
- Paul’s thorn in the flesh
2 Corinthians 12:8-9
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But
he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness."
3. We can be delivered by the fire into His arms.
- Our faith is perfected.
- Stoning death of Stephen
Acts 7:59-60
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive
my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not
hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
3 Scenarios When We Face Fires
1. We can be delivered from the fire.
- Our faith is built.
2. We can be delivered through the fire.
- Our faith is refined.
3. We can be delivered by the fire into His arms.
- Our faith is perfected.

11. “We Believe” by Newsboys
Words by David Mullen
We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He’s given us new life!
We believe in the crucifixion!
We believe that He conquered death!
We believe in the resurrection!
And He’s coming back again!
We believe!

12. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
Death in this life (the first death) is 100%. Even Jesus, the only one who
doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the penalty for our sins. The
death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake
which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he
shall be My son.”
Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to accept Jesus as our Savior.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with
the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
If you have questions or would like to know more.
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at
601-979-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/