The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 14 November 2024 — The Limited Power Of Man
TOPIC: The Limited Power Of Man
READ: Daniel3:3-18 (NKJV)
- 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.
- 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.”
- So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, [and] lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down [and] worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
- Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
- They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!
- “You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, [and] psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image;
- “and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
- “There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
- Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
- Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “[Is it] true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, [that] you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
- “Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, [and] psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, [good!] But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who [is] the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
- 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.”
THE MESSAGE
As we read yesterday, some officials of king Nebuchadnezzar identified those who defied the king’s order and reported to him. However, the king decided to give the culprits a second chance to obey his order. Yet, the young men still refused and dared the king. They declared that their God would save them and even if He did not, they were ready to be thrown into the fiery furnace. What a demonstration of absolute faith in God!
Nebuchadnezzar felt so sure of his power and authority that he arrogantly declared in verse 15, “And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” To the king, he was above every man and god and hence no man or god could deliver these Hebrew youths from his hands. God declared in Lamentations 3: 37, “Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass when the Lord has not commanded it?” Every time we boast, we must remember that man that is born of a woman is of few days (Job 14:1). Any power or authority one wields is at the instance of God. God can choose to remove it from one and give it to another without consultation. So let us tread with caution.
PRAYER: Lord may I not bring disgrace to You when my faith is tried in Jesus’ name.
