Chapter 5 Trials of Faith
Chapter 5
Trials of Faith
7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Peter.1:7,8)
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.(James.1:12)
Introduction
Have you ever faced a situation where your Christian faith has been challenged? Throughout the ages, true worshipers have faced oppositions from Satan and the world. An important message that we gather from the book of Daniel is that God extends His special care and protection to them in such situations. In these days when great forces are rising against true faith, we can derive strength from the lives of Daniel and his three friends.
1. Royal food
Nebuchadnezzar brought the four young men, following are the meaning of their names
Daniel - Jehovah is my judge
Hananiah - Jehovah is gracious
Mishale - Who is equal to Jehovah
Azariah - Jehovah is mighty
The king changed their names as the first attempt to divert them from their faith in God. They were given names related to the gods of Babylon.
Daniel: Belteshazzar meaning 'slave of Bel'
Hananiah: Shadrach meaning 'belonging to sun god.'
Mishael: Meshach meaning 'belonging to goddess Shach'
Azariah: Abed-nego meaning 'slave of fire.'
When the king tried to distract them with royal food and wine. The young men decided in their hearts that they will not defile themselves with the food offered to idols and made their stand known to the king. God respected their stand and made them more attractive and healthy than other young men who ate royal food. Moreover, they became proficient in all wisdom and knowledge. Luxuries of life became snares of Satan for many. Desires of the flesh, desires of the eye and luxuries of life should not take us away from the love of God.
2. Fiery furnace
The topic in the third chapter of the book of Daniel is the test of faith that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were subjected to after about 20 years of their captivity. Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, 60 cubits tall and 6 cubits broad and installed it in the plains of Dura. A great festival was organized. The king then gathered all the rulers of provinces, officials and ordinary people of the nation and asked them to fall down before the image when horn, flute, harp, lyre, etc. are sounded. It was decreed that those who do not worship the image will be cast into the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nago were also present in the gathering. They did not fall down and worship the image when the music sounded. The king became furious and ordered the heat of the furnace to be increased seven times before casting the three Jewish young men into it. The young men told the king that their God was able to save them from the fiery furnace. They also added that they would never worship the king's image even if God did not save them. The furnace was so intensely hot that men who carried the three to it were consumed by fire. But the three godly young men were seen walking in the furnace unharmed along with a fourth person who looked like Son of God. The astonished king brought them out and praised them for their faith. He was convinced that their God was the only true God and declared that all the people of his nation should worship that God.
Some of the prophetic lessons associated with this incident are listed below:
1. The image's height of 60 cubits and breadth 6 cubits do not appear to be in the right proportion. But its connection to number 6 which is man's number is quite evident. The number of the beast who will appear in future is 666. The image stands for the dead worship in the world.
These are opportunities for us to draw closer to our Lord and for the world to see God's deliverance. We must stand firm on God's side without fearing the fiery furnace.
3. Lions' den
A great trial faced by Daniel is recorded in chapter 6. Belshazzar, the last Babylonian Emperor was killed in B.C.536 and the Medo-Persian empire was established. The Median king Darius took charge of the empire on behalf of the Persian king, Cyrus. Darius recognized Daniel as a person who held high positions in the Babylonian kingdom and made him one of the three top rulers in his kingdom. Probably Darius heard about what Daniel's had told Belshazzar about the fall of the Babylonian empire. Daniel's reputation was great at that time when he was more than 86 years old. He continued to be a great ruler even in the Medo-Persian empire. These were many jealous colleagues who wanted to find some faults in Daniel's way of administration. Let this be an example for us, believers, to be honest, and upright if we happen to be in positions of power.
Enemies of Daniel influenced Darius to bring out an order designed to put him down. The order proclaimed that for 30 days everyone should pray only to the king and if a person is found praying to any man or god other than the king, he will be cast into a den of lions. But Daniel was not frightened by the order. He continued to kneel down and pray to God, as usual, three times a day. The king was informed about this. Although he wanted to save Daniel, he could not go against the wishes of his officials and he ordered that Daniel is cast into the lions' den. Next day morning, the king reached the entrance of the den and found that Daniel was unhurt. Darius brought Daniel out of the den and ordered his enemies to be cast into it instead. By this incident, Darius came to know the power of God and gave all glory and honor to Him.
Let Daniel's life be an example to us. He gave more value to his relationship with God than to his high position in the world. As children of God attain greater positions of power or status in this world, they are likely to face bigger trials of faith. God allows tests in our life, not to destroy us, but to see us come out of them victorious. In all this, God's name should be glorified. In the midst of his trials, Job declared: "when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold".
We have learned about three tests that Daniel and his friends passed through. Whether we are in attractive surroundings or in the midst of sufferings or in the den of lions, we should never waiver from our close and pure relationship with our Lord. In these days when top spiritual leaders are being swayed by riches and power, let us commit our lives to a close walk with our Lord.
1. Royal food
Nebuchadnezzar brought the four young men, following are the meaning of their names
Daniel - Jehovah is my judge
Hananiah - Jehovah is gracious
Mishale - Who is equal to Jehovah
Azariah - Jehovah is mighty
The king changed their names as the first attempt to divert them from their faith in God. They were given names related to the gods of Babylon.
Daniel: Belteshazzar meaning 'slave of Bel'
Hananiah: Shadrach meaning 'belonging to sun god.'
Mishael: Meshach meaning 'belonging to goddess Shach'
Azariah: Abed-nego meaning 'slave of fire.'
When the king tried to distract them with royal food and wine. The young men decided in their hearts that they will not defile themselves with the food offered to idols and made their stand known to the king. God respected their stand and made them more attractive and healthy than other young men who ate royal food. Moreover, they became proficient in all wisdom and knowledge. Luxuries of life became snares of Satan for many. Desires of the flesh, desires of the eye and luxuries of life should not take us away from the love of God.
2. Fiery furnace
The topic in the third chapter of the book of Daniel is the test of faith that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were subjected to after about 20 years of their captivity. Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, 60 cubits tall and 6 cubits broad and installed it in the plains of Dura. A great festival was organized. The king then gathered all the rulers of provinces, officials and ordinary people of the nation and asked them to fall down before the image when horn, flute, harp, lyre, etc. are sounded. It was decreed that those who do not worship the image will be cast into the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nago were also present in the gathering. They did not fall down and worship the image when the music sounded. The king became furious and ordered the heat of the furnace to be increased seven times before casting the three Jewish young men into it. The young men told the king that their God was able to save them from the fiery furnace. They also added that they would never worship the king's image even if God did not save them. The furnace was so intensely hot that men who carried the three to it were consumed by fire. But the three godly young men were seen walking in the furnace unharmed along with a fourth person who looked like Son of God. The astonished king brought them out and praised them for their faith. He was convinced that their God was the only true God and declared that all the people of his nation should worship that God.
Some of the prophetic lessons associated with this incident are listed below:
1. The image's height of 60 cubits and breadth 6 cubits do not appear to be in the right proportion. But its connection to number 6 which is man's number is quite evident. The number of the beast who will appear in future is 666. The image stands for the dead worship in the world.
This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.(Rev 13:18)
2. All people were compelled to bow before the image. Likewise, the antichrist will compel everyone during the Great Tribulation to bow before the image of the beast. The image points to the worldly tendency of worshipping man and idols.
3. The worship associated with the image was accompanied by great pomp and ceremony with sounds of the horn, flute, harp, lyre etc. The festivals and worship ceremonies accompanied by bands, drums, fireworks, elephants, etc. are successors of Babylonian worship and forerunners of such ceremonies during the reign of Antichrist.
4. All those who did not bow down in front of the golden image were thrown into the fiery furnace. Similarly, those who do not bow down in front of the image of the beast will be destroyed.
14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. (Rev.13:14,15
5. Nebuchadnezzar called people of all creeds and cultures and religions to gather together in front of the image set up by him. Present day attempts at unity and cooperation among all religions will end up in a universal religion under the leadership of the False Prophet. Thus nations and religions will come together under Antichrist and False Prophet who will lead them to Armageddon which will be a war against God.
6. The three Jewish young men who refused to worship the image represent the remnant who will refuse to bow down before the image of the Antichrist. Many Jews will be beheaded of this reason.
16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.(Rev.13:16)
7. Like the fourth person resembling Son of God who appeared in the fiery furnace to save the three young men, Christ will appear in glory to redeem the Jewish remnant.
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming (2 Thes.2:3-8)
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.(Rev.19:19-21)
Spiritual lesson: Fiery furnace stands for sufferings. People of God may pass through experiences like the fiery furnace. In such circumstances, our Lord will come near to give grace and strength to endure those sufferings.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.(Hebrews.4:14-16)
These are opportunities for us to draw closer to our Lord and for the world to see God's deliverance. We must stand firm on God's side without fearing the fiery furnace.
3. Lions' den
A great trial faced by Daniel is recorded in chapter 6. Belshazzar, the last Babylonian Emperor was killed in B.C.536 and the Medo-Persian empire was established. The Median king Darius took charge of the empire on behalf of the Persian king, Cyrus. Darius recognized Daniel as a person who held high positions in the Babylonian kingdom and made him one of the three top rulers in his kingdom. Probably Darius heard about what Daniel's had told Belshazzar about the fall of the Babylonian empire. Daniel's reputation was great at that time when he was more than 86 years old. He continued to be a great ruler even in the Medo-Persian empire. These were many jealous colleagues who wanted to find some faults in Daniel's way of administration. Let this be an example for us, believers, to be honest, and upright if we happen to be in positions of power.
Enemies of Daniel influenced Darius to bring out an order designed to put him down. The order proclaimed that for 30 days everyone should pray only to the king and if a person is found praying to any man or god other than the king, he will be cast into a den of lions. But Daniel was not frightened by the order. He continued to kneel down and pray to God, as usual, three times a day. The king was informed about this. Although he wanted to save Daniel, he could not go against the wishes of his officials and he ordered that Daniel is cast into the lions' den. Next day morning, the king reached the entrance of the den and found that Daniel was unhurt. Darius brought Daniel out of the den and ordered his enemies to be cast into it instead. By this incident, Darius came to know the power of God and gave all glory and honor to Him.
Let Daniel's life be an example to us. He gave more value to his relationship with God than to his high position in the world. As children of God attain greater positions of power or status in this world, they are likely to face bigger trials of faith. God allows tests in our life, not to destroy us, but to see us come out of them victorious. In all this, God's name should be glorified. In the midst of his trials, Job declared: "when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold".
We have learned about three tests that Daniel and his friends passed through. Whether we are in attractive surroundings or in the midst of sufferings or in the den of lions, we should never waiver from our close and pure relationship with our Lord. In these days when top spiritual leaders are being swayed by riches and power, let us commit our lives to a close walk with our Lord.
Comments
Post a Comment