Do not bow to the idols of this age • Apr 28, 2024 • Eric Stillman

Do not bow to the idols of this age • Apr 28, 2024 • Eric Stillman

This morning, I am in the fourth week of a new sermon series through the Old
Testament book of Daniel that will take us up until the summer. To recap, God has
allowed Israel to be conquered by Babylon as discipline for their sins. The main
characters in this story are Daniel and his three friends, commonly known as
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who are attempting to remain faithful to their
God despite being in exile and being faced with the attempts of the Babylonian
King, Nebuchadnezzar, to reprogram them into loyal Babylonian servants. This
morning we will be looking at Daniel 3, a familiar story if you grew up in the
church, which focuses on Shadrach, Meshach and Abenego:
Daniel 3:1–30 - 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.
3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers,
judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the
dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood
before it. 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.” 7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither,
lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell
down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 At
this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews....