March 22, 2009
Scripture:
Scripture:
Turn back to Psalms; this time to Psalm 100: *“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations*.” How are we to do this? I think our brother gave us the answer in Psalm 103. This could no doubt be put to music: *“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. *Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” We have been forgiven, healed, redeemed, satisfied (see vv. 3 – 5); what a theme! May we enter His courts and give thanks!
Hymn 201 – When we walk with the Lord
Prayer
Today we’ll look at an exciting story in Daniel 3. Nebuchadnezzar made a large idol, v. 1; it was 90 feet fall and 9 feet wide. He called together all the leaders of the country for the dedication, and soon they all gathered around the image. A herald told them that when they heard the music, they were to worship the king’s idol. v.5. This wasn’t a suggestion: this was a command. Those who did not bow to the image would be cast into the fiery furnace, v.6.
So, when the music played, v.7, all the people obeyed the king’s command. However, a few of the Chaldeans came to the king, vv. 8 - 12, and told him that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—Daniel’s three friends—did not bow to the idol; instead, they clearly stood against the decree. The king called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and told them that if they obeyed his law, they would live; however, if they didn’t bow to the image, they would be cast into the furnace, vv. 13 - 15. The king knew that they worshipped God, and asked them sarcastically if He would be able to save them.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t need much time to think about their answer. They told the king that they wouldn’t bow to his idol, and that God would protect them. Even if He let them die, they would trust Him.
V. 19—the king was so angry at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that he commanded his men to heat the furnace 7 times hotter than usual. Then, v. 21, he had them bound and cast into the furnace. The furnace was so hot that the men that threw them in were killed by the heat. Soon the king came to see what was happening to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; v. 24, surprised at what he saw, he asked his counsellors if they had cast 3 men into the furnace. He then exclaimed that he saw 4 men, walking around in the fire; somehow, he knew that the fourth man had the form of the Son of God.
Immediately, the king called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out of the fire, v. 26. Everyone who was gathered there realized that the fire had not hurt the men; it had not even harmed their clothing. This moved the king to bless the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, claiming that He was the only God worthy of worship. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Psalm 34:7 says that “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego experienced this protection in a very real way. They trusted and obeyed God, and were honoured because of it. May we learn to trust and obey God in every circumstance of life as well.
The last two-thirds of ch. 9 were Ezra’s prayer of confession; we saw how he brought the second group of Jews back to Jerusalem and found that the descendants of the first group had fallen into sin. God had given them grace, allowing them to return to Israel, but they had gone right back to the sin that caused them to be taken captive. In ch. 9:14, Ezra asked a question, realizing that God’s wrath was upon them. In v. 15, he states that God is righteous; this is an important part in the confession of sin: realizing that God is right and we are wrong. Notice that Ezra doesn’t say, “forgive us.” He knew that there needed to be a correcting of wrong first.
Ch. 10 begins after Ezra’s prayer. A group of the people gather to him. It seems that the group with him in ch. 9 is made up of those who came with him; now those who were already there are gathering. They realized their sin: they had “joined in affinity with the people of these abominations” (ch. 9:14). “Affinity” is an interesting word; in chemistry, chemicals with affinity are similar and can be easily blended. We have two natures, and one of our natures has an affinity with evil; it’s like a magnet: one nature is attracted to evil, while the other nature is repulsed by it. The leaders of Zerubbabel’s group had the wrong affinity. Now Ezra offers a new leadership, and leads these same people in weeping. It is precious and important to see them weeping. They once again had a leader who would stand up for God; he showed them, v. 2, that they had trespassed against God.
Ezra was an example to the people of what was good and right. They made a confession, but it is not just a confession that will please God. The confession and repentance brought about actions necessary to correct the wrong, v. 3. This would be a very difficult thing for them to do; it shows us that sin brings painful consequences. One young brother who had strayed from the path remarked that it is so hard to come back. It is better to not taste that fruit in the first place; may the Lord preserve us!
Hymn 234 – Saviour, lead me lest I stray
Prayer