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The Greatest Story Ever Told How To Read And Understand THE PROPHETS (Daniel, Part 3/ Ch. 3)

How To Understand The Prophets Get help! (Commentaries, dictionaries, etc.) Understand the history of the time Big Picture (Israel in Exile, Babylonian Empire) Fine Detail (Nebuchadnezzar) Learn how to read poetry Realize that their future may be our past

The Purpose Of The Prophets Prophets are God’s spokesmen, God’s messengers “They were like ambassadors from the heavenly court, who relayed the divine sovereign’s will to the people.” (Fee, 170) What was their main job? Remind Israel to keep their covenant with God

The King’s Statue & Decree (3:1-7) Statue of gold “King Nebuchadnezzar had set up” Bow down to the image Or be cast into the furnace

Three Jews Accused and Threatened (3:8-15) Accused of not bowing down before the statue Offered a second chance Threatened with their lives “And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hand?” (Daniel 3:15) Forgot about the God of god’s (2:47)

Trivial Pursuit (Art & Culture) What’s the name of the Indian Chief’s daughter in Never Never Land? What date is Boxing Day observed on? Who tells stories about Brer Rabbit? What day is Canada day observed on?

The Jews Confess Their Faith (3:16-18) Where does their courage come from? They were looking forward to a coming King and His eternal kingdom (2:44) Daniel 2:44 Our God is able (We know who we serve) Our God is good (He will deliver us from you) We will not serve you or your gods

The Jews Punished (3:19-23) Angry King Furnace heated seven time hotter! Bound by soldiers Flames killed the soldiers Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the furnace

Trivial Pursuit (Book of Daniel) Who is the second king we meet in the book of Daniel? Who was the king when Daniel got cast into the lions den? What two animals are in Daniel’s vision in Chapter 8?

The Jews Vindicated (3:24-27) King was astonished by what he saw Four men in walking in the furnace Fourth looked like a son of the god’s Jesus? (Christophany) Angel? Gods presence with believers (Isaiah 43:2) Called out of the furnace Fire had no power over their bodies Hair not signed, cloaks not burned, no smell of fire

Kings Decree to Honor God (3:28-30) King praises God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Decree: anyone who speaks against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb to limb Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego promoted

On Each Side of the Fiery Furnace God receives praise from the world (2:47 & 3:28) God’s people are protected from the world (2:48 & 3:29) God’s people are given productive work to do in the world (2:49 & 3:30)

What’s the Cause? (3:16-18) Uncompromising resistance to the pull of the world Not willing to compromise Will not give their allegiance to anyone but God Unshakable confidence in the providence of God God gave (1:2,9,17) God was at work in everything

What’s the Cause? (3:16-18) Trust in their God and a coming King Not a belief in themselves but in their God “Our God is able” They remembered the promise of a coming King who’s kingdom will endure forever! (2:44) Genesis 3:15 2 Samuel 7

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