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2. Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion
Cherished
Bible
Stories
Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion

3. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
How much time since Dan 1?
No way to know for certain
We assume events in Dan 1 took place in Nebuchadnezzar’s 1st year
Events in Dan 2 were in his 2nd year v. 1

4. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
Septuagint states events in Dan 3 took place in Nebuchadnezzar’s 18th year v. 1
That cannot be positively proven
We can say Dan 3 does in fact follow Dan 2… 3:12 makes reference to 2:49

5. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
It is also entirely likely Nebuchadnezzar’s officials in 3:8-12 complain about Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-nego out of envy re: their “promotion” in 2:49

6. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
Nebuchadnezzar gave a royal decree re: a statue he had built vv. 1-6
He made a statue 90 feet tall
All his officials were told at the appointed time to bow down and worship this image
Failure to do so would mean instant death

7. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
The 3 Hebrews are “exposed” vv. 8-12
Chaldean officials came to the king and reminded him of his edict re: the image
They also told him Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-nego were not obeying the new law

8. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
Nebuchadnezzar reacts vv
He was filled with “rage and anger”
He ordered them brought before him
He appeared “lenient”…if they obeyed, all would be well v. 15a cp. 1:19-20

9. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
Nebuchadnezzar reacts vv
If they continued to refuse, they would be cast into the fiery furnace
He also arrogantly demeaned the God in whom they were trusting v. 15b

10. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
The 3 Hebrews respond vv
“We do not need to give you an answer re: this matter, O king.” v. 16
Not disrespectful…they simply offered no apologies for their convictions

11. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
The 3 Hebrews respond vv
“Our God is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and from your hand.” v. 17
A direct reply to the king’s boast v. 15b
They had no doubts re: God’s ability

12. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
The 3 Hebrews respond vv
“Our God is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and from your hand.” v. 17
What they weren’t sure of was whether their rescue was according to God’s will

13. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
The 3 Hebrews respond vv
“Even if our God does not deliver us, we still will not worship your image.” v. 18
Determined, committed faith no matter what
Remember…a “made up mind” 1:8

14. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
The 3 Hebrews respond vv
They were unsure of God’s response
They were very sure of their response
Their conduct was not going to depend on whether or not God rescued them

15. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
Nebuchadnezzar’s decision vv
His face showed his wrath v. 19a
He ordered the furnace heated 7 times more than normal v. 19b (a deadly decision for some) v. 22

16. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
Nebuchadnezzar’s decision vv
The 3 Hebrews were bound up and cast into the blazing furnace vv , 23
No doubt, he felt “confident” and maybe even “justified” by his decision v. 15b

17. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
God’s response vv
Nebuchadnezzar noticed something “odd”
He knew they had only cast 3 men into the furnace…yet, he saw 4 men “walking about” inside vv a

18. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
God’s response vv
Nebuchadnezzar noticed something “odd”
He even described the 4th individual as “…like the son of the gods!” v. 25b [KJV “Son of God” is a bad translation]

19. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
God’s response vv
Nebuchadnezzar orders the 3 Hebrews to come out of the furnace v. 26
They showed no effects of being in an inferno…not even the smell of smoke v. 27

20. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
God’s response vv
Obviously, God decided to rescue these Hebrews out of Nebuchadnezzar’s hand vv
Their faith had been vindicated

21. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
Nebuchadnezzar’s decree vv
He blessed the God of the 3 Hebrews, recognizing they had “trusted” Him v. 28
He forbid anyone speaking a word against the God of the 3 Hebrews v. 29

22. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Cherished Bible Stories
Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion
The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6
Before The Golden Image Dan 3
Some Applications…
Great faith will become even greater when it is “tested by fire” 1 Pet 1:6-7
Literally for these 3…figuratively for us
Such “fire” won’t surprise us 1 Pet 4:12-14

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