Who is Your God?

 

Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my Gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well:  but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God, that shall deliver you out of my hands?  ( Daniel 3:14-15 ).

The story of the three Hebrew children stands out in Bible history.  Here were three young men, who purposed in their heart, they were going to worship the God of Heaven.

Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and besieged it.  He took captives of certain men back to Babylon to stand in the Kings Palace.

The three men who stand out in this story were:  Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  This was their real Hebrew names.  These men were taught the Shema of Israel, “Hear, oh Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.”  They only knew and worshipped the one God of Israel.

It is important today that we know the Name of our God.

What is His Name?  Jesus!

The Jews were not accustomed to worshipping images as other countries did.
Let me say this to you today.  One day you may stand alone for the Name of your God.

            There may not be a church there to support you.

            There may not be a Temple to pray in.

            You may be separated from your family and loved ones.

            Your pastor may not be there to encourage you.

            All you will have, is your simple faith in God.

            The Hebrew names of these three men meant something.

            Hananiah’s name means, “Jehovah is gracious.”  How would you like to have a name like that?  Doesn’t this name have a nice ring to it?

            Mishael’s name means, “Who is what God is.”  Now I would like to have a name like that, who is what God is.

Asariah’s name means, “Jehovah is my helper.”  This also is a wonderful name to have.

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were taken captive to the city of Babylon.  They were in a foreign land.  They were not around the Temple in Jerusalem, but in a place of strange surroundings.

With names like, “Jehovah is gracious, Who is what God is, and Jehovah is my helper,” these names were not acceptable in Babylon.

The King of Babylon had their names changed.  They were also stripped of their Jewish dress, and clothed in Babylonian dress.

Hananiah’s name was changed to, Shadrach,  Shadrach means, “Decree of the Moon God.”

Mishael’s name was changed to, Meshach.  Meshach means, “Belonging to the Goddess of wine.”

Azariah’s name was changed to, Abednego.  Abednego means, “Servant of Nebo.”

What a terrific change from the land of Israel.  Babylon changed their names, changed their dress, but could not change their faith in the one God of Israel.
The world may change my name, my dress, but they cannot change my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

One day, King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image, and set it up to be worshipped.  This image of gold was about 105 feet tall, and 10 feet wide.  At the sound of Babylonian music, all subjects of the kingdom were to bow down and worship this image.

Everyone in the kingdom bowed down and worshipped the golden image, except Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  When King Nebuchadnezzar heard of their refusal to bow down to his image, he was furious.

The king immediately called the Hebrew men into his office, and explained to them the situation.  The terms were simple, either they went along with the crowd in worshipping the image, or be cast alive into a burning fiery furnace.

After  all,  they  were  no  longer  in   Jerusalem,   this   was   Babylon.    That   old Jerusalem stuff must go.  That old Jerusalem worship is old and outdated, this is modern Babylon.  They must adopt to Babylonian customs and worship.

Nebuchadnezzar  said,  “Who is that God that shall deliver you out  of  my  hand?”

“O.K., boys, I’ll give you one more chance, you had better make it good.  You either blend in with Babylonian society, or die.”

The music began to play.  All the weird noise of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all other kinds of music.  All the people began bowing to the golden image.

Meshach might have looked at Shadrach and said, “Hey Shadrach, are you going to bow?”  Shadarach answered, “Not me, down in Israel, I was taught that only Jehovah was to be worshipped.”  Abednego spoke up and said, “They came too late to change this old boy.”

I want you to know today, I am determined to worship Jesus Christ, the one true God of Israel.  I will not bow down to any other pagan gods.  He alone, is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Many people today are bowing down and worshipping Satan with the music of this world.  Devil music is all around us.  You don’t think music carries a message?  You ought to listen to the vulgar lyrics of songs today.  Lyrics that glorify adultery, murder, drugs, and suicide.

I admire the courage and faith of these three Hebrew men.  Would to God, we had more men like this today, men who would take a stand for Jesus Christ against the pressure and devil music of our society.

“Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hand?”

Who is your God today?  Jesus!

What is his Name?  Jesus!

I can’t hear you.  Jesus!

Jesus who?  Jesus Christ!

Will be deliver you?  Yes!

“Is it true, you will not worship my Gods?”  Yes!

Is it true, you only worship the God of Israel?  Yes!

Is it true, you believe in repentance?  Yes!

Is it true, you believe in water baptism?  Yes!

Is it true, you believe in the Holy Spirit?  Yes!

Is it true, you won’t listen to devil music?  Yes!

The three Hebrew men stood straight and proud, as everyone bowed down to the golden image.

King Nebuchadnezzar was so mad, he couldn’t see straight.  He had received a direct insult from the Hebrew children.

He said, “Servants, take these three men, bind them, and cast them this very moment into the midst of the fiery furnace, do it now!”

Because the kings command was so urgent, the mighty men of his army, bound Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego and cast them into the midst of the fiery furnace.  The furnace was so hot, it slew the mighty men.

The king, in his rage, turned to look at the ashes of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  He cried aloud, “Hey, did not we cast three men into this furnace?”  They replied,  “Yes,  O  king!”   The  king  said,  “Lo,  I  see  four  men  loose  and  walking   in the midst of the fire and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God!”

The angel of the Lord was walking in the midst of the fiery furnace with the Hebrew children.

Saint of God, God will send His angels in the midst of the furnace of affliction to protect you.  It was only after the deliverance from the fiery furnace, were the Hebrew children called by the king, “Servants of the Most High God.”

We are sons of the Most High God today.

Bring on the fire.

Bring on the trials.

Bring on the affliction.

My God will deliver me, He is the God of Deliverances.

Who is that God that will deliver me?  Jesus!

Who is my helper?  Jesus!

Who is my provider?  Jesus!

Who is my strength?  Jesus!

Who is my Saviour?  Jesus!

Jesus?  The Almighty, the Conqueror, the Deliverer, and the Most High God.  If He is for us, who can be against us?

Praise His Name!  Praise His Name!