Our Scripture reading is a marvelous study of the fearless believer. As we meditate on this portion of God’s Word and carefully examine the behavior of three godly men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we learn much about what keeps a child of God free of fear even during times of extreme danger.
What is the profile of one of God’s children who walks through life a stranger to fear? It is important to keep in mind that everything, anything, and all things that a child of God seeks after in this life are to be for the glorification of his God. There is to be holy priority in the life of the Christian. The normal Christian life—not the average Christian life—is not one which pursues comfort and ease and safety, but pursues God. It is a life that even during times of great affliction and hardship seeks help and deliverance not for its own sake but for God’s sake.
Said the psalmist, "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name and deliver us and purge away our sins for thy name’s sake" (Psalm 79:9). Our very salvation was given us for His sake, not ours. We are on this planet for one reason, and that is, for the glory of His name.
There can be no question that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in our Scripture reading brought glory to their God by the way they conducted themselves before Nebuchadnezzar the king. One of the ways that the true child of God glorifies his God, the true God, is by refusing to worship false gods. This is obvious in verse 18. They said, "…we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image…"
We need always to be examined by the truth of God’s holy Word. Are there any gods in my life that I serve as much or possibly even more than the Lord God Jehovah? Examine yourself with me, saint. How about the god of money, or possessions or success or recognition even in our service for the true God? What about the gods of family or friends? Could it be we are actually placing creatures in front of the Creator?
Isaiah 26:13 reads, "O Lord our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us;…" Something is going to have the power or the right of governing and controlling us. Something will always have sovereign authority in my life. "O Lord our God…" that is, "O Lord, the one and only true God, the sovereign God, the God Who should have complete and sovereign control in my life—other lords," (small "l") "besides thee have had sovereign authority in my life! And I don’t want it that way!" One of the evidences that you belong to God is the fact that in the deepest recesses of your heart you want God, you long for Him to have that place!
In our Scripture, the reaction of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to King Nebuchadnezzar’s threat of death by fire is that they were hardly fazed by the prospect. Notice that immediately after the king’s question in verse 15, "…who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" without a moment’s hesitation their response is, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter." There is a delightful nonchalance in their reaction to King Nebuchadnezzar’s threatening question. It is a nonchalance born of deep-seated confidence in Jehovah God.
