1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:12,610 Speaker 1: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 2 00:00:13,820 --> 00:00:17,950 Speaker 1: a Calming Scripture Center devotional podcast designed to help you 3 00:00:18,070 --> 00:00:21,349 Speaker 1: end each day with God's Word in your mind and 4 00:00:21,430 --> 00:00:26,650 Speaker 1: on your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 5 00:00:27,210 --> 00:00:41,750 Speaker 1: we'll reflect on tonight's scripture, Daniel chapter 3, Tonight's scripture 6 00:00:41,770 --> 00:00:46,100 Speaker 1: reflection is written by Lynette Kittle and read by Carrie Eichberger. 7 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: Daniel chapter 3. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, 8 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:58,580 Speaker 1: 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide, and set it 9 00:00:58,740 --> 00:01:02,260 Speaker 1: up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 10 00:01:02,980 --> 00:01:10,470 Speaker 1: He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, 11 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,750 Speaker 1: and all the other provincial officials to come to the 12 00:01:13,770 --> 00:01:22,590 Speaker 1: dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, 13 00:01:23,030 --> 00:01:27,150 Speaker 1: and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication 14 00:01:27,390 --> 00:01:30,620 Speaker 1: of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and 15 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:35,660 Speaker 1: they stood before it. Then the herald loudly proclaimed, Nations 16 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:38,380 Speaker 1: and peoples of every language, this is what you are 17 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,009 Speaker 1: commanded to do. As soon as you hear the sound 18 00:01:41,050 --> 00:01:46,369 Speaker 1: of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all 19 00:01:46,430 --> 00:01:49,830 Speaker 1: kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the 20 00:01:49,930 --> 00:01:53,470 Speaker 1: image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever 21 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown 22 00:01:56,500 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: into a blazing furnace. Therefore, as soon as they heard 23 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and 24 00:02:05,100 --> 00:02:08,420 Speaker 1: all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of 25 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,169 Speaker 1: every language fell down and worshipped the image of gold 26 00:02:12,550 --> 00:02:16,179 Speaker 1: that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. At this time, some 27 00:02:16,220 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to 28 00:02:20,220 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: King Nebuchadnezzar, May the king live forever. Your Majesty has 29 00:02:24,380 --> 00:02:27,140 Speaker 1: issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of 30 00:02:27,180 --> 00:02:32,020 Speaker 1: the horn, flute, cither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds 31 00:02:32,060 --> 00:02:35,500 Speaker 1: of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 32 00:02:36,020 --> 00:02:38,910 Speaker 1: and that whoever does not fall down and worship will 33 00:02:38,950 --> 00:02:42,190 Speaker 1: be thrown into the blazing furnace. But there are some Jews, 34 00:02:42,580 --> 00:02:45,100 Speaker 1: whom you have sent over the affairs of the province 35 00:02:45,139 --> 00:02:50,460 Speaker 1: of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who pay no attention 36 00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:53,620 Speaker 1: to you, your majesty. They neither serve your gods nor 37 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,900 Speaker 1: worship the image of gold you have set up. Furious 38 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these 39 00:03:02,660 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: men were brought before the king. And Nebuchadnezzar said to them, 40 00:03:06,660 --> 00:03:09,780 Speaker 1: Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do 41 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,710 Speaker 1: not serve my gods or worship the image of gold 42 00:03:12,750 --> 00:03:15,350 Speaker 1: I have set up? Now when you hear the sound 43 00:03:15,389 --> 00:03:19,430 Speaker 1: of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all 44 00:03:19,470 --> 00:03:21,929 Speaker 1: kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down 45 00:03:21,950 --> 00:03:24,610 Speaker 1: and worship the image I made, very good. But if 46 00:03:24,630 --> 00:03:27,380 Speaker 1: you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately 47 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able 48 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: to rescue you from my hand? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 49 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,740 Speaker 1: replied to him, King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to 50 00:03:38,780 --> 00:03:41,980 Speaker 1: defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are 51 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: thrown into the placing furnace, the God we serve is 52 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,810 Speaker 1: able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver 53 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:51,010 Speaker 1: us from your majesty's hand. But even if he does not, 54 00:03:51,450 --> 00:03:53,810 Speaker 1: we want you to know, your majesty, that we will 55 00:03:53,870 --> 00:03:56,870 Speaker 1: not serve your gods or worship the image of gold 56 00:03:56,950 --> 00:04:01,930 Speaker 1: you have set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach, 57 00:04:01,970 --> 00:04:06,050 Speaker 1: and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered 58 00:04:06,070 --> 00:04:09,930 Speaker 1: the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded 59 00:04:09,970 --> 00:04:12,770 Speaker 1: some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie 60 00:04:12,830 --> 00:04:15,850 Speaker 1: up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the 61 00:04:15,890 --> 00:04:21,020 Speaker 1: blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans, 62 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 63 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so 64 00:04:28,940 --> 00:04:32,260 Speaker 1: hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers 65 00:04:32,580 --> 00:04:36,779 Speaker 1: who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, 66 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:42,940 Speaker 1: firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar 67 00:04:43,380 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, 68 00:04:47,260 --> 00:04:49,900 Speaker 1: Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw 69 00:04:49,940 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: into the fire? They replied, Certainly, your majesty. He said, Look, 70 00:04:55,670 --> 00:04:59,410 Speaker 1: I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound 71 00:04:59,810 --> 00:05:03,590 Speaker 1: and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the son of God's. 72 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, Shadrach, Meshach, 73 00:05:10,300 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, 74 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 1: come here. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of 75 00:05:18,620 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 1: the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisors 76 00:05:24,260 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: crowned around them. They saw that the fire had not 77 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: harmed their bodies, nor was the hair of their heads singed. 78 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,450 Speaker 1: Their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell 79 00:05:35,490 --> 00:05:40,130 Speaker 1: of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, Praise be to 80 00:05:40,150 --> 00:05:44,030 Speaker 1: the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent 81 00:05:44,089 --> 00:05:48,190 Speaker 1: his angel and rescued his servants. They trusted in him 82 00:05:48,210 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: and defied the king's command and were willing to give 83 00:05:51,580 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: up their lives rather than serve or worship any god 84 00:05:55,300 --> 00:05:59,860 Speaker 1: except their own god. Therefore, I decree that the people 85 00:05:59,900 --> 00:06:03,270 Speaker 1: of any nation or language who say anything against the 86 00:06:03,330 --> 00:06:07,029 Speaker 1: God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, be cut into pieces, 87 00:06:07,529 --> 00:06:10,990 Speaker 1: and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for 88 00:06:11,110 --> 00:06:14,830 Speaker 1: no other God can save in this way. Then the 89 00:06:14,890 --> 00:06:19,910 Speaker 1: king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. 90 00:06:24,330 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: James 1 verses 2 through 4 encourages us to consider 91 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:32,260 Speaker 1: pure joy, my brothers. when you encounter trials of many kinds, 92 00:06:32,810 --> 00:06:36,770 Speaker 1: because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 93 00:06:37,430 --> 00:06:40,330 Speaker 1: Allow perseverance to finish its work so that you may 94 00:06:40,370 --> 00:06:45,490 Speaker 1: be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Still, when our 95 00:06:45,550 --> 00:06:49,010 Speaker 1: faith is tested, what do we do? Are we afraid 96 00:06:49,050 --> 00:06:51,289 Speaker 1: of what might happen to us if we don't bow 97 00:06:51,370 --> 00:06:55,690 Speaker 1: down to peer pressure? Or do we respond like Shadrach, Meshach, 98 00:06:55,710 --> 00:06:59,700 Speaker 1: and Abednego, standing firm in our faith, unwilling to bow 99 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: down to false beliefs, trusting God to deliver us both 100 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: in life and death. These three knew their souls were 101 00:07:07,850 --> 00:07:11,750 Speaker 1: safe with God, regardless of whether they lived or died, 102 00:07:12,390 --> 00:07:15,230 Speaker 1: and their reward would be to live with Him forever. 103 00:07:15,250 --> 00:07:19,510 Speaker 1: History is filled with Christians who wouldn't deny their faith 104 00:07:19,570 --> 00:07:22,930 Speaker 1: in Christ and bow down to false gods, even to 105 00:07:22,970 --> 00:07:26,970 Speaker 1: the point of death and losing their lives. Instead, they 106 00:07:27,090 --> 00:07:30,050 Speaker 1: trusted God like the three men in the fiery furnace, 107 00:07:30,610 --> 00:07:33,810 Speaker 1: believing He was able to deliver them, and even if 108 00:07:33,850 --> 00:07:37,850 Speaker 1: He didn't, they still wouldn't bow down. As the Apostle 109 00:07:37,890 --> 00:07:41,730 Speaker 1: Paul wrote so many years later, they trusted God and believed, 110 00:07:42,270 --> 00:07:45,929 Speaker 1: for to me, to live is Christ and to die 111 00:07:45,990 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: is gain. Revelation 3.5 describes the reward we will receive 112 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: for standing firm in our faith. The one who is 113 00:07:54,380 --> 00:07:58,350 Speaker 1: victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will 114 00:07:58,390 --> 00:08:00,430 Speaker 1: never blot out the name of that person in the 115 00:08:00,450 --> 00:08:03,810 Speaker 1: book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my 116 00:08:03,870 --> 00:08:10,790 Speaker 1: Father and His angels. God, help me today and every 117 00:08:10,850 --> 00:08:15,330 Speaker 1: day to stand firm when my faith is tested. Strengthen 118 00:08:15,370 --> 00:08:18,570 Speaker 1: me to trust and believe that my soul is safe 119 00:08:18,610 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: with You whether I live or die. As Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, 120 00:08:23,820 --> 00:08:27,910 Speaker 1: and the Apostle Paul emboldened me, O Lord, to believe 121 00:08:27,930 --> 00:08:31,530 Speaker 1: with my whole heart that to live is Christ and 122 00:08:31,550 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 1: to die is gain. Amen. How did tonight's scripture speak 123 00:08:36,860 --> 00:08:40,100 Speaker 1: to you? Share your thoughts in the Your Nightly Scripture 124 00:08:40,140 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: Forum discussion. 125 00:08:49,470 --> 00:08:54,050 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture 126 00:08:54,470 --> 00:08:59,270 Speaker 2: was read from the New International Version By Biblica. All 127 00:08:59,330 --> 00:09:05,220 Speaker 2: rights reserved. Be sure to follow our sister show, Your 128 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:10,540 Speaker 2: Daily Bible Verse, on Apple or Spotify. By following Your 129 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,950 Speaker 2: Daily Bible Verse and Your Nightly Scripture, you can be 130 00:09:15,020 --> 00:09:19,290 Speaker 2: sure that your day begins and ends centered on the 131 00:09:19,330 --> 00:09:19,949 Speaker 2: Word of God. 132 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: Thank you.