Speaking Truth to Power

March 27, 2024

Daniel 3:26-28

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace. He spoke and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the middle of the fire. 27 The local governors, the deputies, and the governors, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies. The hair of their head wasn’t singed. Their pants weren’t changed, the smell of fire wasn’t even on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

Courageous. Bold. Extreme Faith. Leaders. These are just a few descriptions for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 3 young men of Israel who literally stood up against the most powerful King in the “world”.

In today’s nonstop news cycle, it seems that politics and the “ruling” of men is a large business. Everybody (including myself) has their opinion on whom can best “save” their country. If only we had better tax rates and government policies, our lives would be so much better. Or so we think. As a believer, I want people in government who proclaim righteousness and uphold God’s laws. As an American, I have the duty and responsibility to elect and help righteous leaders. If you live in other countries, you can also be diligent to aid those “righteous” people in power.

YET, what happens when we have leaders who are tyrannical? Over the years, there have been many people who have revolted against oppressive governments and the phrase – “speaking truth to power” was a rallying cry. Unfortunately, they do not all have happy endings. A lot of times the tyrant wins. In our passage today, King Nebuchadnezzar was a most ruthless tyrant. His kingdom spread far and wide and he had the power to do whatever he pleased to anyone he chose. (I would encourage you to read all of Daniel 3 to get the complete background.) What we find are 3 very brave men who not only “spoke truth to power” but did so as the only ones in all of Babylon.

Margaret Atwood: ‘If you’re going to speak truth to power, make sure it’s the truth’. Our 3 young friends knew the truth. They trusted in the Living God. They had read Psalm 2- and believed it.

Why do the nations rage,
    and the peoples plot a vain thing?
²The kings of the earth take a stand,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying,
³“Let’s break their bonds apart,
    and cast their cords from us.”
⁴He who sits in the heavens will laugh.
    The Lord^[will have them in derision.

We see their boldness in Vs “¹⁶Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷If it happens, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. ¹⁸But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

We may never be in a similar situation in our lives where we face a life-or-death choice, but we all get to choose daily whom we will serve. Are we trusting in the Living God when we are tempted? Are we trusting Him when our circle of friends/family decides to choose sin? Are we choosing to take a stand for God in our daily life? These 3 brave young men made a choice for Righteousness and were thrown into a fire. They were willing to die. What are we willing to do to serve the only True & Living God? Are we willing to live for Him?

Dave R

’69 / ’83 Quarryville PA

Birth year / spiritual birth year / hometown

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