Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello on a beautiful cold morning, dear ones.

Whereas Katherine and Joe, with their two girls, will be departing early tomorrow morning, today is our last fling with family and friends. We plan to do a big island-style stone-cooked meal (one of Katherine’s specialties when we resided in the South Pacific) around 1pm…so I need to make tracks toward getting the stone-heating fire under say. I wonder how we could make the stones seven-times hotter? Anyway, among other things, I know 4 chickens will be cooked.

Try to have a blessed day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Lots of questions: Why didn’t Nebuchadnezzar describe the FOURTH MAN as simply looking like a god?—why “a son of the gods?” Had he ever seen a living “god” or “a son of the gods” before? Why were they “walking around?”—and didn’t just walk out? Did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego see the FOURTH MAN too? Did they talk with Him, or He with them? Why didn’t Neb call Him too? Furthermore, what do you think inspired Nebuchadnezzar to make this stupid 90-foot-tall statue in the first place? Why would he turn this edict into a spiritual or religious demand that required falling and worshiping? Where in the world was Daniel? What did the “horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music” sound like? Did they play according to an orchestrated score?

If we are tempted to conclude that Nebuchadnezzar was just some primitive tyranical narcissist—and his absurd exploitation of religion and worship for purposes of wielding political power and control could never be re-enacted in modern times by smarter and better educated leaders, think again. This is not just a thing of the past, it’s also a thing of the future! Bank on it! Even though it may not materialize to this degree in our lifetimes, it’s coming down the pike. Be reminded that near the end of the same source of authority from which we glean the Daniel account, John the revelator is inspired to predict a repeat performance. Read about it in Revelation 13:11-18. Do you see any signs of this developing? In view of all this, please do everything you can to nurture and embrace a Daniel/Shadrach/Meshach/Abednego-like faith, relationship, and resolve (a HEART AFTER GOD)—we and/or our families are going to need these like never before when this stuff is pressed upon those living.

Is it not interesting that anti-semitism (hatred of Jews) has never disappeared on planet earth since the times of Abraham? We see it surfacing here in this chapter. Remember that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not just young low-level slaves—they had been advanced to positions of Babylonian political service surrounding the sensational supernatural demonstration of God’s revelatory power in the previous chapter (2:49). And a result of that event was that all the Babylonian wise guys were put down, had egg on their faces, and probably a chip on their shoulders against these rotten foreigners who caused their demotion. So it is really no surprise to read in this chapter, “At this time some astrologers came forward (as tattle-tales) and denounced the Jews” (3:8). But, once again, they unwittingly crossed a line, and the whole anti-God and anti-Semitic scheme back-fired upon them—applying still more egg on their faces

Let’s face this fact: Although it sounds cruel, self-centered, and unreasonable that little King Nebuchadnezzar would demand total surrender and even worship, let’s understand that the Big King—the King of kings and Lord of lords—the Sovereign LORD of the universe—demands essentially the same thing—and, as the Maker/Owner of all things, has every right to do so. So a HEART AFTER GOD is not just a nice idea or a good choice, it is absolutely required. And those who refuse compliance will ultimately be thrown somewhere hot too. Deal with it! To be sure, those who deal with it properly recognize that loving God is a blessed privilege, opportunity, even delight (Psalm 1:2; 35:9)—not a demeaning and burdensome command. In fact, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).