Even If God Does Not (Daniel 3:18)

Sermon on 26 October 2025 by Pastor Gaius Lee

Daniel 3:18 - “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.””

Daniel 1:1-7 - “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god. Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.”

When things are going well, there will be challenges. The prince of this world, who is the devil, doesn’t want to see good things happen to Christians. They faced challenges of menace, minority, and malice.

Daniel 3:1-5 - “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;”

Menace:

Daniel 3:6 - “and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.””

Minority:

Daniel 3:7 - “So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”

Malice:

Daniel 3:8 - “Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.”

Daniel 3:12 - “There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.””

The Babylonians were jealous over these 3 friends and waited for every opportunity to rat them out.

These challenges are normal. They help us become more Christ-like.

John 16:33 - “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

We try our best but trouble comes because God allows for it to happen. Jesus is the One who controls everything. He knows that we will have a victorious ending.

Daniel 3:13-15 - “Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?””

It seems like the king was trying to give them a way out.

Daniel 3:16 - “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.”

Luke 12:11-12 - ““Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.””

In the end, it’s the Holy Spirit in us that will guide us. If we are always in the Lord, when a situation comes, we will know what to say and have peace in our heart. The 3 friends were also very confident because they know their Heavenly Father well. They know that He will rescue them. We know Him well because we pray and read the Bible.

Daniel 3:17 - “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.”

1 John 5:14-15 - “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

They know that God will rescue them but He may not rescue them in the way that they expect. Even if God has a different plan from us, we continue to trust Him and keep our faith.

Daniel 3:18 - “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.””

1 Corinthians 15:58 - “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

They believed that even if God does not, they will still continue believing in God.

Daniel 3:28 - “Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!”

Psalm 27:14 - “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Amen.