What Would You Do?

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. . . . Then the herald loudly proclaimed, ‘This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the . . . music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.   Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’ ” (Daniel 3:1-6)
       Passage: Psalm 119:1-8

         The end of Daniel 2 records how the king of Babylon had placed Daniel over all his other “wise” men and at Daniel’s request, had appointed Daniel’s three friends as administers in Babylon. The Babylonian officials were jealous and resentful, and they began looking for a way to get rid of Daniel and his friends. The first plan they came up with involved appealing to the king’s ego and delusion that he was a god. So, the ninety foot image was made and everyone in the region was summoned to come.  
        The edict to bow down upon hearing the music was not a problem for all non-Jews. They believed in many gods and worshiped idols anyway. However, the Jews had the commandments of not to have any other gods before Jehovah and not to make or bow down to any idol. It would be a defining moment. They could reject God’s Word or rationalize that they were bowing on the outside, but standing on the inside. Faced with that defining moment, what would you do?

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)