Dr. Terry Threadwell's Blog

And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, `Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’; this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. (Dan 4:23-26 NKJ)

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Rom 12:3 NKJ)

In Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream God showed him his place in the whole scheme of things.  The Babylonians had a role to play in God’s metanarrative, the big picture.  Babylon would later exceed their calling and bring judgment on themselves, as Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream showed that the Persian empire would follow.

We see that Nebuchadnezzar could not see the need for other empires and built a statue that exalted himself.  This nine-foot tall structure demanded worship. Now the king was to find out that it is God, and God alone who promotes, and God who takes down. Now, Nebuchadnezzar, who thought he should be worshipped will walk on all fours and eat grass.

Paul reminds us to keep our God-given place.  Many have gone before, and many have fallen, some with dire consequences.

Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.  And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 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! (Dan 3:22-28 NKJ)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to bow to the image or to worship other gods. As a result, they were bound and thrown into the fire. In the fire, they were unbound, unharmed and in fellowship. The flames didn’t hurt them because they had already submitted themselves to the refiner’s fire.

Had they have compromised their faith, though they were ‘free’ they would have been bound.  Though they might have escaped the furnace, they would never have escaped or survived God’s refining fire.

If you want to find the Lord, you’ll find him in the places where we are tested the most, never in a place of comfort or compromise.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. “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. “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.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. (Dan 3:16-19 NKJ)

These three young men refused to worship the king’s gods or bow down to the image he had set up. The threat was that they would be thrown in a furnace, burned alive. Even today, your values and ethics could be tested.  Do you go with the crowd or do you stand up for what is right?

They gave the king two alternatives:

1.        That God will show up and deliver them from the fiery furnace.

2.       Even if God doesn’t deliver them, they still refused to be compromised.

Standing for what is right may bring on a world of trouble, but right is right!

Keith Green album cover, ‘No Compromise.’

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; “and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” (Dan 3:4-6 NKJ)

Nebuchadnezzar had created an image, and every subject, when they heard the music, was to bow down and worship.  99% of the people didn’t even think about it and fell to the ground and worship the image. So, what are you worshipping?

Most people don’t realize that even today we are being conditioned to worshipping images.  It can be a consumer image such a particular brand of phone, or a familiar story that promotes a belief or ideology, or a catchphrase that evokes a response.  The problem occurs when that ‘thing’ becomes an idol, and you find yourself bowing down in worship.

Daniel and his friends had vowed to keep themselves focused on their  dedication to God, an act that would put them in the midst of the fiery furnace. Like them, we need to remember that all because 99% of the people believe something doesn’t mean it’s right. Also, when something takes the place of God, it doesn’t become equal to God, it just becomes an idol.

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?” Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: “As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. “But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. (Dan 2:26-30 NKJ)

Only God is omniscient, all-knowing. The astrologer, psychic, or medium don’t know anything; they rely on what you say or tell them, and keep their comments vague, in the hope that you might make a gesture or facial expression that they can feed upon.

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream; when his magicians, astrologers, and wise men hear about it, they wanted the king to tell them the dream.  The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time because you see that my decision is firm: “if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation.”  (Dan 2:8-9 NKJ)

Daniel was wise not because of what he knew, but because of who he knew, he knew that God knows everything.  So, Daniel inquires of the Lord for the answer, and God revealed the answer.  Only God is omniscient and knows what you need.

As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.  Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.  Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. (Dan 1:17-20 NKJ)

These four men gave themselves to God, even putting God to the test by not eating the king’s choice foods, that had probably been sacrificed to idols. They were about to see their faith put to the test. It is now that they begin to realize the limits of logic and start to accept the paradoxes in life. They begin to see life as a mystery and often return to sacred stories and symbols but this time without being stuck in a theological box. They don’t forget all that they learned; they just realize that God is in everything and everywhere. Nebuchadnezzar found them to be ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in his realm.

You know, God might put you to the test, forcing you to develop a higher standard of faith.  Moving on and moving up.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.” So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. “Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. (Dan 1:8-16 NKJ)

Daniel and the other young men from the Royal household now found themselves in captivity.  As soon as they arrived in Babylon, they were emasculated and became eunuchs. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to protect his household, but for these Jewish boys, there was no return to Jerusalem and the temple, the Law excluded eunuchs from worship. (Lev 21)

Daniel could have settled into a comfortable lifestyle, good food, wine, and all the creature comforts. Daniel, however, decided that he wasn’t going to compromise his faith. He had given up so much, but he would never give up on God, because God hadn’t given up on him.

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. (Dan 1:1-2 NKJ)

Now there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, Urijah, the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath Jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah. And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid and fled, and went to Egypt.  Then Jehoiakim the king sent men to Egypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor, and other men who went with him to Egypt. And they brought Urijah from Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. (Jer 26:20-23 NKJ)

When you first read the opening verses of Daniel, it seems unfair that God would place Jehoiakim king of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.  The truth is Jehoiakim had already sold out physically and spiritually. Jehoiakim was placed on the throne by the king of Egypt, but when Egypt was captured by the Babylonians, Jehoiakim switches allegiance, paying tribute with articles from the temple treasury and sending some members of the royal court into captivity, as a kind of promissory note.

As a king Jehoiakim was godless.  He had incestuous relations with his mother, daughter-in-law and his step-mother.  He would murder any man who wife Jehoiakim took a liking to. Two prophets, Jeremiah and Urijah, brought the word condemning Jehoiakim’s lifestyle. We can choose to turn a blind eye to the sinful actions of kings, queens, prime ministers and presidents, but don’t expect God to do the same.

Rolling Stone Magazine 2006

Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight. (Pro 11:1 NKJ)

“A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand; He loves to oppress. And Ephraim said,`Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin.’ (Hos 12:7-8 NKJ)

Saying: “When will the New Moon be past, That we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, That we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, Falsifying the scales by deceit, (Amo 8:5 NKJ)

Shall I count pure those with the wicked scales, And with the bag of deceitful weights? For her rich men are full of violence, Her inhabitants have spoken lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. (Mic 6:11-12 NKJ)

God is just, that goes without saying, and we wouldn’t expect anything less,.  Most Christians believe that our Constitution was based on the Bible, in fact, that is not true. Thomas Jefferson argued, in one of his writings, that common law was in existence in England before Christianity and that religion should have no sway over the law. John Adams, the Second President, said, “’erected on the simple principles of nature’ ‘by the use of reason and the senses,’ and the authority of the US government comes not from gods but from ‘the natural authority of the people alone.’  The Latin phrase “ancien scripture” translates into English as “ancient scripture,” meaning “old writings,” Jefferson explained that Christians have chosen to translate “ancien scripture” to mean “Holy Scripture,” as in “Holy Bible” to justify their claim that the US common law was based upon the Bible. Jefferson’s concerns that attaching law to one particular religion would exclude others outside of Christianity from justice.

And so, Lady Justice, her name is Lustitia, the goddess of Justice within Roman mythology. Iustitia was introduced by emperor Augustus. It appears that in the Roman culture she was view as a symbolic personification of justice, an artists impression. Apart from the scales in her hand, she wears a blindfold to show impartiality, though some statues show her with a blindfold, and the cover of a 2006 issue of Rolling Stone magazine depicts Lady Justice lifting her blindfold, implying that the then-composition of Congress had politicized the criminal justice system.

Justice is not a Christian thing, it’s a God thing, and I believe I am right in saying that believe that justice should be equal and fair for everyone.  God hates corrupt scales.

Woman Folly is noisy; she’s stupid and doesn’t even know it. She sits at the doorway of her house, on a seat at the city heights. She invites those who pass by on the path, those going straight on their way. “Whoever is naïve, come in here,” she says to those who lack sense. “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is pleasant.” But they don’t know that the dead are there; her guests are in the depths of the grave.  (Pro 9:13-18 CEB)

Folly is the prostitute that sits in the doorway of her house or seated near the places of worship. Her goal is to entice those that are on the straight path, that have no understanding or as the text puts it, naïve. Prostitution doesn’t have to be sexual, in fact, the dictionary defines prostitution as, “the unworthy or corrupt use of one’s talents for the sake of personal or financial gain.”  The preacher that misrepresents the gospel for financial gain or personal benefit is practicing prostitution.  Their message is cloaked in false promises and false teaching. Whatever promises are made, they are empty and lead nowhere but the grave.

The Christian life is a life built on a firm foundation of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Stay true to the straight path and avoid the temptation to turn to the left or the right.