Daniel 3

I read from chapter 3 of the book of Daniel this morning. This was a morning of random reading: my Bible was open to that spot; I thought about how Jesus had obviously read Daniel, almost certainly, in fact, had memorized this book along with the rest of the Old Testament (I know people who would point out that he, actually, wrote it all), and it made me feel a little closer to him, knowing that this was something that we shared together with God's people across the centuries: we were reading the same scriptures "together." I want to "hear" the scriptures as Jesus heard them.

I soon was drawn into the familar story: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - men of God living in a foreign land among people who worshipped other gods. They had "positions" in society where their faith would make them "stand out" among their peers. Maybe, their distinctive faith would not always be noticeable, but there are times when it was painfully obvious. This was one of those times.

I am especially intrigued - excited, even, when I read their response to their boss' edict to worship the idol "or else:" They are not sure what God will do - "If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us..., let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you. O king, that we will not serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up." Apparently, they have had no special revelation from God, no vision, no word, no dream that gives them audio/visual proof that God is going to work a miracle. From the wording of the NRSV translation, it sounds like they have never experienced what we might call God's "miraculous" intervention in their lives (maybe he can deliver, maybe he can't). But, miraculous intervention or not, they are going to serve and worship him and him alone.

Our job is not to be a God-predictor, a God-defender or a God-apologist - just serve him, call on him and accept the consequences.

It will turn out well.