THE LORD SPOKE (November 30)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Daniel 3

“Don’t even bother tunin’ the fiddles; we ain’t bowin’.”

The three lads had just seen and heard a miraculous divine intervention (Dan. 2). They were ready for this. When wicked King Nebuchadnezzar (how could he be so blind again already?) started building the infamous statue in the Plain of Dura, it was like deja vu all over again. Steeled by their friend Daniel’s resolve, they were ready to take their stand. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were pre-determined not to bow.

Do you have that kind of resolve? Are you prepared to stay strong when fiery trials come your way? You probably won’t face any furnaces but those people at the office can sure turn up the heat. You may not be bound with ropes but they can sure get you tied up in knots. It may not be as hot as what the three Hebrews faced but they can make your ears burn seven times over. In order to face such a test, you’ll need the same strength that we find here in Daniel 3.

1. Make sure your strength is in the Lord, not in yourself or some other undependable source (“the God we serve is able to save us”, vs. 17). You must begin with that Grip - anything less will slip.
2. Anchor your soul on that and then hold your ground, come hell or high water (“even if He does not...we will not serve your gods”, vs. 18). You can be sure that the prince of hell will do his best to put your resolve to the test. When the Devil comes knocking, resist him in the strength of the Lord.
3. Be prepared for it to get worse (“these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace”, vs. 23). Satan won’t be happy. He won’t give up easily. But he is a defeated foe and you can trust in the victory that God will provide. It will get worse before it gets better.
4. Maintain your walk with the Lord and watch all the troubles fall down dead in their tracks (“four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed”, vs. 25). All the troubles? Yes. They will still be there but God is far bigger than the biggest of them and, riding His shoulders, you are above them too. He gives the grace to overcome.
5. When you come out the other end, be prepared for a greater ministry and greater blessing from the Lord (“so [they] came out of the fire...then the king promoted [them]”, vs. 26,30). If you’ve faced and overcome that trial in the strength of the Lord, He will lift you up and allow you to be used again, and again.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - three young men a long way from home. It would have been a lot easier to just be quiet and ride the situation through without resistance. But then, we wouldn’t be reading about them 2,600 years later. Do you have a testimony that will last that long?


Psalms 149-150

Though He allowed men in the Old Testament to construct a Temple to represent His presence, God made it clear from the start that He did “not dwell in a house” (II Sam. 7:6). It was instead, “a place of rest for the ark of the covenant” and “the footstool of our God” (I Chron. 28:2). In truth, God’s sanctuary is “his mighty heavens” (Ps. 150:1). This is WHERE God should be praised.

The psalm goes on to tell us WHY God should be praised - “for his acts of power...for his surpassing greatness” (Ps. 150:2). There is none like Him!

The middle of the psalm (Psalm 150:3-5) tells us HOW we should praise God and the whole orchestra is involved. Eight different kinds of musical instruments are mentioned and they include a variety of wind, string, and percussion instruments. Tucked in the middle of the band is “dancing”. Is that alright?

The psalm concludes - in fact, the whole book concludes - with WHO should praise God. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Ps. 150:6). That’s pretty inclusive.

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
Martin Rinkart