1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,160 You like tests? 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:07,240 How many of you like tests? Raise your hand. 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,400 One? Interesting. 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,400 There's always one or two. 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:18,280 You know some people don't like tests. Some people don't perform 6 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:23,200 well on tests. It doesn't mean they're 7 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,680 they don't have any knowledge. It just means that 8 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,520 they don't do well on tests. There's anxiety built up 9 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:34,120 which is interesting. I had 10 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,200 a neighbor who was 11 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:41,200 actually wasn't from this country but now he's 12 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,040 he was a citizen and he was going to take a test 13 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,480 to become a lawyer. 14 00:00:48,480 --> 00:00:52,320 Okay and every time he took 15 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,400 this test he 16 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,000 he failed. He failed twice. The third time you know you're out 17 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,080 and so I got to talking to him 18 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,640 and I happen to remember some things that 19 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,840 I read or listened to and that 20 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:12,400 you know the test anxiety thing. I've had students that have 21 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,080 have had tests anxiety and so what the key 22 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,720 is for some people is to be quite comfortable 23 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:23,360 when you get into a test situation. What does that mean? 24 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,440 Well that means 25 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:30,360 wear something that you like. Wear some clothes that you feel comfortable 26 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,760 in. You might not think about that. Interesting. 27 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,120 And if you're supposed to bring a pencil or a pen 28 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,440 bring that pencil or pen that you enjoy 29 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:44,720 using. And I was thinking about 30 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:49,000 what does that make a difference in taking a test? 31 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,960 And get yourself prepared, ready of course. 32 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,000 So you've got the knowledge and get that 33 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,120 get that haircut that you you know you you feel comfortable 34 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:02,560 in. Not that people are going to judge you by what you look like when you take a 35 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,880 test. They're going to judge you by what you wrote 36 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:09,080 and how you completed the test. Well 37 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,720 you know it worked for him. It worked for him. Well I'm thinking about some people 38 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:14,440 that 39 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,360 had a test and the scripture kind of 40 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,360 points out that fact. 41 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:26,160 If we study a little bit about the children of Israel and if we study about 42 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,160 how they had failed 43 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,480 and how they didn't do what God had asked them to do. 44 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:37,160 We come up with a number of different kings. The one king that I want to 45 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:41,640 start with was Jehoiakim. Now was Jehoiakim 46 00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:48,000 a good king or a bad king? I heard bad. Did I hear bad? 47 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,640 Okay he was an evil king. He was an evil king. 48 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:55,680 And at one time he had 49 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,880 he was they were under the the 50 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,880 domination of Egypt. 51 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,200 Okay they allied with with the Egyptians. Then 52 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,920 then they changed to the Babylonians. Interesting. 53 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:12,760 But Jehoiakim decided that they would not 54 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,480 pay tax to the Babylonians. 55 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:20,080 For three years they with withheld the tax. 56 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,520 Now think about that. What would happen to you or me 57 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,360 if we withheld our tax 58 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:30,000 to our country or your city or whoever's taxing you 59 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,000 for three years. What might happen? 60 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,120 Wouldn't be good would it? It wouldn't be good. And it wasn't good 61 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,320 for Jehoiakim. 62 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,560 Now God gave Jehoiakim king of Judah 63 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:47,240 into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. That's interesting 64 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,680 for us to know. God gave 65 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:56,120 them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar because God had judged them 66 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:00,400 the people of Judah for disobedience and idolatry. 67 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,640 So he had another country come in and take over. 68 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:10,040 Now that's very interesting. God does use other people uses other nations as well. 69 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:14,360 Now the Babylon, where's Babylon by the way? 70 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:19,240 Iraq. There you go. We have somebody that knows very well. It's Iraq. 71 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,440 Now so they besieged the city 72 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:26,160 okay and a lot of the 73 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,000 a lot of the people were captured. Tens of thousands of Jewish 74 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,360 people were exiled from Judah 75 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:40,240 to Babylon. And they stayed there for how many years? 76 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:45,880 This is your test. 70 years about 70 years. It's a long time 77 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:50,320 isn't it? Now while they were there you know God gave them some information. 78 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,760 He gave them some orders. He says look he says I want you to live 79 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,400 okay you're going to be in exile. I want you to live. I want you to marry. 80 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,200 I want you to build houses. I want you to do the best that you can 81 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:04,760 but don't let your population decrease. 82 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:08,880 That could have happened couldn't it? It surely could have. 83 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,880 Well Babylon and Iraq it was about 900 miles 84 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:18,280 from from Judah. That's a long long trek. I'm sure that probably some of those 85 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:19,480 people never 86 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,560 you know never did arrive you know 87 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:27,600 alive. That's interesting. Jerusalem fell after 18 months 88 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,840 okay under this under this besiegement. 89 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:36,720 And that was in the first temple was destroyed. 90 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,000 So their temple was destroyed and 91 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:44,080 the Babylonians pillaged the city 92 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:48,720 and they also took some of the articles of the house of God 93 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:52,640 and then they put them into their house of their gods 94 00:05:52,640 --> 00:06:00,560 which is interesting. Now Nebuchadnezzar he decided that he instructed 95 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,920 Ashpenaz who is the master of the eunuchs 96 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:08,400 to bring the children of Israel and some of the king's descendants and some of 97 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:12,880 the nobles young men whom there was no blemish good looking 98 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:17,200 okay and smart in wisdom possessing knowledge 99 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,120 and quick to understanding and the ability to serve the king's palace. 100 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,600 That's interesting that he would do that. That shows that he was 101 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:30,160 pretty smart king I think and so that they might teach these young 102 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,280 people and they caught them so that they're young. They were teenagers 103 00:06:33,280 --> 00:06:37,760 okay that were that were set apart. These were the chosen 104 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,600 okay of the young people that could be a part 105 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:48,960 of the king's realm. Interesting. Daniel's name 106 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,000 was changed so weren't so weren't the others as 107 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:56,640 as you know. Daniel's name meant God is my judge. 108 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:00,480 Daniel's name was changed to Belteshazzar 109 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,240 which means lady protect the king. Interesting. 110 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:09,120 Now why did they change these names? What were they trying to do 111 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:15,120 with these people that they took? What were they trying to do to them? 112 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:19,120 That's right they wanted to erase their identity. 113 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,240 They want him to learn the culture the language 114 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:26,560 of Babylon. That's what they wanted to do. 115 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:31,040 Interesting. Would you like to erase your identity? 116 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,400 Sometimes. How many of you would like to run away from home sometimes? 117 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,440 You don't have to raise your hand but yeah there's a few hands. Interesting. 118 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:44,080 Yeah interesting. Well this was amazing but changing the names. 119 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:51,600 Now Shadrach or rather Hananiah's name meant the Lord is gracious 120 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,040 and Hananiah's name was changed to Shadrach 121 00:07:55,040 --> 00:08:02,880 and Shadrach means I am fearful of the God. Then we have Mishael which means 122 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:09,680 who is what God is and Mishael's name was changed to what? Meshach. 123 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:16,480 Meshach which means I am of little account. Not a very good meaning 124 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:20,240 with that one. And Azariah's name meant the Lord has 125 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:24,080 helped me and Azariah's name was changed to 126 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,760 in the third one we know that one what is it? Abednego 127 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:33,200 which means what? Which means servant of God. That's interesting. That is 128 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:38,720 interesting. Wow. Well things went along pretty 129 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:45,600 well. Now Daniel had talked to the person that was in charge of the 130 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:50,560 eunuchs and he wanted to have a different diet. 131 00:08:50,560 --> 00:08:56,000 He says test us for 10 days. 10 days. How'd you like a 10 day test? 132 00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:00,240 You know I don't like a 10 minute test. Never mind a 10 day test. 133 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:04,080 But the king Nebuchadnezzar had set out the delicacies 134 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:07,600 of his table. Can you imagine what that must have been? 135 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:12,640 I mean it must have looked pretty pretty good. All the meats and all the wines and 136 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:17,200 the and I'm sure they had you know vegetables and whatever. 137 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:22,000 And Daniel because of their upbringing I'm sure that there was some 138 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,080 animal meat in there that probably maybe some of it was what 139 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:30,000 was presented to idols okay. Perhaps that that's one of the 140 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,440 issues that they had. Maybe it was because some of the 141 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:38,240 some of the meat wasn't processed correctly okay. 142 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:42,160 Because it may have you know had blood in it and so forth. 143 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:47,040 So they didn't want that diet. They didn't want that diet. 144 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:52,880 So he said test me. Now the king's master of the eunuch said you 145 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:56,400 know I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to do that. 146 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:01,600 Because you know the king will have my head if you guys are sick okay. 147 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,520 And if you don't look well okay after the three year period of time 148 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,800 the king gave them three years. They had three years 149 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:14,080 in order for them to be tested. How well did they know the language 150 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:18,640 okay. How well did they know the the custom. How well did they know the laws. 151 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:22,240 How well did they know all about their gods. How well. 152 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,080 After three years they're going to be tested. Well after 10 days 153 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:32,560 okay the the captain of the eunuchs tested Daniel and his three friends. 154 00:10:32,560 --> 00:10:36,960 Interesting. And what did he find? He found that they 155 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,560 were looking pretty good. They were looking a whole lot better than all the 156 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:44,880 rest of these young people okay that were chosen to be part of the 157 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:49,680 king's you know realm. They were they were so much smarter. 158 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:53,760 Okay they looked better okay. Their countenance was bright. 159 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:57,360 And so he continued their diet. He continued their diet 160 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:04,400 which is quite amazing. Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign 161 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:08,400 Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. You remember the dream? 162 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:13,600 That's an interesting dream isn't it? And it scared him. 163 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:19,280 He didn't sleep. He was troubled and he decided that what he would do is he 164 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,120 would call the magicians. He would call the astrologers. The 165 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:28,480 sorcerers. The chaldeans. He would call all of them and ask them 166 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:34,400 to tell him what his dream was. What it meant. That's interesting. So here we 167 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:38,000 had gathered all these guys and he says now this is what I want you to 168 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,480 do. I want you to tell me what I dreamt number one. Number two I want you to 169 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,080 tell me what it means. Well they looked at each other and 170 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,440 they said you know they thought in their minds you've got to be out of your 171 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:55,360 mind. This king has got to be out of his mind. No one has ever ever 172 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:58,640 asked anybody to tell them what their dream was. 173 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:04,400 Well Nebuchadnezzar being a smart king knew that if he told them what the dream 174 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,680 was that eventually they would you know they would make they would make 175 00:12:07,680 --> 00:12:10,960 up all kinds of stuff as to what the dream meant and he would 176 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:14,640 and that would be that's not what he wanted to do. He wanted to test them. 177 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:19,360 What was it? What was he what were they going to say? They said we cannot do that. 178 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:23,600 They said only the only the only god could do that okay. I mean this is going 179 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,680 to be a supernatural kind of thing. We can't tell you what you dreamt. 180 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:32,240 And they thought it was quite unfair. Well Nebuchadnezzar grew 181 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:37,440 very very angry. He got so angry that he said if you can't tell me what I 182 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:42,000 dreamt and what it means then I'm going to cut you up into pieces 183 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:46,080 and we're going to burn your houses down and you're going to be slaughtered. 184 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,520 Now that's that was that was pretty violent wasn't it? 185 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:54,800 I mean this was just playing on his mind and so Daniel found out and they'd 186 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,320 actually started the Bible said they started to kill. They started to kill 187 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:01,600 these astrologers and magicians and sorcerers and 188 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:06,720 chaldeans and Daniel found out about what was going on and 189 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:11,200 he was going to be killed as well and also his three buddies and so he went to 190 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:15,840 the king and he says you know he says he says give me some time give me 191 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:19,600 some time and I'm going to ask my god okay what your 192 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:25,120 dream meant just give us some time and and and we'll perform for you okay. 193 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:30,320 So he got together with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and they 194 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:36,560 they fasted and they prayed and Daniel was given the dream. He was given the 195 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:40,400 dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had. Not only was he given the dream but he 196 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:45,360 was given the interpretation of the dream. Interesting. So he 197 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:49,200 approached the king okay and he said king he says 198 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:56,080 I know I can tell you what what your dream was and also the meaning 199 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,760 and but it's not because of me it's because 200 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,920 of my god my god has given me all of this information 201 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:09,040 to share with you. So what was the dream? Well it was an image wasn't it? You 202 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:13,040 remember the image? And we can hardly imagine that what the image was. So 203 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:18,240 here's here's the image okay it's now all gold because that 204 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,680 that that's a little bit later but it had an image 205 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:30,240 an image of uh of this of who yeah that's right the head of 206 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:34,640 gold and so Daniel said you are the head of gold Babylon is 207 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:40,320 the head of gold you're the head of gold and then if we go on further the arms 208 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,680 and the chest was made of what what was the next one 209 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:47,760 silver silver is silver worth more than gold 210 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:51,040 no it's not does silver weigh as much as gold 211 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:54,880 no so in all aspects the gold was what the very very best 212 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:58,160 then we go into the means in the persia the belly and the thighs 213 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:05,040 were made of bronze and that was Greece that was Greece Greece was going to take 214 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,160 over then after that then the legs and the feet were made of 215 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:13,280 what iron okay and the toes were made of iron and clay 216 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:17,200 that's a terrible mixture okay not very strong 217 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:22,560 and so uh and then there was a stone cut out of a mountain without hands 218 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:29,680 and that stone did what it hit the statue okay and it ground all of 219 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:33,520 those elements all those metals and clay and it grounded 220 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,360 into a powder and the wind blew it away wow what a 221 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:42,960 dream what a dream so Daniel's saying Nebuchadnezzar you are the head of gold 222 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,000 you are the head of gold i mean this is the most 223 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:51,040 powerful let's talk about a powerful nation but what is going to happen 224 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,960 so god was telling king Nebuchadnezzar what was going to happen 225 00:15:54,960 --> 00:16:00,000 after him after his reign and so sure enough the Medes and the Persians came 226 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,920 in okay and then the Grecians came in after 227 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:10,560 that and then Rome came in after that interesting but then that uh that stone 228 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:15,200 that was cut out what did that represent that represents 229 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:20,640 the kingdom of god that will never be destroyed never be 230 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:25,520 destroyed interesting isn't it now i think that uh when i look at 231 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,960 this the uh the dream and the image you know we 232 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:33,840 know we know what the ending is don't we we know the ending is that god's king 233 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:39,280 is going to be forever it will never be destroyed no matter 234 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,560 which kingdom we happen to be in at the moment 235 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:49,120 which is very interesting wow well well king Nebuchadnezzar i guess he was 236 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:54,480 he was feeling he was feeling pretty good all right so what he decided to do 237 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,720 he built an image okay he built an image it was 90 feet tall 238 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:03,760 can you imagine that that's huge it was about nine feet wide and 90 feet tall 239 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:08,480 and it was covered with gold covered with gold he was gold he was the head of 240 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,040 gold interesting what did he do he invited all 241 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:14,400 of his friends right well he invited all of the important 242 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:20,080 people of the realm okay not the entire citizenship okay but the entire people 243 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:24,960 okay of his realm he wanted to find out if these guys were loyal to him 244 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,320 okay that's what he was hunting for that's what he was hunting for 245 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:32,240 and so he made an edict and he says i want everybody to gather around 246 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:36,960 and you know when the symphony the orchestra plays and it probably was an 247 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:41,840 orchestra plays he wanted everybody to do what 248 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:48,640 wanted to bow down to the image the image representing him okay and his 249 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:52,480 power interesting and so what happened 250 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:58,880 orchestra played everybody bowed down except for whom 251 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:05,520 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. How would you have liked to have been 252 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:09,920 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Or would you have rather been 253 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:15,360 uh Daniel? I wonder where Daniel was have you ever wondered where Daniel was at 254 00:18:15,360 --> 00:18:20,240 this time? Interesting interesting maybe the king 255 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:23,520 sent Daniel on a you know a little trip or whatever but 256 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:28,800 Daniel wasn't there at least we don't we don't read that but 257 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:34,400 they didn't bow down now how did this king find out that they didn't bow down 258 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,920 well they had some people that told on them 259 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,360 okay because if you have you know hundreds maybe thousands of 260 00:18:41,360 --> 00:18:44,880 people you know how are you going to find out if you know somebody didn't bow 261 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,560 down and so they came to king Nebuchadnezzar he says king 262 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:52,080 there are three people that didn't bow down 263 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,440 not only didn't they bow down but we know something about them 264 00:18:55,440 --> 00:19:01,520 they don't worship any of your gods okay and we know that and we they didn't bow 265 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:05,440 down so what did king Nebuchadnezzar do he 266 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:09,760 said well you bring them to me he said maybe they don't quite understand 267 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:13,440 what this is all about i'm going to give them a second chance don't you like 268 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,880 second chances oh i like second chances i like second 269 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,400 third fourth fifth and sixth i like chances i really do 270 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:25,360 so he told him he says look he says do you understand what this is all about if 271 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:28,720 you don't bow down when the symphony orchestra plays 272 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:34,800 and worship this golden image okay of me then we're going to throw you into 273 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:39,360 the what the fiery furnace well what was the fiery 274 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:44,160 furnace anyways well it was probably 275 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:47,360 where they probably baked their bricks right sure 276 00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:55,280 and king Nebuchadnezzar was a builder okay he was very very much a builder 277 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:59,280 and so they had they had their fiery furnace 278 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:04,880 okay and uh there it was well what what did 279 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:09,680 Shadrach Meshach and Abednego how did they respond to the king 280 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:16,880 yeah they said okay you know live forever 281 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:23,520 but we're not going to bow down to this image and they said 282 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:30,160 our god will protect us but even if our god doesn't okay 283 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:34,320 did they know that god was going to protect them in that fiery furnace 284 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:38,720 no i'm sure that they had hoped that he would but they told the king even if he 285 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,600 does not and we perish into that fiery furnace 286 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:47,760 we're not going to bow down wow now this made the king even 287 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:54,800 madder than he was and he ordered the stove the furnace to be what seven 288 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:59,440 times hotter okay let's get this thing seven times hotter than it normally is 289 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,800 now you have to be careful in a kiln because that's basically what it was a 290 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:07,760 kiln if you get kilns too hot even the bricks and that it's made of can 291 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,720 actually melt as well but i guess it didn't melt down 292 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,320 interesting so what did he do he ordered 293 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:22,560 oh well the the orc sister played chadrech meshech and abednego did not 294 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:26,400 bow down i'm sure this time the king was watching those three men 295 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:31,920 okay then he ordered them to be bound okay hand and feet and he ordered them 296 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:37,680 to be thrown into the fiery furnace then he ordered his strongest men okay 297 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:45,280 his valor okay to tie them up and throw them in now interesting interesting 298 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:49,200 and what happened to these men that threw them in 299 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:53,040 they died they died now that tells us something about what 300 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:57,440 does that tell us something about how 301 00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:02,960 okay that tells us something about how hot that fire was 302 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:07,920 i wonder how hot a human body can get before it actually dies have you ever 303 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:11,040 wondered that maybe it's just my mind that tries to 304 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:13,280 figure those things out that's interesting well 305 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:16,240 he ordered it to be hotter than than than it 306 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:20,320 then it should actually be about seven times hotter 307 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:25,200 got a little heat gun right here got it on the hot the hot space right here 308 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:29,440 let's see what happens we so we know that his uh 309 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:33,680 his guards that threw them in they actually burnt up 310 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:38,880 okay that's interesting and they're getting hotter and hotter and hotter 311 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:42,320 and they're feeling weaker and weaker and weaker 312 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:47,280 and then what happens to them what happened to them 313 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:54,320 they died they died can you imagine can you imagine that 314 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:57,520 now that is amazing it was really really hot 315 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:01,760 this is really really serious stuff that they're working with right here 316 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:07,440 well shad rack me shack and a benigo they were thrown into the fire 317 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:12,960 happen to have shad rack me shack and a benigo right here 318 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:18,320 let's check this out that's shad rack 319 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,840 let's put shad rack over here 320 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,280 there's shad rack 321 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:30,640 good looking boys weren't they they were good looking they didn't have any 322 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:35,680 blemish okay they were perfect in stature 323 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:41,840 and health there's me shack guess you always wanted to know what they 324 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:47,920 look like there's me shack put me shack over here 325 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:53,040 shad rack me shack and my favorite a benigo 326 00:23:53,040 --> 00:24:00,000 there he is and they were bound head and foot 327 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:05,840 thrown into the fiery furnace thrown into the fiery furnace 328 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:10,400 but there was another another one 329 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:16,880 and this one was was who 330 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:24,800 was it right and so the fiery furnace 331 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:29,760 burned them up right there burn them all up 332 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:46,720 and they were burnt 333 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:55,280 and as the king looked down into the fiery furnace 334 00:24:55,280 --> 00:25:02,240 he said didn't we throw three men in they did yes yeah we threw three men in 335 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,560 he says but i see four walking in the fire i see four 336 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:11,840 and the fourth one looks like what the son of god interesting 337 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:16,080 the fourth one was jesus wasn't it interesting 338 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:22,160 and then the king told them to well he got a little closer and he called 339 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:26,000 out he said shad rack me shack and a benigo come out 340 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:34,080 come out and so they came out was there even smoke smell on their body 341 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:38,640 was their hair singed at all no but what how they were bond they were 342 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:42,080 bound all of that was burned off of them that was amazing 343 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:48,880 it was absolutely amazing it made such an impression on king nebuchadnezzar 344 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:52,480 that he told all the people there was an edict going out 345 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:56,000 he says i don't want anyone to say anything 346 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,920 bad about shad rack me shack and a benigo's god 347 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:05,600 because he is the great god of all gods that was very interesting very very 348 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:10,800 interesting wow well i'm wondering 349 00:26:11,120 --> 00:26:14,160 we know the end of the story it's in the bible 350 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,280 we know that they didn't burn up they didn't perish 351 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:24,880 but they had tremendous faith obviously how many times do we stumble 352 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:31,440 in faith if you and i had been there would we have bowed down 353 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,720 if not we were going to be thrown into the fiery furnace we didn't know you 354 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:38,160 wouldn't know that they were going to be saved interesting 355 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:42,640 but we do know the end we do know the end how many times 356 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:49,120 how many times do we make an excuse for something that we 357 00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:52,880 should stand for how many times does that come up how 358 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,040 many times you know they could have just kind of 359 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:58,960 kind of bowed down a little bit and fixed their sandal or something 360 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:03,680 you know they weren't into that you know that wasn't going to happen 361 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,200 it wasn't going to happen at all interesting 362 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:11,120 you know people are watching us aren't they they really are 363 00:27:11,120 --> 00:27:16,080 the people that told on them the first time that they didn't bow down 364 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:19,360 they told oh king there's there's three that didn't bow down 365 00:27:19,360 --> 00:27:24,080 king might have not even had any idea that three people did not bow down 366 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:27,680 but there's people watching people watching you 367 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:33,600 there's people watching me every day in fact every moment of the day some of 368 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:37,200 those people maybe belong in your family maybe it's an 369 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:42,240 extra neighbor maybe it's somebody that you work with they're watching us 370 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:48,720 how many times do we not bow down and we make excuses 371 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:54,000 how many times are we not doing what we should do 372 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:58,240 you know that's the question we know the end from the beginning 373 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:04,240 we know how this world is going to end we know that the stone that was cut out 374 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:10,880 with a hand is going to that's jesus's that's 375 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:14,960 that's a kingdom that will never fail that's god's kingdom 376 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:20,160 so all these trials that you and i have if we could just see the end from the 377 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:25,200 beginning maybe maybe they wouldn't be as 378 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:30,240 severe as we think they they really are we know the end from the beginning and 379 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,600 we know even from history as we look at the progression from 380 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:37,840 babel and the meads and persians okay and the greece and rome we know 381 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:41,600 that all of this is true and we can look at that and even the 382 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:45,680 years and we know we know the kingdoms and and how they fell 383 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:50,000 we know that rome that rome is just scattered in it and it never 384 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:53,600 never got to be the power okay to rule the 385 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:56,720 the entire earth which that's interesting to me 386 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:01,760 wow you like tests 387 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:06,880 so yes yeah we like tests how do we know what we know unless we're 388 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:12,560 tested is god testing you is god testing me 389 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:17,840 i think every day is a test every day is a test every moment's a test 390 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:22,000 whether or not we realize it or not somebody's watching 391 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,280 if it's not your neighbor if it's not your family 392 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:31,120 god's watching he's watching us and he wants us to pass the test and 393 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:37,040 he'll help us to pass the testimony he helped them he was there with them in 394 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:42,560 the presence of that fire that's amazing to me that's really 395 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:46,960 amazing our heavenly father we thank you 396 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:54,080 that you are god of love that you are our salvation 397 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:59,600 we thank you that this stone that has been cut out of a mountain 398 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:06,000 without hands is your kingdom and your kingdom will last forever 399 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:13,440 and ever lord help us this week to do well in the test the test of life 400 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:19,760 the test of faith that others can see our strength that we have in you and 401 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:24,960 you will give us the strength to show them your love we thank you for 402 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:30,960 jesus and that he came to this earth not to condemn us but to give us 403 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:35,040 everlasting life and we ask this in his name and for his sake 404 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:56,080 amen