Sabbath: From Furnace to Palace
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Daniel 3:1-30, NKJV, Rev. 13:11-18, Exod. 20:3-6, Deut. 6:4, 1 Cor. 15:12-26, Hebrews 11:1-40, NKJV.
Memory Text: “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” (Daniel 3:17, NKJV).
“Thus these youth, imbued with the Holy Spirit, declare to the whole nation their faith, that He whom they worshiped is the only true and living God. This demonstration of their own faith was the most eloquent presentation of their principles. In order to impress idolaters with the power and greatness of the living God, His servants must reveal their own reverence for God. They must make it manifest that He is the only object of their honor and worship, and that no consideration, not even the preservation of life itself, can induce them to make the least concession to idolatry. These lessons have a direct and vital bearing upon our experience in these last days”. — Ellen G. White, In Heavenly Places, p. 149. While facing the threat of death because of the issue of worship might seem a thing of some pre-scientific and superstitious age, Scripture reveals that at the end of time, when the world has greatly “advanced”, something similar will unfold, but on a worldwide scale. Thus, from the study of this story, we get insights into the issues that, according to Scripture, God’s faithful will face.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 25.
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Sackbuts anyone? This probably had nothing at all to do with the lesson this week, but the mention of sackbuts piqued my interest, so I followed it up and found out quite a bit about the Babylonians and Bible translation as well.
As I suspected the Sackbut was an instrument that would have been around in the time of Tyndale and King James. It was the forerunner of what we now know as the trombone. So did they have trombones in Babylon. Well, it gets interesting the deeper you dig and it turned our that "sabbeka" the original word used was the Aramaic version of the Greek word "sambuke" which is the name for the elderberry tree.This tree had hollow branches and was used for making a variety of wind and stringed instruments because the hollow branch could be made to resonate. Some experts suggest that the biblical references to "sambuke" are generally associated with wooden stringed instruments. So it seems that the translators of the day, did their best to take the Biblical words and translate them into equivalent instruments of their day. In order for us to understand Bablyonian culture we need to go a little deeper.
Doing a bit of research on the other instruments mentioned here I find that there was a wide variety of string instruments, and, er, bagpipes. What amused me somewhat, was the association of the name "dulcimer" with bagpipes because dulcimer is normally associated with a sweet sounding instrument. That makes sense to my Scottish heritage but I know it leaves some folk with a question mark.
When I looked at the totality of the instruments used in Daniel 3 I find that they have the makings of an orchestra or ensemble capable of playing reasonably tuneful music. What was surprising was the lack of mention of trumpets and horns, instruments generally used to command attention, especially when you want a whole crowd to notice. The musical instruments were not there to command attention as such but as part of the "enjoyment" of the ceremony.
I don't think that there is any great spiritual conclusion to draw from that observation but it is an interesting insight into Babylonian culture.
Growing up we might have been given medicine that we didn't want. Placed on a spoon with a little sugar or honey, it might not have seemed so distasteful.
So it may be with music. How many find themselves in compromising situations that are given musical 'honey'. Music has the power to alter one's mental and emotional state. The orchestra, the band, play their part. Possibly trained from childhood, cemented in youth, music is a part of worship for many.
Even today the band or orchestra is present, if only in the choices of an electronic keyboard. The heart is drawn away, not only by the verbal command to bow or praise, but the transition is made smoother when accompanied by music.
Guidance from the Holy Spirit.
O that men may praise the Lord for who he is, he is Holy, Righteous and deserves our praise. I am now looking at a trend in human/ the Hebrew men journey. Daniel ch 1 came not by a mistake before ch 3. I am seeing a progressive faith of the faithful. Ch 1 was about their diet, now ch 3 is about worship.
Six days we have for work and to provide for our daily meals. ( choice- kind/type). If these areas weren’t fulfilled during the six days it is in no way or, a higher probability for worship to be fulfilling or satisfying on the seventh. Our minds revert back to the food what we don’t have.
In saying this, the Hebrews overcame the trial of food and then their faith grew. Now when tempted to false worship they trusted in the same God who worked in their interests before to deliver them. Although they knew God would or wouldn’t deliver them, they had purpose in their life not to go against his words. The worship of false gods was one of the same reason why they were removed from their homelands. The worship of false gods now surfaced again but they had purpose not to partake in such evil practices.
From the history of their fathers [the Hebrews] had learned that disobedience to God results in dishonor, disaster, and death; and that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the foundation of all true prosperity. . . Their faith strengthened as they declared that God would be glorified by delivering them, and with triumphant assurance born of implicit trust in God, they added, “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” [Daniel 3:18]. (See Prophets and Kings, p 508)
I realized one of the reason many go to work on Sabbath was because they have not fulfilled the wk requirements. The lacking of food. It was also said before we can focus on the spiritual the physical/food must be satisfied.
When we stand for God he stands up for us, even if not we should not be disappointed, he knows everything. The disciples stood up yet met their death. John stood up just like them, they tried killing him by all different ways but was unsuccessful.
Many are dying daily for their faith. Let us continue with the faith of our fathers.
Whether or not to work to make a living on Sabbath is a matter of faith - a trial of our faith, similar to what the Hebrew young men experienced - is it not?
We can trust God to take care of our needs when we obey Him, or we can try to take care of ourselves by ourselves.
In Hebrews 11:6 we read that "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
Salvation is by faith alone because there's nothing we can do to save ourselves. And faith in God means trusting Him implicitly and completely every day of our lives. That translates to obedience in all things. Thus it seems to me that obedience is an act of faith not an act of "works." Doing our own thing is an act of "works" that will never save us.
I believe they had already strengthened their resolve to remain true to the living God. From the moment they were taken captive they were tempted to worship gods of stone, wood, and metal. When the big test came there total reliance on God was strong. Yes, also if you can control your appetite, you are gifted strength to obey our Heavenly Fathers statutes. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me”. Daniel and his three companions obeyed out of love for God in Heaven. Now how did they obey out of love for God? Love gave them resolve to obey. They surrendered self to the will of God, yielding their heart to the sovereignty of love. They saw the love of God. They were willing to be made willing. Read the following paragraph from the pen of Ellen G. White-Harmon, to get a better understanding.
Nothing wrong with thriving on the promises of God. I am sure the foursome did also.
This is how to: now just as much as it was then. Yes but we are in an era of modernization. No matter, if we are willing to be willing, and surrender to God of ourselves, He takes over. The four men learned early on to let God drive their chariot. Every time they drove themselves a bigger chariot came along and ran them off the road into the ditch. Never happened with God holding the reins.