Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from the Book of the Prophet Daniel, Chapter 3 verse 28, “Blessed be God who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted him,” (NRSVB). The prophet Daniel was taken as hostage from Jerusalem in 605 BC and served, together with three of his country men, in the royal court of Babylonian ruler, Nebuchadnezzar. They were chosen for duty in the palace due to their former positions in Jerusalem, being either children of royal or noble families, so that they could be taught the language of the Chaldeans and their laws and traditions, in order to enhance the efficacy of the administration of the Jewish captives and the client states under Babylonian rule. Daniel, Sadrach, Mesach and Abednego were from Judah and were chosen to receive a three year education at the king’s court. They also were given a special a daily share from the portion of the king’s table of food and all kinds of delicacies. The Jewish young men declined the food of the king for they were not to eat food that were not ceremoniously clean, according to the Jewish religious laws. The chief officer of the king was asked by Daniel and his friends to serve them only vegetables and water. The officer was concerned that the young men would become weakened and that the king would take offence at their request. However, Daniel asked him to serve them their requested meals and after ten days to decided whether their appearance and strength have suffered or not. After the trial period, the chief officer of the king found the four friends being of better physical appearance and strength than the other students, and decided to continue to serve them their accustomed Jewish meals of water and vegetables, honouring their vows to their God.
God gave the four men special insight, wisdom and skills and when the learnership at the king’s court was complete and the tests were given, Daniel, Sadrach, Mesach and Abednego were found to be superior to the other students. They were appointed to administrative positions in the king’s court. Nebuchadnezzar was at that time the most powerful ruler in the Ancient Near East. He commanded that a statute of himself be made measuring 90 feet in height and 9 feet in breadth, that had to be set up at the plane of Dura. At the sound of the trumpets the people had to fall down and worship the statute, those who would not obey, would be thrown in the fiery furnace. At an appointed time, the rulers of the provinces in Babylon and people of Babylon and all the other inhabitants of the Babylonian cities, were commanded to come and pay homage to Nebuchadnezzar and worship his statute as they heard the trumpet sound. The people came and worshipped the king as they heard the sound of the trumpets. However, Daniel’s three friends, who were ordered to be present at these proceedings, did not fall down and worship the king. The king was indignant and told the men that he will give them a second chance to worship him, for he considered their disobedience as an oversight. They answered the king that they would not reconsider, for if the Lord whom they serve is able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, he would indeed do so.
Disobeying the most powerful ruler of the time, refusing to worship him as a deity, the Hebrew children declared that they are ready to die for their faith, if they had to. Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage, had the fire kindled seven times warmer than before and had the men bound and thrown in the furnace. The heat was so intense that the sparks and flames killed some of the men who threw them in the fire. As the king beheld the three men falling in the flames bound, he saw four men walking freely unhurt. The appearance of the fourth man was like the appearance of a son of a deity, a god, and the king was afraid. He moved to the entrance of the furnace and called them to come out of the fire. They appeared unharmed, their garments were scorched or their hair singed, the smell of smoke did not even cling to them. The king pronounced the words of our watchword, for he saw how God delivered his children miraculously, by sending an angel to watch over them and protect them, because of their obedience and trust in their God.
The Apostle Peter was thrown in jail by King Herod and was condemned to death, however, an angel came and delivered him from the chains and led him safely out of jail, for God has prepared a great mission for him, and intervened miraculously to save him from the power of the client king, Herod, who ruled over Jerusalem. As it was impossible for the three friends of Daniel to save themselves, so it was impossible for the Apostle Peter, but God worked miraculously there where things were impossible, for all things are possible for God. He will send his angel to save those who love him so that they will rejoice in their Lord and the deliverance that he has planned for them. We read in the Book of Acts, Chapter 12 verse 11, of the realization that Peter came to as he found himself safely out of jail, busy travelling towards the house where the disciples were meeting, “Then Peter came to himself and said: Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod,” (NRSVB). The Lord is very near those who are endangered to save them to the uttermost.
Father, we thank you that you have commanded your angels to protect us so that we would not even hurt our foot, nor stumble over obstacles, but be saved and restored to safety, so that we may rejoice in your power that rescued us, Amen.