Don’t Bend

One Year Bible: November 27

Daniel 4:1-37

Don’t Bend.

“Here is a story from the Good Book we know.

A story ‘bout a miracle that happened long ago.

We hope that you’ll take courage when temptation you meet.

There’s somebody watchin’ you who’s strong when you’re weak.”

“The Fourth Man” (Gaithers)

My daddy sang bass, and he sang it well! He also sang in the era of quartet music. They all loved a great quartet. Now, if you know anything about quartet music you know that there is often a part of the song where the bass part really shines! Not only that, but my dad also played the trumpet. So, he covered the “low notes” and he hit “the high notes”.

Today’s story is about “the low notes” and “the high notes” too…

I can’t tell you this story without hearing one of his all-time favorite quartet songs. I heard it along with many others on assorted trips in his car…It is called “The Fourth Man”. Johnny Cash sang this song, along with the Gaithers, and many other quartets.

“They wouldn’t BEND. (Basses)

They held onto the will of God so we are told.

They wouldn’t BOW. (Basses)

They wouldn’t Bow their knees to the idol made of gold.

They wouldn’t BURN. (Basses)

They were protected by the fourth man in the fire.

They wouldn’t BEND. They wouldn’t BOW. They wouldn’t BURN.

I wish you could hear those low guys sing on this one! It is the kind of song that you need to hear in your ears, mind, and heart when all seems horribly lost and when everything seems to have gone terribly wrong!

That is EXACTLY what happened to Rach, Shack, and Benny (Meshach,, Shadrach, and Abednego).

Notice that Daniel was not in the fiery furnace with them. Did you realize this?

These three men would not BEND, BOW, or BURN when they were thrown in the fiery furnace for not bowing down to worship the golden idol statue of King Nebuchadnezzar. The guards turned up the heat in the furnace and were killed… but not these three guys! Not only that, when the king looked into the fiery furnace he saw “A Fourth Man” in there with them!

“I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!” (Daniel 3: 25)

We are told that “Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!” ((3:27)

Is this a GREAT BOOK, or what?? And, how about that “Fourth Man” that looked like a god??

King Nebby has a change of heart, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” (3:28)

The king then made a decree that any race, nation, or language that spoke a word against their God would be torn “limb from limb” and their houses will be turned into rubble.

Why? “There is no other god who can rescue like this! (3: 29)

So, here is the BIG question of the hour. Did Rack, Shack, and Benny have any idea that their situation would turn out so miraculously well?

When the king flew into a rage and threatened them with a fiery furnace here is their response, “If we are thrown into a blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But, even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will NEVER serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”( 3: 6-18)

EVEN IF… He doesn’t!

What does this mean to us in the fiery spots of life?

Remember the story I told you of my daddy who sang bass? He faithfully served God as a pastor all the days of his life, but when he got older things got rough. Fiery hot, in fact.

He had Parkinson’s, and then a stroke. He got so that he couldn’t swallow and would often choke. He had to leave our home and be in a care facility which broke our hearts. It was a rough ride. But, even when the fires of life intensified, he sang. When he was in pain at night his caregivers would tell us he sang hymns. When he had problems speaking and remembering words, he could still sing. That beautiful voice sang that bass line loud and strong…

“That Invisible Hand” still writes today, and “The Fourth Man” in the fire still unchains the captives…

So, just keep singing, “Don’t BEND. Don’t BOW. Don’t BURN.”

“We hope that you’ll take courage when temptation you meet.

There’s somebody watchin’ you who’s strong when you’re weak.”

(“The Fourth Man” by The Gaithers)