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"Threatened To Bow"

"That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." Daniel 3:5,6

The king made a golden idol and required the people to worship it. There are forces that are trying to get us to bow down to idols as well-- the world, the flesh and the devil. Some of those idols include mammon, immorality, homosexuality, abortion, false religions, offense, fear, unforgiveness, condemnation, and so on.

The people were threatened if they did not bow and worship the king's idol. We too are threatened with death, with law suits, with failure, with insecurities, with being an outcast, being labeled, being lied about and being rejected if we don't bow to the idols. If the threats don't work, and we still don't bow, then we are given a "second chance" to bow. We are enticed, our senses are appealed to and we are given an incentive to bow. If this still doesn't work, we are threatened again. (Daniel 3:14,15)

The three Hebrews stood for their God and would not betray Him and bow. What happened? They were thrown into the furnace. Just because you don't bow to the threats, just because you don't worship the idols, doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be "spared" from facing what was threatened. But if you don't bow you will be the victor even if it looks like you aren't. What else happened to these guys? When they were thrown into the furnace, they were not alone. Jesus was in there with them.

To sum it up: Don't bow to idols, even when threatened. Stay faithful to God. Even if you do stay faithful you may not be delivered from the threats, but you will be delivered in them and you won't face them alone. The Lord will be with you.

Have a great day. Don't bow to the threats and worship the idols.

For further reading:
Daniel 3

THOMAS BOSTON

You have no reason to complain

(Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State")

"Why does a living man complain?" Lamentations 3:39

You have no reason to complain, as long as you are
out of hell. Do you murmur, because you are under pain
and sickness? Nay, bless God, you are not there where
the worm never dies! Do you grudge, that you are not in
so good a condition in the world as some of your neighbors
are? Be thankful, rather, that you are not in the condition
of the damned! Is your money gone from you? Thank God
that the fire of His wrath has not consumed you! Kiss the
rod, O sinner! and acknowledge mercy!

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