Unparalleled Faithfulness

[16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
[17] If that is the case, 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.
[18] But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

Daniel 3:16-18

We often hear prayers and faith statements bearing the reaction of the three friends known for sheer guts in the face of an angry king. I have certainly no problem bearing in mind that when they were thrown into raging fire, they did not fight back the guards that threw them in. I also bear no doubt that they were clueless as to what God would perform on their behalf. They had seemingly, any rational mind would say, got carried away too far in the emotion.

What ignites this attitude, I hear my mind! Isn't it a tall claim?

Even if God does not help me, I will still worship Him. I have spoken this several times in my prayers even if I did not understand (or didn't even know that I didn't understand) it.

Isn't there hidden some element of spiritual arrogance there? Or a hidden fear that God is unsure of me?

Even if God does not help me, I will still worship Him. Almost always the speaker is displaying their unflinching faith in the Lord. And sometimes the speaker (that is, me) is trying desperately to assure God that even if He does not help me, I will still worship Him.

True. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego did what was required by God. They displayed their faith, and their faithfulness, through their actions and their words. Yes, faith without action is dead. What the three friends did by standing up for their God was right. The Lord Himself proved and justified it. Their example must be followed, but not blindly.

Before anyone chooses to make this statement a part of their faith claim, they must
understand that it does not prove their worthiness or faithfulness, and that they needn't assure God of their allegiance no matter what. While my actions show what my faith is, it is God alone who justifies it.

So, what ignites this attitude?

Before Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego made their intentions clear, they made their God's intention clear.

... 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.

He will deliver us from your hand, O king. Notice?
Let us look closely at what they really said:

[17] If that is the case, 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.

The 'If' refers to the condition that the king gave them: bow to the image or get thrown into the furnace.

[18] But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.

Again, the 'If not' refers to the same two options.

So what they're really saying is - whether or not you throw us into the fire, we will still worship our own God. If you do not throw us into the fire and we go back to our homes, we will still (again) not bow to the image. The king gave them two options. The three friends defied the king on both counts and brought glory to their God on both options of the condition. If they die, they die to their God; if they live, they live to their God. Furnace or home, they worship God.

It seems that much before they were actually thrown into the fire, the three friends were already on fire - a holy fire.

But, what ignites this attitude?

... 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.

The faithfulness of man does not exist without the faithfulness of God. Not only is my God able, He is willing! And, He is faithful to keep His word. The faithfulness of these men was rooted in the faithfulness of God. They knew in their hearts and spirits that come what may, their God will not fail them. Never for a moment did they doubt that their God will 'not' save them. He is a faithful God - it is His character to save those who call upon Him. The king's decision may waver; but the faithfulness of God does not. It cannot.

There is a certain holy arrogance. They do not bother with what the king has decided or what they should answer him. It was as though they were saying - I don't care what you decide, king. My God has already decided for me. You can worry about your own decision, but my God's decision for me is done - He is saving me. The holy arrogance did not come from their faithfulness, but from God's.

God is unparalleled faithfulness. It was not about the response of God to the faithfulness of the three men; but the response of men to the faithfulness of God. It came from God and to God it reverted, glorifying Him and His people.

Notice something else? Before they were delivered from the furnace, the Lord's faithfulness had already delivered them. Three bound men, who were thrown into the fiery furnace, were seen walking freely around in the fire, loose.

Yes, the Lord delivered them - from pressure, fear, doubt, fire, bonds! Unparalleled Faithfulness, indeed!