There’s Always Hope: Part 1 — A ‘Time With God’ Audio Devotion

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King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”…

Daniel 3

Transcript

Good morning,

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As we head into a new week, we want to take some time just to listen to God. We do this each weekday morning at this time. Open the Bible and listen to what God has to say to our lives. It’s amazing how these words of scripture that were written thousands of years ago are taken up by God and spoken right into our hearts and speak to the issues that we’re facing right now in these days.

This week I want to focus on a theme that’s near and dear to us at the radio station, and that is the theme – there is always hope when you walk with God.

I want to take us to a story from the Old Testament of the Bible in the book of Daniel. And here’s the story. King Nebuchadnezzar is the king of the Babylonian Empire, one of the great empires in Earth’s history. At this point in time it says King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold whose height was 60 cubits. Well, that’s about 27 or 28 m tall.

An image of gold 27 m tall, he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather all the leaders, the officials of the Babylonian Empire from all the different provinces to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So they all came.

And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and the herald proclaimed aloud, You’re commanded, O peoples, nations and languages, that when you hear the sound of all the musical instruments, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

So as soon as all the people heard the musical instruments. All the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, but certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.

And they said to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever. You made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the musical instruments shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever doesn’t, shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you.

They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. King Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought, so they brought them before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?

If you’re ready now, when you hear the sound of the musical instruments to fall down and worship the image well and good, but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace, and who is the God who will deliver you out of my hands.

Well, I would say that these guys are in a situation that anyone looking at would say was a hopeless situation. And I wonder as you look at your life right now, are you facing a situation that seems totally hopeless to you? Are you feeling desperate about something in your life?

Well, just bring that situation. Put it in the front of your mind, and remember this question that King Nebuchadnezzar asked. Who is the God who will deliver you out of my hands? As we keep going this week, we’re going to see that God stepped into that situation and that what seemed like a totally hopeless situation was not.

And I want to say to you today, no matter what situation you are facing, no matter how hopeless it feels, no matter how desperate you are, God is there. He loves you, He cares for you, and He wants to enter into that situation. There is always hope when you walk with God.

I’m John North.