Daniel chapter 3				Peer Pressure									19.9.99

Peer pressure is a huge influence on our lives.  Children and teenagers won't wear certain clothes unless they have certain expensive "cool" labels.  Adolescents are particularly vulnerable, desperate not to be teased about being different or not in fashion.  Ask an adult about their first drink of alcohol or cigarette and many will say they didn't enjoy it, they just wanted to be accepted bytheir friends.  People often go places and do things not because it's right or wrong or even because they really want to but simply because their friends are there.  When everyone else seems to be doing it it takes a courageous person to stand up and say "no".

But that's precisely what we have here.  The King of the Empire of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar was trying to establish and make secure his empire so he got all his government officials and local authorities together for a kind of "party conference".  No doubt it was partly business but the real stroke of genius was a kind of cultural finale which would hopefully help unite his civil servants (who remember came from many different parts of his empire) with some sense of basic loyalty to Babylon.  The centrepiece of this cultural festival was an act of nominal worship bowing down to a huge golden statue.  The statue may have been of Nebuchadnezzar himself or some more general design representing Babylon or Babylonian "gods".  Whatever it was everyone had to do it or face execution.  Whether they really believed in it or not, everyone was doing it.

Notice how the repetition in this chapter almost becomes hypnotic (v 5 & 6).  It's sometimes true that if people hear a thing often enough they'll believe it without thinking.  For example if people listen constantly to music that tells them life is awful and you've got to get all you can for there is no ultimate purpose to life, we shouldn't be surprised if they lack motivation about school or church, become selfish and negative and destructive.  But it's not just young people and pop music.  How many times a week do we see people jump into bed together outside of marriage on popular pre-9am watershed TV shows?  It's assumed so long as the sex isn't too graphic this is suitable family viewing.  But if we don't learn to be critical and discerning and we hear and see these messages often enough such things become "normal" and "acceptable" in our thinking.

But wait a minute. Here are three young men probably in their early 20's who do not accept the norms being forced on them and are not afraid to say so. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were at Nebuchadnezzar's conference.  No doubt they contributed to the business for they were three of his top men.  They probably mixed with their Babylonian colleagues in a general friendly way.  But when commanded to break God's 2nd commandment and take part in idolatrous worship theyquietly but firmly said "no".  In ch 1 they had made this commitment privately.  But now if required they were prepared to go public.  There are times when God's people have to make it clear where they stand, whatever the cost.

Nebuchadnezzar was sympathetic to these young men and gave them a second chance.  Everyone was doing it.  Why be awkward?  Why face the embarrassment, ostracising, humiliation?  Why risk your career or your life?

Why? - Because this was precisely the sort of sin that had lead to the destruction of Israel and Jerusalem and these boys had learned their lesson.

"We will work hard for you and for this community O King.  But we dare not and will not disobey our God again.  Even if it means spoiling your festival, appearing uncool or politically incorrect, losing our jobs, our friendships, even our lives.  We serve a higher and greater Master and our destiny is ultimately in His hands!"

Well you heard the rest of the story.  There was a very different climax to the festival from the one Nebuchadnezzar had planned.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a furnace.  Their executioners died.  They miraculously did not.  A mysterious angelic figure appeared with them in the flames.  They were vindicated in their faith and it was Nebuchadnezzar who ended up humbled. If  the episode with the dream in ch 2 taught him that the God of Heaven and Earth is a God who can reveal mysteries, this episode taught Him that our God is also a God Who can save.  The fullest expression of this we see in the Lord Jesus Who came to save us from our sins.

Some lessons quickly:

Don't be led astray by peer pressure.  Everybody might be doing it but that doesn't make it right or good.  Dare to make up your own mind.

Do trust in God Who reveals truth and wisdom and alone can save us, in this life and the next.

The Lord is near those who suffer for their faith.  Even if we lose out in the short term, even if we're martyred, stay faithful to Jesus for He said;
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matt 5 v 11&12)

Dare to be different.  Dare to be a real Christian.