Discussion on Biblical Resistance to Idolatry (Part 2)

A little. Well, at least they haven't dropped to their knees. They are standing firm and probably swallowing hard and reaching deep. But fearlessly. They don't care what people will think. Valiantly they ignore the possible consequences. I will not bow to Babylon. I will choose what is right and let the consequence follow. And so they do. Well, outraged the people. Report to the king in verse 12. There are certain Jews now. Certain Jews. Does that mean there are other Jews that were not mad at other Jews that did bow but before the gods of Babylon? This golden statue. Will some saints go the way of the world? Sadly, yes. But there will be certain saints, in fact, great play on words. Not just certain saints. Some of them will be like this. But certain saints, saints who are certain of what they believe that will refuse to bow. Such were these three but certain Jews whom thou has set over the affairs of the province of Babylon. I mean, of all the nerve. The ones that are supposed to be helping run the place. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego. I mean, they're bearing Babylonian names. What's wrong with them? These men, O King, have not regarded thee. Oh, this is a personal affront. They're going against you. Almighty king, let's play on your pride, your vanity. They serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Oh, you see what they've done? They have turned an act of religious devotion into an act of political or social treason. It's exactly what the Jews do to Jesus. They're angry at him because of blasphemies claiming to be the son of God. The Romans don't care about that. You Jews can believe whatever wacko things you want to. Just be good citizens, be good Romans. Well, you'll never be Romans, but behave yourself while under the Roman thumb. Well, that's not going to work for the leaders of the Jews. So what do they do? Let's. Okay, if the Romans don't care about religion, they care about politics. We're the opposite. So we'll take.