[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 11/May/2025]
For the past few months Connect in Faith have been studying the life of Daniel, who as a young teenager was taken from his home and family and deported to Babylon, where he and his 3 friends were forced to serve the enemy of their people, King Nebuchadnezzar. This king was not only extremely powerful, but cruel, childish in his rages and mentally unstable.
Daniel and his friends spent the rest of their lives in exile, while the situation in their homeland went from bad to worse as Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and deported the people to Babylon. Yet despite the shattering of their hopes and dreams, these 4 men were determined to remain faithful to God at whatever cost. This faithfulness led to Daniel’s 3 friends being thrown into a furnace, while Daniel in his old age faced a lion’s den.
What gave these men such courage? I think it was the knowledge that however powerful the king might be, God was in ultimate control. When faced with the fiery furnace the 3 friends said:
King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.
Daniel 3 v16-18 [NIVUK]
The song “Confidence” by Sanctus Real contains these words:
I’m not a warrior, I’m too afraid to lose
I feel unqualified for what You’re calling me to
But Lord with Your strength, I’ve got no excuse
‘Cause broken people are exactly who You useSo give me faith like Daniel in the lion’s den
Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness
Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defence
So I can face my giants with confidence
Another song says:
Dare to be a Daniel
Dare to stand alone
Dare to have a purpose firm
Dare to make it known.
Resources:
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Last Sunday’s reflection: Have We Cancelled Jesus? by Dazz Jones
Contributed by Helen Ruffhead; © Helen Ruffhead