But even if not
Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “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.”
So, technically I cheated and the passages for today’s lectionary are immediately following this passage (Daniel 3:19-30) but, I think that context is incredibly important. In verses 19-30, we find King Nebuchadnezzer astonished at the Lord’s protection of these three men bound and dropped into a furnace. Amazed at their faith that allowed them to defy the most powerful man in the world, even to the point of death. Left in awe of a God beyond imaginable power. But, how did we get here?
Not so ironically, the three lectionary passages blend together, today, so beautifully. In Daniel, we find three men willing to face adversity to the point of death. In Psalm 63:1-8, we find a song of David (which I would bet our main characters knew quite well and maybe sang often in the privacy of their homes) that preaches trusting in God, even in the dry lands, in times of trouble. Then we have a letter to the church in Smyrna found in Revelation 2:8-11. A letter of both encouragement and challenge. We hear of a community who is rich in heavenly joy but faces many earthly trials. The author even encourages them to stand firm, even in the face of death because “The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.” I.e. some of you are going to die!
We grew up reading the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because it’s encouraging and uplifting. We see the strength in friendship, standing firm together. We see faithfulness to the Lord. And, most importantly, we see a happy ending. We get the resolution we want. But, that’s not always how life goes. These men were even prepared for the “but even if not”. Even if God does not save us from your hands, we know that we “will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
That’s a lot harder to face. Accepting death in this life. Saying and living the “but even if not”, is a much harder reality but it’s exactly where Jesus calls us to live. He does not promise us earthly salvation. His promise is eternal. That means that sometimes, on earth, we “lose”. That means that sometimes the fire will overtake us. I know that I don’t have to tell many of you what pain feels like. We are a community of many blessings but also many anniversaries we’d rather not remember. Many times spend standing shoulder to shoulder in a tear filled sanctuary or at a graveside. Yet we still stand knowing the God we serve.
This fall I should be celebrating the 10th birthday of my nephew Elliot but instead we remember our expected joy of new life turned to mourning. My oldest brother and his wife were expecting their first born but were unaware that she was carrying a virus that caused Elliots organs to shut down unexpectedly. We got a call that something was wrong and that Maggie was headed in for an emergency C-section and we began praying. “God, bring safety and health.” They only got to spend a few hours with Elliot before he passed away early the next morning but I will never forget the stories we heard from that hospital room. In the midst of the greatest pains a parent can feel, my brother and his wife praised their faithful God sharing their love for Him and His love for Elliot with their nurses and doctors. They said, “but even if not”. Even if we won’t get to bring our son home, we will still worship our God. Even if we don’t get to raise him, we will share His love. Even if You o God will not save Elliot in this life, we trust that the second death will not harm him or us.
But even if not.
It is vital that while we rest in the lush meadows of God’s blessing that we sing out Psalm 63. That we sing of His glory and honor and blessings. That we remember His love....so that when we face the promised trials of Revelation 2:10 we remain confident in a God who saves. Though He may not shield us from death in this life as He did our heros of Daniel 3, we know that He will protect us from the second death. That He has!, saved us from the second death, through His own sacrifice, through His own pain, through the loss of His one and only son.
Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the blessing it is to know and to trust you. We thank you for your sacrifice, for your son, for your grace that allows us to know and love you. Father, we pray for those in mourning. We pray for strength and healing for them. We pray for those facing hard times and fearful circumstances, that you would deliver them and protect them and bring healing. But, if this is not your will allow us to pray as Jesus prayed, “your will be done”, allow us to have faith as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to say “but even if not.” Lord, above all, grant that your name be glorified. It’s in the holy and precious name of your son that we pray. Amen.
