They would not worship an idol! They would
not respect graven images!
Here’s the verse that interests me. Listen to
Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3:15 ---
"Now if ye be
ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute,
harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick,
ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well:
but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the
midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God
that shall deliver you out of my hands?"
Notice that there are 6 instruments listed
here in the royal orchestra. These Believers would NOT obey the
sounds of the "harps!"
This particular word is NOT the usual word
for "harp" in the Bible. In Hebrew it is spelled "qiythros" and
is used ONLY in Daniel chapter 3 (four times in Daniel 3 ...
verses 5, 7, 10 and 15). The normal Hebrew word for "harp" is "kinnor"
(meaning "to twang") and is translated "harp" 42 times!
"Qiythros" is defined as some kind of a
stringed instrument. My lexicon says that’s it’s a lyre. But I
didn’t know what a "lyre" was. Here’s the dictionary meaning:
"A stringed instrument of the harp family
having two curved arms connected at the upper end by a crossbar,
used to accompany a singer or reciter of poetry, especially in
ancient Greece." Perhaps you can better picture one in
your mind now.
The next thing to do is see how the Holy
Spirit uses our word in the Old Testament. Here’s the first time
you’ll find it: Genesis 4:21 --- "And his
brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such
as handle the harp and organ." The harp is originally an
invention of a descendant of wicked Cain! It’s origins are
encased in ungodliness it seems!
However, do remember that God can redeem a
harp too! In heaven John the Apostle saw this:
"And I heard a voice from heaven, as the
voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I
heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps."
(Revelation 14:2) Here harps are used in praise and worship of
Almighty God!
The next use of the harp in Scripture is in
Genesis 31:27 where Laban asks Jacob:
"Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from
me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with
mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?" Old
Laban is lying for sure! He uses the guise of music and a party
to declare an untruth!
So far (in its first two Biblical uses) the
harp has a background of wickedness and is used in a
hypocritical manner! That alone should tell us something!
But quickly let’s look at the only New
Testament use of the word harp. In 1Corinthians 14:7 Paul asks:
"And even things without life giving
sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in
the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?"
The implication is that the harp can give an untrue sound!
I believe the lesson of the harp is this.
Christian, don’t fall down and worship the
ways of the world! Their "harps" may induce you to do so! BUT
those harps can be very misleading and hypocritical!
I have heard professing Baptists say: "I’ll
not go to church. It’s full of hypocrites!"
Others have declared: "I’ve never seen a real
Christian! They ALL fail to live up to their calling!"
Let me say this. I sure am glad that there
are still a few who STAND for God and will not bow to the lies
and reasonings of hypocrisy in today’s world!
By the way ... while churches well may have
some hypocrites within their ranks ... the vast majority of
Christians are loyal and true!
And I’d like to go on record today: I’ve seen
many a real Christian! I do believe in the saving grace of God!
I’ve seen what it produces: born-again Blood-washed
Spirit-filled children of God!
Lord willing, I shall not bow to the "flutes"
in Satan’s orchestra.
People of God ... stand! Stand! Stand!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
When the
"sackbut" sounds ... everyone fall down and worship!
What does the word mean in Hebrew? It is
spelled "sabbeka." The dictionaries and lexicons tell us that
the word links back to a "stem" or "root" verb meaning "to
entwine, to fold together or to wrap!" In fact, a word closely
related to the stem here means "nets" or "network" in the King
James Bible!
Now we can immediately see the danger of the
world's spiritual "sackbuts!" They constitute an invitation to
be entwined or wrapped or enfolded into the spirit of the
idolatrous world in which we live!
Networking with the devil!
Some people just can't say NO to the
allurements of the world. When its music sounds ... especially
the sackbuts ... they seem magnetically attracted!
Samson was. So was Lot. And Demas too.
But thank God for Paul! Listen to him in 2
Corinthians 6:17 --- "Wherefore come out
from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."
Earlier Paul had commanded us: "Be ye not
unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship
hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath
light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14)
Christian friends, do not bow to the world's
"sackbuts!" They are indeed dangerous.
In the epic Greek stories called the Illiad
and the Odyssey a group of sailors were lured to danger by a
singing group of lovely ladies (called Sirens). Their songs had
such power that the ship's captain (Odysseus) had his
crewmembers chain him to the ship so he could not obey the voice
of the song and music! To have done so would have led to
immediate danger and death!
Do NOT get entangled with the world! Peter
also has warned of such great danger! In 2 Peter 2:20 he says:
"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they
are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than
the beginning."
Here's Paul's use of the word "entangled:"
Galatians 5:1 --- "Stand fast therefore in
the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not
entangled again
with the yoke of bondage."
Satan's "sackbuts" still call!
And God's real children still refuse!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
DANIEL 3:15 ... LESSON 5:
The enemies of the Bible never quit
attacking!
One of their "key" targets is the Book of
Daniel with all its beautiful prophecies.
Even Daniel 3 (the Hebrew young men in the
burning fiery furnace) is now within their range!
For example, when the orchestra of
Nebuchadnezzar began to play, all the people were commanded to
bow down and worship a giant golden image, a false god!
"Now if ye be ready
that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp,
sackbut, psaltery,
and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship
the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not,
ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery
furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out
of my hands?" Daniel 3:15
Now, as you can see, one of the six (!!!)
instruments mentioned is the "psaltery."
Now the thing Bible-denying liberals notice
about that particular word is that (they say) it's a Greek
word! Here's the Hebrew spelling: "pisantariyn." And many of
the "scholars" do say that this word is a transliteration of
Greek (at a later time) into Hebrew (at an earlier time)!
It's just doesn't look that Greek to me!
By the way, why can't it be a word that went
from Hebrew (earlier) into Greek (later)? Daniel thus would
have been using it early ... just as his Book shows! What
"scholar" is alive today to prove that this isn't the case?
The danger of all this is that if Daniel is
not written until the times of the Greek language's prominence
... then the Book is NOT prophecy ... but history! The skeptics
are attacking the Biblical validity of its glorious predictions
(its very prophecies)! Many of which have already been
miraculously fulfilled!
THAT'S THE DANGER OF THE "PSALTERIES!"
And they will (often) lead to people falling
down and worshiping some false god! (The false gods of
scholarship or faulty hermeneutics or biblical criticism!)
Another interesting fact: There are two
words used for "psaltery" in the Old Testament!
"Nebel" is 22 times translated "psaltery" and
has the literal meaning of a "skin bag!" That's the actual shape
(a skin bag) of a psaltery, a stringed instrument much like a
small harp.
And (as we've seen) "pisantariyn," which is
used only in Daniel 3, is found 4 times there! (They're
literally accusing Daniel of being a fraud! Of pretending to
write at an earlier time but using the vocabulary of a later
time!)
By the way, if it's such a Greek term
... why is it never used in the whole New Testament?
Paul certainly would have had access to the word (as would all
the other writers)!
I know this.
The devil's "orchestra" is still playing
today!
And Satan is still demanding that the world's
false assumptions and idols be revered and worshiped!
BUT I BELIEVE THERE ARE STILL A FEW OF GOD'S
LITTLE ONES (BELIEVERS) WHO WILL NOT BEND OR BOW OR WORSHIP
THESE DOUBT PRODUCING ASSUMPTIONS!
I still believe Daniel was written during the
reign of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (600-550 BC), just like the
Bible says!
The King's royal orchestra has a instrument
whose very meaning tries to induce doubt about the Word of God!
Don't listen to it.
And ... certainly ... don't bow to it!
Keep standing for Jesus!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
DANIEL 3:15 ... LESSON
6:
The whole orchestra began to play, including
the "dulcimers."
These "bagpipe" kind of instruments
(dulcimers) are listed in Daniel 3:15 as being a part of
Nebuchadnezzar's royal band!
"Now if ye be
ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute,
harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick,
ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well:
but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the
midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God
that shall deliver you out of my hands?"
When the dulcimers were heard ... folks were
commanded to bow and worship a false idol of gold!
The word for dulcimers here is (in the Hebrew
text from which the King James translators worked) "suponeyah."
And as with so many of these six instruments in this particular
orchestra ... the world is only found in this chapter! (And the
Bible has 1,189 chapters!)
Etymologists tell us that this word has an
unusual background. It belongs to the family of "wind"
instruments called the "bagpipes" or "panpipes."
WHY is this rare word used here? WHAT is the
significance of the "dulcimers?"
This particular noun (along with several of
the others) seems to have a "mixed" history. The dictionaries
themselves are confused about them! Some say they are Hebrew.
Others declare them to be Aramaic. The newer ones (wrongly I
believe) teach that they're of Greek origin. Here's my point:
They are a mixture of all kinds of histories and cultures and
backgrounds! And they are mixed together into one ecumenical
orchestra! And when so mixed, they become particularly
dangerous for a Christian it seems!
Stay away from such "hybrid" situations!
In the world of religion when doctrines (or
practices) come from such various sources ... it's called
"syncretism!" That's the merging of different belief systems
into one! (A little bit of Baptist doctrine plus a little bit
of New Age philosophy plus some Catholicism and a dash of
Charismatic flavor and you get ... a lot of today's so-called
"church" movement! And it is dangerous!)
That's one thing the dulcimers represent with
their "mixed" history.
Quickly let me suggest something else. These
are "wind" instruments! And every Bible student knows that the
"wind" in Scripture is a picture (or "type") of the Holy Spirit
of God! In fact, in Hebrew (as in Greek) the word for "spirit"
IS the word for wind or breeze (ruach and pneuma)!
Behind these bagpipes (dulcimers) is a wind
blowing. (Or should I say INTO these bagbipes a wind is
blowing?) BUT it is not the right kind of wind for the
Christian! There is the wrong spirit in this orchestra of
idolatry!
Oh Christian friend, let us learn to "try the
spirits" and stay away from that which is not of God! 1 John
4:1 says: "Beloved, believe not every
spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Next time the dulcimers of this lost world
are playing ... do not bow to their idols! Stay away from them!
They have the wrong "mixture" about them! The wrong "spirit"
indwells them too!
Be like the three Hebrew young men of Daniel
3 and STAND for God!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
DANIEL 3:15 ... LESSON 7:
Here's our verse one more time:
"Now if ye be ready that
at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp,
sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye
fall down and worship the image which I have made; well:
but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the
midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God
that shall deliver you out of my hands?" Daniel 3:15
Perhaps the "key" to the whole passage is
found in that little word "ready!"
Those three young Jews were "ready" for sure!
"Ready" is an adjective and in Hebrew is
spelled "athiyd" and basically means "prepared."
This "test" did not take these young men off
guard!
They had pre-determined in their hearts what
they would do!
What an example they leave us!
Daniel also behaved in a similar manner!
Before his meat eating and wine drinking test
ever came Daniel had already decided what his course of action
would be!
Daniel 1:8 --- "But
Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he
drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that
he might not defile himself."
We should do the same thing!
Already decide (in advance) how you will
respond when asked to do wrong!
It helps!
Paul so taught Timothy to ...
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow
righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the
Lord out of a pure heart." 2nd Timothy 2:22
The word "ready" in our text was spoken by
the King ... demanding that people be ready to obey his
idolatrous command!
But the godly young Jews were "ready" to say
NO ... refusing to worship a man-make god!
That God for those who are "ready!"
Listen to the Psalmist in Psalm 45:1 ---
"My heart is inditing a good matter: I
speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my
tongue is the pen of a ready writer."
By the way, we should all be glad that the
Lord is ready to forgive! See Psalm 86:5 which says:
"For thou, Lord, art good, and
ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call
upon thee."
Peter cautions us also to be ready!
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with
meekness and fear." 1 Peter 3:15
An old wise saying tells us: To be
fore-warned is to be fore-armed!
Like the old soldiers said: READY ...
aim ... fire!
It's hard to hit the target without first
being ready to shoot the bullet!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
DANIEL 3:15 ... FINAL
LESSON ... LESSON 8:
In his confrontation with the 3 Hebrew young
men (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) of Daniel's third chapter,
King Nebuchadnezzar asked a vital question!
As he threatened these followers of our Lord,
the King was so sure of himself that he asked:
"And Who is that God That shall deliver
you out of my hands?" Daniel 3:15
What a question!
"And Who is that God
That shall deliver you out of my hands?"
I would like to try to answer that question
if I can.
We shall let the Bible be our guide here.
Who is He? He is Elohim God! He
is the Creator! He is the Triune God of Father, Son and
Holy Spirit! He Himself declares in Psalm 46:10 ---
"Be still, and know that I am God (Elohim):
I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the
earth."
Who is He? He is God Almighty! He
can do anything! He is omnipotent! Again He says:
"And God said unto him, I am
God Almighty." Genesis 35:11
Who is That God? Here's one of the best
things about Him! I'll again let Him tell it!
"Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O
Israel ... I am God, even thy God."
Psalm 50:7 He is MY God! Praise His dear Name!
Who is He? He is The ONLY real God!
Since He's been talking ... He continues:
"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I
am God, and there is none else." Isaiah
45:22 Did you see it? Beside Him there is none
other!
Who is He? In Hosea 11:9 He answers
that question (again)! "For I am
God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee."
He is not a man! He is very God! We did not make our
God (as Nebuchadnezzar made his)! Our God made us!
He is not a frail man! He is all the Bible claims Him to
be!
Nebuchadnezzar had finally met his Match!
He is soon to learn (in Daniel 3) Who This
God is!
Aren't you glad you know already!
And even after all these verses, I assure you
... the half has not been told! What the Queen of Sheba
said of Solomon is even more true of the Living God:
"And she said to the king, It was a true
report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy
wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine
eyes had seen it: and,
behold, the half was not
told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame
which I heard." 1 Kings 10:6-7
This is our God!
And He can deliver us!!!
(That word for "deliver ... "shezab" in
Hebrew ... means to loose! To set free!)
Again I say, praise His dear Name!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
