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With what words did Christ explain that there is another power independent of Caesarian or civil government?

“Give therefore what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God“ (Matt 22.21).

 

 

Who alone does He say should be worshipped?

“You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him alone” (Matt 4.10). Civil authority encroaches on God's authority.

 

 

What decree did Nebuchadnezzar once issue?

“At the time you hear the sound of a trumpet, a flute, a zither, a harp, a harp and a symphony, and all kinds of musical instruments, fall down and bow to the golden idol that King Nebuchadnezzar set up. And whoever does not fall down and bow down, will immediately be thrown into a fiery furnace” (Dan 3.5-6).

Note. This decree was a gross violation of the second commandment of the Law of God, which forbids making man-made images, worshiping and serving them. Essentially, he was religious, idolatrous, and persecuted people.

 

 

What answer did the three Jewish captives give the king?

“There is no need for us to answer you for this. Our God, whom we serve, is able to save us from the fiery furnace, and deliver us from your hand, O king. But if it does not happen, then... we will not serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden image that you set up” (v.16-18).

 

 

What did Nebuchadnezzar do then?

“And he ordered the strongest men from his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into a fiery furnace” (v.20).

 

 

What did Nebuchadnezzar say after the miraculous deliverance took place?

“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him and disobeyed the king’s command, and gave up their bodies to the fire, lest they serve or worship any god but their own God” (v.28).

Note. By saving these people from the fire, God showed the whole world that His religion is a power that surpasses civil power and does not depend on it, and that every person is given the freedom to choose whether to worship God or reject this worship according to the convictions of his conscience.

 

 

In what way could the envious princes accuse Daniel?

“We cannot find an excuse against Daniel unless we find one against him in the law of his God” (Dan 6.5).

 

 

What decree did they submit to the king for approval?

“Whoever asks for thirty days any god or person other than you, king, will be thrown into the lions' den” (v.7).

Note. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar's previous edict, this edict forbade the worship of the true God and therefore was in direct conflict with the first commandment of the Decalogue, which forbids the worship of all other gods.

 

 

What did Daniel do when he found out about this decree?

“Daniel… went to his house; the windows in his upper room were open against Jerusalem, and he knelt down three times a day and prayed to his God and praised Him, as he had done before” (v.10).

 

 

What happened to Daniel in the end?

“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den” (v.16).

 

 

What did Darius say when Daniel came to the lions' den?

“Daniel, servant of the living God! Could your God, whom you always serve, save you from the lions?” (v.20).

 

 

What was Daniel's response?

“King! Live forever! My God sent His angel and blocked the mouths of the lions, and they did not hurt me, because I was clean before Him, and even before you, king, I did not commit a crime” (v. 21-22).

Note. This miracle, performed before the eyes of the whole people, became evidence that the civil government, using all means of struggle, again turned out to be powerless against a person led by heavenly power.