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NOVEMBER 30
remembered that the flock belongs to God,not to the pastor.God entrusts some of His flock to the
pastor of a church to lead, care for, and feed (v. 3).
“Not by compulsion but willingly.”Specifically, Peter may be warning the elders against a first
danger—laziness. The divine calling (1 Cor. 9:16), along with the urgency of the task (Rom. 1:15),
should prevent laziness and indifference.“Not for dishonest gain.” False teachers are always moti-
vated by a second danger, money, and use their power and position to rob people of their own
wealth (2 Pet.2:1–3).Scripture is clear that churches should pay their shepherds well (1 Cor.9:7–14;
1 Tim. 5:17,18); but a desire for undeserved money must never be a motive for ministers to serve
(1 Tim. 3:3; 6:9–11; 2 Tim. 2:4;Titus 1:7; 2 Pet. 2:3; see also Jer. 6:13; 8:10; Mic. 3:11; Mal. 1:10).
“Nor as being lords” (v. 3).This is the third major temptation for a pastor: demagoguery. In this
context,“lords”means to dominate someone or some situation.It implies leadership by manipulation
and intimidation. Rather, true spiritual leadership is by example (1 Tim. 4:12).

chadnezzar had set up. Then a herald cried
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November 30 aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples,
nations, and languages, that at the time you
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hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre,
and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of
Daniel 3:1–4:37
music, you shall fall down and worship the
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set
3 of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and up; and whoever does not fall down and wor-
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its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of ship shall be cast immediately into the midst
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Dura, in the province of Babylon. And King of a burning fiery furnace.”
Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together 7 So at that time, when all the people heard
the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in
the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the symphony with all kinds of music, all the peo-
magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, ple, nations, and languages fell down and wor-
to come to the dedication of the image which shiped the gold image which King Nebuchad-
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King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the nezzar had set up.
satraps, the administrators, the governors, the 8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans
counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the mag- came forward and accused the Jews. They
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istrates, and all the officials of the provinces spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O
gathered together for the dedication of the king, live forever! You, O king, have made a
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image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; decree that everyone who hears the sound of
and they stood before the image that Nebu- the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in
symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall
down and worship the gold image; and who-
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ever does not fall down and worship shall be
cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
3:1 image of gold. The statue, which the king 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set
arrogantly made, represented himself as an over the affairs of the province of Babylon:
expression of his greatness and glory and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these
reflected the dream where he was the head of men, O king, have not paid due regard to you.
gold (2:38). It was not necessarily made of They do not serve your gods or worship the
solid gold, but more likely would have been gold image which you have set up.”
overlaid with gold, like many objects found in 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury,
the ruins of Babylon.The word for “image”usu- gave the command to bring Shadrach,
ally means a human form. The height of the
figure was about 90 feet and the width 9 feet; Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought
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it would have been comparable in height to these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar
date palms found in that area.The self-deifying spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach,
statue of the king need not have been Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not
grotesquely thin in proportion to the height serve my gods or worship the gold image
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since a massive base could have contributed which I have set up? Now if you are ready at
to the height. This established the worship of the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute,
Nebuchadnezzar and the nation under his harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all
power, in addition to the other gods. kinds of music, and you fall down and worship
the image which I have made, good! But if you do
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