The author shows the immutability of Christ in being “a very present help” for His people through the ages.
“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). This verse seems primarily to point our hearts and minds to the Deity of our Lord Jesus. For, as God, He is immutable: “Thou art the same and Thy years shall not fail” (Heb. 1:12). Certainly this unchangeability must include His character, His love to His own, and His relationship with them.
He is seen in the Gospel narratives caring for both weary multitudes (Mt. 14:14) and needy individuals (Lk. 18:41). He had compassion on the bereaved (Lk. 7:13), and met the needs of the sick (Jn. 5:6) and the oppressed (Mt. 17:18). Today, He is still the same loving, caring, compassionate Lord; who, having loved His own that are in the world, loved them to the uttermost (Jn.13:1).
Yet that One who in the Gospels delivered His saints in times of trouble, and was near them in their dire needs, is the very same One who did so in Old Testament times. This same Jesus who showed such care for His people in the days of His flesh as the Son of Man has so cared for them in prior times as the Angel of the Lord. We will consider two incidents in the book of Daniel where we see Him delivering His faithful witnesses from certain death.
The Fiery Furnace
In Daniel chapter 3 we have an intriguing story of human atrocity and divine deliverance—a story that has a prophetic application to future events that will befall the pious remnant of the Jewish nation.
God, in His divine purposes for Israel, and in light of their rebellion against Him, had handed over governmental power to the head of the first Gentile empire. Nebuchadnezzar was made a king of kings. To him was committed the affairs of a vast domain. This included many kingdoms that spoke different languages and had various traditions, policies, and religious systems. Perhaps with his own political ends in mind, and to unite those varied peoples around a common cause, Nebuchadnezzar thought of setting up his new religion and forcing it on all of his subjects. Those who disobeyed would face the risk of suffering a horrible death in a fiery furnace. Rather than being thankful to God, whom he confessed to be the God of gods (Dan. 2:47) and who has given him such great authority, Nebuchadnezzar went on to set up an image of gold in the plain of Dura. Such is the pride, haughtiness, and ingratitude of the human heart.
This, however, was an occasion for God to bring into view the faithfulness of His own witnesses. Three young men of the captives of Judah were reported to the king as having refused to bow to or worship his idol. So, after offering them a second chance to obey his call to worship his idol, the insolent king defied the living God by his blasphemous words, “…and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Dan. 3:15).
The answer of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego reflects their confidence in their faithful God, for with the calm assurance and dignity that becomes believers in Jehovah, they addressed the king: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king” (see Dan. 3:16f).
Having thus expressed their confidence in God’s delivering power, they went on to say that even if God did not put forth His power to deliver them, they would still serve Him, and not the gods of this world.
The deliverance was marvelous, even in the eyes of the heathen king, who was amazed to see a fourth Man among the flames. Here we also marvel at the fourth Person walking with Daniel’s friends in the furnace. He freed them from their bands and protected them from the power of fire. The smell of fire did not pass on them, nor was their hair singed, nor their coats changed.
Nebuchadnezzar described this fourth Man as “a son of the gods”—the best description the heathen king could come up with, using his pagan imagination. But we know Him as the Son of God indeed. Who else but the Son of God, the “Angel of the covenant” (Mal. 3:1), could bring about such deliverance? As Son of God He is able to give life in the midst of death. He is able to free those that are bound, “for if the Son shall make you free ye shall be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36), and could protect them from the power of fire.
Jehovah had promised His people: “When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour” (Isa. 43:2-3). In Daniel 3, He presents Himself in the Person of His blessed Son to deliver His faithful witnesses who jeopardized their lives in order to be faithful to Him.
This is much the same scene that will take place in a future day. The head of the fourth Gentile empire will try to force the entire world to worship him. More specifically, he will persecute the faithful Jews of the time who will be going through the fiery furnace of the Great Tribulation. Those who refuse to bow and worship the image will be in danger of suffering and death (Rev. 13:11-18). When the time comes for that tyrant to plan the total annihilation of Israel (the time of “Jacob’s trouble” indeed!), then the Son of God Himself will appear in glory to save His faithful witnesses. For His feet will touch the Mount of Olives to create a way of escape for them (Zec. 14:4-5). “The Angel of the Lord encompasseth round about those who fear Him and delivereth them” (Ps. 34:7). He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
The Den of Lions
We see a similar record in chapter 6, yet the differences are instructive. Darius the Mede is in charge of Babylon. His officials, whom he had appointed over the kingdom, were moved with envy against Daniel. Since they could not find fault with the performance of his duties to the king, they sought to find occasion in him concerning the Law of his God. How very much like the world’s attitude towards the true Christian today.
Taking advantage of the legal customs of the day, they plotted to have Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. Remarkably, however, even after being made aware of the danger that awaited him, Daniel continued to openly and faithfully address his God alone in prayer (v. 10).
Notwithstanding the fact that the king was not personally involved in the original plot, he was certainly to blame for agreeing to be the only authority to whom request in prayer was to be made. Perhaps this pandered to his personal vanity and pride. But in so doing he was usurping the authority of the God of heaven.
When the motive of the conspirators became clear to the king, he was very displeased. He tried all he could to save his friend Daniel, but to no avail (see v. 14f). He found himself unwittingly caught in a web of intrigue and, against his own will, he ordered that Daniel be thrown into the den of lions. Yet he expressed his hope that Daniel’s God, whom Daniel served continually, would deliver him.
Having spent a remorseful, sleepless night, the king came to the den in the morning to ask if indeed Daniel’s God has been able to deliver him. The answer was loud and clear: “my God hath sent His Angel and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me” (v. 22).
Certainly this was yet another pre-incarnate appearance of the Son of God. He is seen here in His eternal glory, as the Angel of God, rescuing His faithful servant from a sure death.
This is the same One who has come into the world in incarnation. And, having redeemed His own to Himself through the death of the cross, He still cares for them in like manner.
Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, nearing the end of his ministry, reported how all had forsaken him. Yet he says that the Lord had stood by him and strengthened him, and “delivered [him] out of the mouth of the lion” (2 Tim. 4:16-18). This is the same Lord who delivered Daniel. This is the same One who delivers His own even today. In the future He will deliver the pious remnant of the Jewish nation who will refuse to worship the usurper at the end times (2 Thes. 2:4).
To this day He remains what He ever has and will be: the one and only Deliverer.
He is able to deliver thee;
He is able to deliver thee,
Though by sin oppressed
Come to Him for rest,
Our God is able to deliver thee.