A. Chapter 3 Outline
I. Daniel’s Friends Would Not Bow (3:1-7)
a. The King’s Pride (3:1)
b. The King’s Politicians (3:2-3)
c. The King’s Proclamation (3:4-5)
d. The King’s Penalty (3:6-7)
II. Daniel’s Friends Would Not Budge (3:8-23)
a. The Threat (3:8-15)
i. The Chaldean’s Report (3:8-12)
ii. The King’s Reasoning (3:13-15)
b. The Testimony (3:16-23)
i. The Hebrew’s Answer (3:16-18)
ii. The Kings Anger (3:19-23)
III. Daniel’s Friends Would Not Burn (3:24-30)
a. The Discovery (3:24-25)
b. The Deliverance (3:26-28)
c. The Decree (3:29-30)
B. Message
II. Daniel’s Friends Would Not Budge (3:8-23)
One commentator said that there could have been as many as 300,000 people bowing down to this golden image and just 3 people were willing to take a stand. It would have been easy for them to bow – “When in Rome do as the Romans do” or “When in Babylon…”
These three men could have reasoned things out, they could have justified it to themselves – “Babylon’s been good to us, what harm could this do?” Exodus 20:4-6 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; [6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Their faith was in the true and living God and in the Word that He had spoken to their people. Knowing the history of the Jewish people, they were confident that the Lord was in control and that they had nothing to fear. Isaiah 43:1-2 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. [2] When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Are we part of that minority when it comes to taking a stand for the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we have the same faith in God that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had? Faith means obeying God regardless of the feelings within us, the circumstances around us, or the consequences before us
a. The Threat (3:8-15)
i. The Chaldean’s Report (3:8-12)
The Chaldeans came from South Babylonia; they were a privileged class of people and, because of their high standing in the king’s court, Daniel and his three friends would have belonged to this group of people.
Cast your mind back to the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had. It was the Chaldeans who said that there was no one on this earth who could interpret the kings dream (Dan 2:10-11). You can imagine their faces when Daniel turns up and, through God, does the impossible.
They would not have been too pleased to see Daniel and his friends rise up to their rank in the court, maybe envy and resentment stirred within them especially as these newcomers were Jews who openly made known their faith.
I wonder if these men were just waiting for these upstarts to slip up. They had seen these foreigners rise up the ranks and they were there waiting for these boys to make a mistake so that they could accuse them to the king. “Do you boys plan on bowing down? We’ll be watching you!!!”
You can imagine the glee and the joy with which these men went before the king. They savoured every moment of their revenge… Just 20 years or so ago, these three men that they were accusing had saved these Chaldeans lives.
Remember how the king was going to put to death all the court advisers because they could not interpret the dream, Daniel and his three friends help save their lives and now they are baying for their blood. How quickly people forget.
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
True faith isn’t frightened by threats, impressed by crowds or swayed by superstitions. True faith obeys the Lord and trusts Him to work out the consequences
ii. The King’s Reasoning (3:13-15)
Verse 13
If the aim of the Chaldeans was to wind up the king (make him mad) then they succeeded. The word rage in Chaldean means violent anger. Nebuchadnezzar had conquered many cities, many nations but he could not conquer himself. Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Verse 14
It appears that by the time Shadrach Meshach and Abednego arrive before the king, he has calmed down a bit. He must have had a soft spot for these boys. The king calls them by name; they were obviously familiar to him in his court.
He also gives them a second chance. Maybe they misunderstood the instructions to bow down to the image. Maybe they hadn’t heard the music. Perhaps they would obey the king if he gave them a second chance.
Verse 15 a & b
The king puts it simply for them to understand – when the music plays you bow, if you don’t then you burn… The three men could have easily compromised with the king and justified their bowing down to the image. They could have said, “Everyone is doing it, we are just obeying orders. We can do our people more good as officers in the king’s court than ashes in the king’s furnace.”
True faith does not look for loopholes or escape clauses; it simply obeys God and knows that He will do what is best. Faith rests on commands and promises, not on arguments and explanations. These difficult times are usually times of opportunity, times of great spiritual growth, especially when being persecuted for your faith.
Verse 15c
Again how quickly people forget. Look at what Nebuchadnezzar called God in Daniel 2:47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
Now, as the king confronts the three Hebrew men, he mocks God. Many times when people have a go at us, make fun of us etc… they are not having a dig at us they are really having a dig at God through us. Isn’t it sad how people, when they find out that you are a Christian, will do all they can to say things about God.
Maybe the king was trying to provoke some kind of reaction from Shadrach Meshach and Abednego by having a pop at God… He was saying the same thing that people say today… If there’s a God…..
If the king was thinking that this little chat would help the situation and would change their minds he was in for a bit of a shock…
b. The Testimony (3:16-23)
i. The Hebrew’s Answer (3:16-18)
Verse 16
They did not need to defend God or themselves, their task, and ours, is to obey God and to trust Him, He’ll do the rest. Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Verse 17-18
These men were not presumptuous at all. They did not know what God’s will was for their situation; they just trusted Him for it. They said that God was able to deliver them, if it was His will, but even if God did not save them from the position they were in, they still would not break God’s Law and bow to this image.
It is sad to say but we have many people today who will serve God if He does this that and the other for them. They are willing to obey God if they get rewarded for it.
God always rewards faith, Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. but not everyone who prays for healing will get it but God always gives strength to bear the pain and grace to face death without fear.
The three Hebrew men believed that God could deliver them, but if He didn’t they would still trust Him anyway.
Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were not thinking of themselves, they weren’t afraid of the king’s fury; they simply wanted to obey the Lord and be the best testimony for Him that they could.
As a result of their stand, they would be a witness to all those who were watching. There may have been Jews who had fallen to the ground and bowed down to this image. Maybe the testimony of these three, others would see the error of their ways and would turn back to the true and living God.
ii. The Kings Anger (3:19-23)
The king’s anger got the better of him again. Proud men do not like to be disobeyed. Nebuchadnezzar will now prove a point. He’ll show them whose boss… These Jewish believers had turned down his generous offer and as a result they would suffer the consequences.
“Heat the furnace 7 times hotter than we normally have it! Bind these men; make sure they can’t move a muscle. Get our strongest men in the army and make sure that these insubordinate men do not have the slightest ability to move. Then throw them in!!!”
The furnace was used for smelting ore. It had a large opening at the top through which fuel and vessels full of ore could be placed into the fire, and there was a door at the bottom through which the metal was taken out. An opening in a wall enabled the workers to check the progress of the melting metal and there were holes in the wall were bellows could be placed to make the fire blaze even hotter.
The king’s anger must have affected his mind because if he wanted to inflict the most pain as possible he would have cooled the oven down to prolong their agony.
What is interesting to note is the number 7 – God’s number perfection or completeness. It didn’t matter how hot the oven would get God was still in control and would receive the glory due His Name.
