Daniel 3: 1 – 30
Bow or Burn
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Today we are going to cover a hot topic. You might be already thinking that it is about the ‘fiery furnace’ but that is not what I am talking about. Our major point today is taking a stand for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ no matter what the costs.
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
There isn’t any pre-introductory remarks about what was to occur. We are thrown right into the story immediately in verse 1. If you remember in chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar had the same dream a few times in the same evening and this disturbed him. Being skeptical of the so called ‘counselors’ he put them to an impossible task. If they were all that they went about and claimed to be then his request should be no problem. He wanted these wise men to tell him the dream that he dreamt. And as you are aware that no one was capable of correctly telling the king his request.
However, we have a God Who sees all and knows everything. Nothing is too difficult for Him. He miraculously gave Daniel the answer to the king’s dream. You remember, it was about a statue whose head was gold, had arms of silver, belly of bronze and legs of iron. It’s feet which was so noticeable since they support the weight of the statue was made of iron and clay. There arose a stone not formed by man that smashed the statue in dust. The stone grew and covered the whole earth. In Daniel’s explanation to the king the head of gold was Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom which existed for 70 years. Nebuchadnezzar ruled 40 of those years.
In verse 47 of chapter 2 we read how the king was quite affected by Daniel’s answer. Daniel had given all the credit for the answer to God Almighty so we read how the king gave honor and devotion to our Adoni Yahweh. Yet, as we read here in verse 1 of chapter 3, nothing stuck. He neither feared not obeyed the only true and living God – Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High.
Nebuchadnezzar became defiant of this prophecy for in effect by making the statue all of gold, he was telling God that his kingdom would never come to an end.
2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Satraps were co-leaders over major divisions of the Empire. Governors or prefects managed captured cities and the officials were administrators over the provinces. All these leaders were called to Nebuchadnezzar dedication of a statue to himself.
3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
What is it about us humans that need reaffirmation of loyalty. You can spend 20, 30 years in faithful service and the leader still will not recognize your commitment and loyalty. I like the old motto, ‘fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.’ I give people the benefit of the doubt but if I see it come up again I begin to question the person’s commitment to serve with me.
Christian leaders sometimes think that they can fool others in proving their loyalty. Their requests is that they want to know ‘your heart’. How you feel about things. Then if you are stupid enough to tell what is bothering you, then they use the information that you spoke about against you.
Here Nebuchadnezzar has his own plan to see if everyone is devoted to him. He orders his bullies that at the sound of music everyone is to fall on their knees and worship the image of Nebuchadnezzar. Wouldn’t it be more desirable for Nebuchadnezzar to have set up his throne and at the sound of music have everyone bow before him?
4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
I guess Nebuchadnezzar was trying to establish a holy place of worship. People could come on pilgrimages to this shrine and worship him. Do you see how bad this is and how it will lead to our Lord stepping in chapter 4 to humble this man?
Now, I want to throw an idea at you. This might not have totally been all Nebuchadnezzar’s planning. I believe that there is a possible clue that Daniel’s co-workers were up to their evil schemes.
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
This is what we deal with here presently. We have done good for someone and how do they appreciate you love and ministry. They will cut your throat at the first opportunity.
Remember, that Daniel and his friends were provided by our Holy Father, to keep these guys alive. They all had a death sentence on their heads for not being able to tell the king his dream.
See, if you agree with me on this, I believe that they went and kissed up to the king telling him about the building of the golden statue so people can come and offer their worship of him. He, like all of us, was flattered and went along with their recommendation.
You might be saying, now wait a minute Tom, you’re throwing at us something that is not written down in the Word. I beg to differ. Turn to the sixth chapter of Daniel and let me show you why I believe what I have just shared. We read this regarding these same guys now kissing up to king Darius, “ 1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
Our Precious Holy Spirit in chapter 6 gave us more information about these same devious men. They were jealous of Daniel and his three friends so they had planned to do them in. They used their faith in God as a reason to falsely set them up to bring charges against the three. In chapter 6 you will note that these evil guys were not dealt with relative to their scheme of getting the three Jewish guys in trouble. So, in boldness they try it again against Daniel.
We see this in our country today. ‘Hey, they say, ‘don’t force your religious views on me. I will bring charges against you. I am filing discrimination charges against you. I don’t need all that Jesus stuff.’
How quickly they came running to the king and knew everything about the Jewish men. They had a good idea from having worked alongside of these guys and watched their lives that these men were devoted to God and that this was an area that they might get rid of their competition.
Like all good worldly lawyers these guys knew how to cover their own motives. “Hey, we are only doing our jobs. We are only protecting the boss and the company. Look again at the last part of what they told the king, this is what is going to arouse his anger – “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
They said in essence, ‘Look king Nebuchadnezzar, all the things that you have done for them. In your kindness you have given them positions of high authority and how do they thank you, they totally disregard your authority; they care nothing of you personally [they do not worship your gods]; and they will not follow your directives [will not bow down to the golden image of you] These guys are ingrates.
And when you compare Daniel 6 you see the same accusations, they cited the decrees or laws on the books, and that in affect they were committing treason.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
I see something very amiss here. In all his rage why didn’t Nebuchadnezzar just order these three Jewish men’s deaths? I believe our Holy Master was keeping Nebuchadnezzar from completely loosing control. Perhaps our Holy Lord was revealing to Nebuchadnezzar how valuable these men are to him. I think that is why he is going to give them another chance. Despotic kings in almost all situations do not have this type of restraint.
I just watched a young marine receive the Medal of Honor from the President. What makes heroes? There is no previous training or foresight When the situation presented itself this marine responded. He was willing to forsake his own life on behalf of others.
You see Daniel’s three friends also step up to the plate and willingly forsake all for their faith in God. Look at their response.
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
The three believers firmly rejected the kings offer with dignity and without open defiance. They informed the king that they were willing to take what the king dished out to them. They had told everyone of their love for Adoni Yahweh and that they were now willing to continue to keep their trust in Him no matter what. They affirmed that God can deliver them or if He chooses not deliver them, but either way they are not going to deny Him.
I love the testimony of a guy name Polycarp who was a disciple of the apostle John.
In the Asia Minor city of Smyrna, persecution broke out against Christians and some were put to death for their faith. But the agitated mob wanted to cut off the church there by getting rid of their leader, the now aged Polycarp. The believers hid Polycarp in a farmhouse. (The leaders there taught that one should not seek out martyrdom, but neither should it be avoided if there was no choice and it meant denying Christ). The authorities found the farm house and came to arrest the old man. He welcomed his captors as if they were old friends and gave them food and drink. He asked for an hour to pray before being taken to the arena. They relented. The hour stretched into two hours. The officers, overhearing his prayers began to wonder what they were doing arresting an old man like this.
Polycarp was brought into the arena. Instead of Polycarp begging for his life we find the proconsul pleading with this aged bishop to just curse Christ so he would be released. Polycarp's reply-- “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and he never did me any injury; how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior.”
He was burned alive. The Christians present said there was a joyful radiance on Polycarp's face as he died. Believers were allowed to bury his remains on February 22, probably in the year 155. Churches near and far from Smyrna observed this date in years to come and drew strength from the testimony of this old, old, man who would not deny Christ, no matter what it cost him.
Let us stop for a moment and think. Let us personify this point. Are you ready to make a stand for our Precious Holy El Shaddai – God Almighty – no matter what it may take? You might be all alone in your stance. It may be painful and might not turn out the way you hoped. A good thing to remember is, that if our Holy God always delivered everyone at every occasion, then there would be no need for faith would there? You might think that this is cruel. You also have to remember that our Holy Ruler always has our good in mind no matter what. In that thought we can find peace in the midst of the battles.
How about compromise? Perhaps the three could have come up with an excuse to go along with the kings demands to bow down before the statue.
Here are a couple of excuses I thought might apply. See if you can add a few more;
1. I can bow down after I tell God that I don’t worship this metal statue
2. We are not idol worshipers but God put us in this position to allow us to just go along
3. We are suppose to obey those in authority over us, so it would be disobeying God’s word
4. We are in a foreign land so we have to go along with the customs of these people
5. Our ancestors did this
6. We are not hurting anyone
7. If we get ourselves killed, then someone else will take our place and it will then be worse for the people
8. We owe the king for his kindness toward us.
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar was not fit to be tied. Here he was showing mercy in giving these guys a second chance and to hear of their refusal certified the charges against them. How dare these ungrateful slaves insult him.
Was it in his rage or was it possible that he thought that these Jews were right? I do not know for sure but as we have read he ordered that the furnace be smoking hot.
Maybe, at this point a flash in his memory about the impossible answer to his dream came to him. Perhaps the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego would show up and intercede. Why else would he have ordered not just some of his guards to do the dirty task, but he orders his mightiest men.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar was astonished. He could not believe what he saw. He needed confirmation from his aides;
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
Instead of hearing a possible short scream, Nebuchadnezzar not only saw the three men walking around in the furnace but there was a fourth man in there with them. You talk about blowing your mind. And the fourth person was so distinguishably different that Nebuchadnezzar said that he was a God.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
These men were protected by the Angel of the Lord – our Lord Jesus Christ. In Psalm 91 we read, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
These men did the impossible. They in faith were willing to die then deny the God Who gave them life and sustains them. These Scriptures say what I cannot;
Isaiah 43, “ 1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “ Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
For their faith both our Holy God and the king were ultimately pleased. It says in the book of Proverbs chapter 16 this as we end this chapter, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
