OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MAN (DANIEL 3)
Since 2012, the National Registry of Exonerations, a partnership between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University's law schools and the University of California Irvine Newkirk Center for Science and Society, has detailed more than 3,000 exonerations for crimes in its findings. In 2022 it added 161 new exonerations from 2021 and 65 from earlier years to its database.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/wrongful-conviction-tracker-hits-milestones-one-decade-3000-cases-2022-04-14/
The University of Colorado School of Law revealed that the leading factors in wrongful convictions are perjured testimony (60%), police and prosecutorial misconduct (54%), eyewitness misidentification (28%), flawed forensic evidence (24%) and false confessions (12%). The numbers do not add up because of crossover factors.
After Daniel revealed to the king his dream and its interpretation in the last chapter, the king made Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all the wise men. Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon (Dan 2:48-49). While Daniel remained at the royal court, his three friends in the provinces were facing untold, unimaginable and unparalleled troubles.
What are your core values and convictions when your faith is threatened? How do you overcome opposition and obstacles? Why do we need to obey God rather than man?
Sit Up and Take Notice
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." 7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (3:1-7)
The Chinese word for contradiction is literally “spear, shield.” A man once had a spear and a shield for sale. He was loud in praises of his shield. “My shield is so strong that nothing can pierce it through.” He also sang praises of his spear. “My spear is so strong that it can pierce through anything.”
“What would happen,” he was asked, “if your spear is used to pierce your shield?”
In Daniel 2, Daniel declared to Nebuchadnezzar, “Oh king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.” (Dan 2:37-38) The statement obviously above got to the king’s head and the king decided to make an image and summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image (v 2). It was predictable, paradoxical and political.
The verb “fall down” occurs seven times in the chapter (vv 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 15, 23), of which six times is followed by the verb “and worship.” “Fall” is on the knees, but “worship” is with the mouth. The king desired absolute authority, adoration and acknowledgement. No one dared to disregard, disobey or defy the king. Insubordination and would risk detention, disappearance and death.
Blazing fire is “burning + fiery + furnace,” three words in Hebrew. The “fire/furnace” occurs 10 times, not as much as “blazing/fiery” (14x). The fire was scalding hot, sweltering hot and sizzling hot. There was no withstanding, weathering or weakening the furnace, the fire and the flames.
“All” occurs 15 times, including all the other provincial officials (v 2), all kinds of music (v 5), all the peoples, nations and men of every language (v 7) and everyone (v 10), regardless of race, religion or residence. It means no excuses, no exception and exclusion. The disobedient will be thrown alive into a blazing fire to be black as carbon, charcoal or coffee. The baking, boiling and burning effect would serve as the perfect overkill warning, ominous sign and object lesson for the unwitting, the undecided and the unconvinced.
Ps 141:4 says, “Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers.”
Stand Up and Take Courage
8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon-Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego — who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up." 13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. (3:8-20)
King Canute ruled over Denmark, Norway, and England more than one thousand years ago. A wise ruler, he worked diligently to make the lives of his subjects better. As is often the case, he was surrounded by those who sought to gain influence and prominence with him, and according to the ancient story, he grew tired of their continual flattery and determined to put an end to it. He ordered that his throne be carried out to the seashore and gathered his courtiers about it.
By the sea, the king commanded the tide not to come in. Yet soon the waters were lapping around his legs as the tide did not heed him. According to one historian’s account, King Canute rose up from his throne and said, “Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom Heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws.”
The first phrase “therefore” (v 7) and “at this time/wherefore” (v 8) are the same words in Hebrew. Previously, Daniel saved the lives, the neck and the face of the Chaldeans before the king (Dan 2:5), but it did not save his friend or his people. This time the Chaldeans accused the Jews. Daniel is a book of accusations. The verb “accuse” make its only two occurrences in the Bible mainly in this book (v 8, 6:28). To accuse means to charge someone with an offense or crime; to make a claim that a person is responsible for wrongdoing, misconduct, or a violation (definitions.net). It is to stain, shred and sink a person’s reputation. It’s been said, “A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation.”
In the not too distance future, believers will be accused of many things, from being unpatriotic to being unlawful or unscientific, unsanitary or unsafe. More rules, regulations and restrictions will be earmarked, enacted and executed to govern what we do, what we say or what we think.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not nobodies, but administrators in the province of Babylon (v 12). They were prime targets for their race, ranking and rivalry. The confrontation is depicted and dramatized with the use of 11 “no” in the section, four from the Chadeans, three from the king and four from the friends:
The Chaldeans (4): whoever does NOT fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. (v 11)
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego — who pay NO attention to you, O king. They NEITHER serve your gods NOR worship the image of gold you have set up” (v 12)
The King (3): “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do NOT serve my gods OR worship the image of gold I have set up” (v 14)…
“But if you do NOT worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace (v 15)
The friends (4 as in Chaldeans): “We do NOT need to defend ourselves before you in this matter” (v 16)
“But even if he does NOT, we want you to know, O king, that we will NOT serve your gods OR worship the image of gold you have set up." (v 18)
The differences between the three friends and the society at large were widening and not narrowing. The three friends chose their course: disobey, disagree, disengage, decline and deflect!
Their answers are in three lines: we and you (v 16 “we do not need to defend ourselves before you”), He and us (v 17 “the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand”), and we and you and them (v 18 we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold.”)
What infuriated the king was not only their answer but the three friends’ articulation, attitude and audacity! The three friends paralleled the king’s two “if” statements in verse 15 (“IF you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But IF you do not worship it”) with their two “if” replies (v 17 “IF we are thrown into the blazing furnace,” 18
“But even IF he does not”)! To the kings’ question (v 15 KJV, “who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”), the three men answered, “He will deliver us out of thine hand” (v 17). The Chaldeans Dan 3:12
Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not YOUR gods (v 12) and the king said ‘you do not serve MY gods” (v 14) but the three friends countered “our God” (v 17)!
The King Three Friends
V 15, “IF you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But IF you do not worship it” V 17, “IF we are thrown into the blazing furnace,”
V 18 “But even IF he does not”
v 15 “who is that God that shall DELIVER you out of my HANDS?” (KJV) V 17, “He will DELIVER us out of thine HAND”
V 14, “you do not serve MY gods?” V 17, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us” (KJV)
Finally, if you notice, the three friends even challenge the Chaldeans’ three “no/not” (v 12) with their own three “no/not” (v 18) to the king. What spunk, spine and swagger they have!
Sober Up and Take Care
21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." 25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. (3:21-30)
Last year (2022) Brother Andrew, whose nickname was “God’s smuggler,” died last week age 94. The founder of Open Doors smuggled millions of Bibles across the Iron Curtain in his bright blue Volkswagen. The Open Doors now operates both overtly and covertly in more than 70 countries, supporting many of the roughly 360 million Christians living in the shadow of persecution or discrimination today.
Brother Andrew understood the consequences in breaking the “laws of the land” in the former Soviet Union and around the world. However, as a follower of Jesus, he knew he had ‘dual citizenship’. He was subject to both earthly and heavenly authorities. And for Andrew, God’s authority had the final word. As the Apostles told the Sanhedrin when instructed to stop proclaiming Christ: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29) The principles of dual citizenship also clearly affirm that Christians can never give uncritical allegiance to any earthly authority, state or government because their first loyalty is to the Lord Jesus Christ.
When asked whether he had any regrets about his life’s work, Brother Andrew is reported to have said “If I could live my life over again, I would be a lot more radical”.
https://www.premierchristianity.com/criminal-christianity-what-this-bible-smuggler-taught-me-about-breaking-the-law/13979.article
In other words, we are Christians and citizens, in that order!
Verse 19’s “furious with rage” is “FULL of fury” in Hebrew. It is fury maximized, multiplied and magnified. The rage was uncommon, uncheck and uncontrolled. There was no persuading, pacifying or pleasing the king. The word “hot” (v 22) refers to the intense, irreversible and irrepressible heat. The temperature was from seven times heated (v 19) to very hot (v 22). Visage (v 19) is face, forehead.
Verse 24 the king was the original Marvel, the only appearance of the world in the Bible. “Leaped to his feet” (v 24) is “rose in haste” in Hebrew, and “amazed” is “ruin” in Hebrew. It was commotion, confusion and chaos that day. The king and his counsellors (v 27), who are new to the Bible, plus the princes, governors and captains who were present previously (v 2), were goggling in amazement, gasping in awe and gesticulating in astonishment.
Verse 25 loose is contrasted with verse 24’s bound. Hurt (v 25, KJV) is contrasted with slew (v 22). ‘Son” of God can mean nature or quality.
v 27’s “saw” Is not the regular “look,” but the longer gaze upon, gawk at or even gape at. Not only were the men super cool and super calm, they were very comfortable and cooperative.
V 27 NIV KJV
fire had NOT harmed their bodies,
whose bodies the fire had NO power
Control
NOR was a hair of their heads singed
NOR was an hair of their head singed
Contact
robes were NOT scorched NEITHER were their coats changed
Change
NO smell of fire on them NOR the smell of fire had passed on them Continue
There are four “no” in verse 27 – fire had no power over the body, No hair on head singed, coats NOT changed, NO smell of fire passed on them!
The king was very careful with his choice of words. God is the “son of God” – “the son” as in “the nature” of God” (v 28), “God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (v 28, 29) and “their own God” (v 28) and “no other God” (v 29).
The king is smarter than we think. He did not say “IS the son of God”, but “LIKE a son of God.” This is the kind of political, practical and provisional statement of God needed in an inclusive, integrated and impartial society. Three words are surprising. The first is “blessed” uttered by the king (v 28) which was used by Daniel a chapter ago in prayer and praise (2:19, 20). Second, the verb trusted (v 28) was never used before. The verb “defied” (v 28) is changed in Hebrew. They changed the king’s word just as the king’s face changed (v 19).
The three friends wisely displayed no justification, jubilation and judgment on their part. They did not demand an apology, declare their allegiance and dispense any advice at this stage. As at all times, they did their work peacefully, prayerfully, positively, practically and politely.
Conclusion: Do you fear men? Can you say confidently from the Bible, “"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Heb 13:4)
Do you have character, convictions and courage no matter the trouble, test or trial? Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt 10:28)
