Stand For Truth And Kneel For God

Daniel 3:5 "[That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet,

flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye

fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king

hath set up:"

The children of Israel worshipped the golden calf on the way to

the promised land. They danced, and sang and the Bible speaks of

revelry going on. The music seems to accompany worship of false gods,

as well as the True God. Music prepares the heart to receive a

message. We are told over and over to worship God with songs of

praise. There is nothing wrong with music. There could be something

wrong with the type of music we listen to. To fall down and worship a

false god, is the height of abomination.

Daniel 3:6 "And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the

same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."

We see a very similar Scripture in the following. Revelation

13:15 "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that

the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as

would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." The forced

worship of this image, here, or even the forced religion of any kind

is no good at all. Christianity is not really a religion, but a

relationship with Jesus. God wants men's hearts, not their formality

of worship. Many will fall down before this image to save their lives,

not to worship.

Daniel 3:7 "Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the

sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of

music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and]

worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up."

Fear of death caused them to worship this false god. It bothers

me, even today, for a person to worship, even the One True God to

avoid hell. True worship consists of loving God with everything that

is within you, and Him loving you. Anything else is far from the

truth.

Daniel 3:8 "Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near,

and accused the Jews."

Perhaps, there was some jealousy, because Daniel and his 3

friends had been raised to such a high position in the kingdom. These

Chaldeans were carefully watching, to find anything they might accuse

them of.

Daniel 3:9 "They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O

king, live for ever."

This is a statement very similar to "long live the king". They

must pay honor to Nebuchadnezzar, before they went on with their real

purpose for coming.

Daniel 3:10 "Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man

that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut,

psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and

worship the golden image:"

The king really did not need them to remind him of his decree.

This, possibly, is mentioned to him, to tell him there is no way out

of punishing these Jews.

Daniel 3:11 "And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, [that]

he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."

The punishment had been set from the beginning for those who

would not worship this false god.

Daniel 3:12 "There are certain 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 thy gods,

nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

These accusers were trying to say that Shadrach, Meshach, and

Abed-nego were not honoring Nebuchadnezzar, or his image. They were

pretending to be for Babylon and the king, and they were not loyal to

him. Someone in so high a position should be leading others to carry

out the wishes of the king, not rebelling against his commands. Their

jealousy of these Jews is showing. First, they called them Jews, even

though they used their Babylonian names. This is slight indication

they wanted the king to believe they were faithful to Jerusalem, and

not to him. They, also, point out that the king had put them in their

high positions. It is as if they are saying, he should not have placed

them above Babylonians. There, also, is a progression of accusations.

First, they did not regard Nebuchadnezzar. Second, they did not

worship his gods. Third, they did not bow down to the image.

Daniel 3:13 "Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury

commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought

these men before the king."

The anger of Nebuchadnezzar was so great, it was spoken of as

rage and fury. It is interesting to me, they did not accuse Daniel.