Hello everyone, today is another Bible study and we will continue with the book of Daniel. To Read about the last study, visit the post here

Daniel 3

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,[a] 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, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe 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 nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 At this time some astrologers[b] came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe 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, Your Majesty. 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, pipe 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 him, “King 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 deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, 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. 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, Your Majesty.”

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.

The Image Of Gold

Nebuchadnezzar may have may have carried out this prideful act because of what had been revealed to him through Daniel-that he was the head of gold on the status in his dream. Nebuchadnezzar's empire had just risen to power, and he was surely trying to use some form of religion to unite all the territories he had recently added to his empire. His "religion" demanded worshiping the image as a way of promoting loyalty to himself. He was not the first, nor will he be the last, world leader to use religion for political purposes or for self-promotion.

At Daniel's request, his three friends were appointed by the king to key positions in Babulon's administration, while Daniel served the king directly. Daniel may not have been present when the officials were commanded to bow down and worship the gold image. Perhaps his responsibility were other than those mentioned in the verse, so it is possible that he would not have been called in at this time.

image credit

The Fiery Furnace

Though the Bible teaches us to obey, honor and pray for those in authority over us (Romans 13:1-7; 1Timothy 2:1-2), our first duty is to God. If we obey what Jesus called "the first and greatest commandment"-to love the one true God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-38)-we cannot worship or honor any false god or any image representing a god. This will also include giving priority to anything above God in our lives.

God Is Able To Save

Being accused by these influential people (e.g., astrologers) did not frightening these young men into compromising their faith. neither did the king's angry threats cause them to compromise their personal principles. Without hesitation, they boldly expressed their loyalty to the one true God. God had given them the strength to do the right thing, and they were completely confident that He would protect them (Psalm 46:1; 56:4). They also new that God's judgement against sin and disobedience was far worse than anything people could do to them (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). They also new that God's love and power to save them was greater than any power that man could provide to destroy them. Their faith was unconditional, no matter the outcome. Even if God did not rescue them in this particular situation, they refused to deny Him. Having faith does not mean we will always be spared from trouble. It takes more faith to stick with God through difficulty and danger than it does to escape the situation altogether. In a world that constantly pressures us to deny our faith and compromise our commitment to God, we must always remember that if we are ashamed of Him on earth, He will be ashamed of us on judgement day (mark 8:38; Luke 9:26), but if we stand strong and boldly live for God in this life, He will stand with us both now and forever.

Th Fourth In the Furnace

The fourth man in the furnace could have been an angel or a preincanate appearance of Christ i.e., before He was born into the human race) sent to protect the three faithful young men in their greatest time of need. These three young men: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, risked their lives to stay true to God. Their bold example brings shame to others who use peer pressure and the trends of their culture as an excuse for their worldly actions or lack of faith. God does not accept the faulty reasoning that we may do something simply because "everyone one else is doing it". We should pray and rely on God for the strength to face whatever trials or temptations come our way. If you are willingly to stay true to God and His Word, He promises two things: He will be with you "when you walk through the fire" (Isaiah 43:2), and He will not allow you to face more than you can handle with His help (1Corinthians 10:13).

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
Shalom.

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