Read Daniel 3
The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace
3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits 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, “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 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 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 Abednegoand 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.
Go Deeper
After yesterday’s review of Daniel 2, one might think that Nebuchadnezzar would remember and be changed by Daniel’s God given dream interpretation. Now in Daniel 3, the same king constructs and displays a 9-foot golden image requiring all the people and leaders in Babylon to worship. How quickly Nebuchadnezzar forgot “from whom his help came from.” This is part of the lesson for all of us as we study Daniel 3 as we, too, can forget how amazing our God is. This chapter is arguably one of the most memorable stories in all of the Bible. It is obvious that God was not finished using Daniel and his friends to display to the world that He was not one of many gods, but He was the only God.
By refusing to worship this golden image, their punishment (according to the king’s edict) was death in the fiery furnace. Perhaps there was jealousy or hatred from the Chaldeans toward the honor and leadership positions bestowed to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Perhaps they were still frustrated by the fact that they could not interpret the dream of Daniel 2 for Nebuchadnezzar. Whatever the case, it is obvious they were out to get them by going to the king to tell him of these men’s disregard for the king’s worship mandate. Daniel 3:6 states, “But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.”
Our world can make us try to conform to its false mandates through fear, lies we believe, hatred, anxiety, envy, and strife that turn our hearts away from worship, surrender, trust, and love for Christ. Sometimes we think we “have to” do something to fit in or follow, and it can be our undoing. As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are brought before the king, their words are ones we all need to remember. In Daniel, 3:17-18, they reply, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to worship the golden image you have set up.”
They proclaim to Nebuchadnezzar that their commitment to God is not conditional. Martyrdom or deliverance are one and the same. The question to ask ourselves is obvious: are we able to stand and believe God for the same in our own lives?
Not only are these three heroes of the faith headed for the fire, but they are headed for a furnace that is seven times hotter than the usual. We read that not a word was said by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they were thrown into the fire by the king’s best warriors. Ironically, the warriors were burned to death throwing the three in the furnace due to the deadly heat. The king watched in amazement as Daniel 3:25 says, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”
Scholars discuss this as a preincarnate appearance of Christ which adds to the miraculous events of this story. No matter who it was, God sent this divine companion to save these three heroes of the faith. In Jesus Christ, we have the same companion who will guide, walk through, and protect us in our “fiery furnace” events of our lives. As Nebuchadnezzar ordered the three men out of the furnace, they stood before him without even a single hint of being in the fire. This earthly king knew he was defeated at this crucial moment. What he meant for destruction, God used for His purposes to keep His people consecrated, separated, holy, and resolute in their faith. Even the king reversed the mandate to protect the worship of the one, true God!
No matter what we are facing, we have a God who is good, powerful, and loving, and has His and our best interests in mind. Ephesians 4:16 says, “May He grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.”
Questions
- Why do you think Nebuchadnezzar made the golden image?
- How do you see God move here when the mandate of worship was completely reversed at the end of this story?
- Has your faith ever been tested like this? How can you better strengthen your commitment to Christ after reading Daniel 3?
Pray This
Lord, I need deliverance that can only come from You. As you delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I ask You to move in such a way that I and others know that it was You and You alone. To you be the glory.
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8 thoughts on “Daniel 3”
I am not sure what y’all got when reading this but in a time such as this, in our world today, oh my!! The furnace of oppositions in our world today are heating up. My hearts desire is that I will be able to continue to stand firm with a great deal of prayer and courage from God. ABIDE John 14:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. SEEK Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
These guys confronted the challenge with faith in God. Even if they went in and were burned up they still had faith in God. Which is what I got out of this today. Even when…
God let this be true today and everyday that when I am faced with adversity of choise, that I would have such a burning, intense, without a doubt, desire to choose YOU!!!! God at this moment I believe it true, help it to be true in the next zillion moments of this life of mine. I fear being far from You! I desire to abide with You and to seek You in all those moments. God Thank You for continuing to show me where there is sin in my life that I need to get rid of. Thank You for opening my eyes of understanding deeper into what You have for me here now today in Jesus name amen
WOOOHOO!!!!!!
Amen
I find it interesting there is no mention of Daniel in the amazing events that unfolded in this chapter with his 3 fellow Jews. Did he witness the miracle that occurred? Nonetheless, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego displayed unwavering faith in their response to the king’s edict. Once again, they chose holy fear of God over fear of man. Reading John Bevere’s book The Awe of God has opened my eyes to what that looks like and how far we’ve drifted from it. Praying that the we would allow “the word of Christ to dwell in our hearts richly ” and propel us to stand in strong when we are in the midst of our own furnace.
https://www.gotquestions.org/where-was-Daniel-furnace.html
I thought the exact same thing Ella – had to look up the possibilities from Got Questions
I had the same question, Ella and Bill. Thanks for sharing the article with us Bill!
Stubborn Faith
Nebuchadnezzar showed that his devotion to Daniel’s God was short-lived. He neither feared nor obeyed God. However, Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego courageously took their stand. in Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”
They chose to be faithful under the pressure to deny God. Oh, that I may hold on to such faith regardless of the consequences. My eternal reward is worth any suffering I endure. All glory to God my King! Amen!