DANIEL SERIES: THE FIERY FURNACE – CHAPTER 3

Historians suggest that the events of chapter three occurred approximately 20 years after chapter one, and Daniel must have been away on state business, for he was not mentioned in this chapter.
The scriptures recorded King Nebuchadnezzar made a colossal sixty-cubit tall and six-cubit wide golden image, which was equivalent to ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and placed it in the plain of Dura. At the dedication of the image, the king assembled the princes, the governors, the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces of Babylon.
Those assembled were instructed when they heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, they were to bow down and worship the golden image that the king had set up. Those that did not comply would immediately be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. Knowing their fate if they were disobedient when the orchestra played, those gathered bowed down and worshipped except for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Certain Chaldeans reported the actions of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the king and reminded him of his edict. They said, “There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
Enraged by what was reported to him, the king had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego brought to him, and he questioned them about their actions. He was willing to give them another chance to rectify their action or be cast into the fiery furnace. However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego responded, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
Further inflamed by their response, the king heated the furnace seven times hotter and cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bound and completely clothed into the furnace by some of the strong men in his army. Unfortunately, the furnace was so hot these men died from the contact of the flames.
King Nebuchadnezzar expected to see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego burn to ashes, but instead, he saw four men walking unbound in the furnace. The king questioned his counselors on how many men were thrown into the furnace, and he exclaimed, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Then, the king called out to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and told them to come out of the furnace. The princes, governors, captains, and the king’s counselors were amazed when they saw them and realized they and their clothes were not burnt, their hair was not singed, and neither did they smell of fire.
King Nebuchadnezzar blessed the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and acknowledged their trust in Him and their deliverance by an angel. Plus, he admitted this changed his edict and their demise. In the future, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will only be able to serve and worship their God.
The chapter ends with this decree by the king, “Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort,” and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were promoted in the province of Babylon.
Here are the nuggets I gleaned from this chapter:
Nebuchadnezzar wanted to establish a universal religion in Babylon.
Pride will make a person do extravagant things.
True worship does not need to be legislated.
When threatened with death, most people will comply with the demands placed on them.
Fear of death can squelch opposition.
Time can make you forget previous acknowledgments.
Music is often used to stir people’s emotions.
Your enemy will try to intimidate you to cause you to yield to his demands.
True believers cannot love their life; they must be faithful unto death.
Believers must trust God no matter the outcome of difficult situations.
Remember to adhere to the teachings of your youth.
Stand for your God despite the opposition.
Those around you will notice your stand for God and confidence in Him.
God will prove who is the God that can protect His followers.