Lesson for June 22, 2022
The Book of Daniel
Chapter 3
Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride and God’s Provision
Verses 1-3
“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”
After Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the king became arrogant and self-absorbed, so much so that he had a golden statute built representing himself. This image of gold was massive, ninety feet high by nine feet wide so that it could be seen from miles away.
By today’s standards, this statue would cost in the millions. The king had this statute displayed for all to see on the plain of Dura, which was circular in shape. In this plain, he assembled all the government officials for a dedication of the statue.
The satraps were men who were governors of certain provinces in the kingdom. Prefects were rulers over certain regions within the provinces. The governors were military leaders of government. The counselors were chief justices of the court. The treasurers were the financial rulers over the provinces. The judges were judicial rulers of the provinces. The magistrates were judges of the lower courts within the provinces. Daniel was the prefect over everyone in the province of Babylon and Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were in top administrative positions.
Verses 4-7
“Then the herald loudly proclaimed: ‘To you the command is given, O peoples, nations, and men of every language,that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.’ Therefore, at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.”
Music was used to announce the time when everyone in the province was to bow down and worship the golden image. Regardless of any language barrier, the hearer would know that it was time to worship the image. Apparently, Nebuchadnezzar had a large group of musicians which included horns (horn and flute), stringed instruments (psaltery, lyre, trigon) and bagpipes. The severe penalty for those who refused to worship the image was being cast into a fiery furnace.
Freedom and free will were ignored and only the harsh demand of a dictator king was left. Like many religions today, external rituals, like worshipping a statue, are stressed and not a true relationship with God. Nebuchadnezzar was attempting to force everyone to comply with the ritual of bowing down and worshipping his image the moment they heard the music.
Verses 8-12
“For this reason, at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews.They responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to fall down and worship the golden image. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”
Notice, Daniel is not mentioned. Perhaps he was on a diplomatic mission since he held such a high position in the king’s court. We know this because Daniel would have never bowed down and worshipped an image but would stay true to God.
Remember, the Chaldeans were the pagan priestly advisers to the king. They, of course, were jealous of the positions that the four young Jews held in the king’s court. They demonstrated their jealousy by reporting Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego for not bowing down to the image.
Jealousy always results in bitterness. Hebrews 12:15 tells us that bitterness causes trouble and defiles many people. The great lesson that we can learn from this story is how spiritually mature believers can handle the pettiness, jealousy, and false accusations of others. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, we are to always let God fight our battles for us as we take the high road of faith, stability, and calm in the face of unfair treatment. The key is to know enough Bible doctrine to make the proper application, which these three young men did.
The Chaldeans, under the influence of Satan and his demons, were once again trying to discredit God and His servants. Remember, this was shortly after Daniel and his three friends had told the king his dream and given him the interpretation of that dream. These were the king’s words at that time, The king answered Daniel and said, ‘Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.’ Using flattery, the Chaldeans came before the king and told him that “certain Jews” had refused to bow down and worship the image, implying the king had made a mistake by appointing them to his court. Then they called them by name hoping to see them die in the fiery furnace.
Verses 13-18
“Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?’ Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.If it be so, 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 serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’”
When Nebuchadnezzar asked if the accusations were true, he was really asking if they had deliberately disobeyed his orders. This was the king’s way of giving Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego an opportunity to be saved from the fiery furnace by pleading their ignorance, or saying the Chaldeans were lying. So, the king gave them the opportunity to rethink their decision. They could at that point have compromised their position not to worship pagan gods and the image, but they chose to remain faithful to God. We see these three young men applying the doctrine that had been taught to them and using the Faith-Rest Technique to rely completely on God for the outcome of this situation by refusing to worship or obey the king.
Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten about the God of the Jews Who had revealed his dream and its interpretation and made a statement that clearly illustrates this. He said, “What god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” This was a statement of arrogance, thinking that he was greater than the God of the Jews. However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego knew that they would either be delivered by God, or they would die and be in Paradise, but they were definitely not going to worship false gods.
Verses 19-23
“Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. For this reason, because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.”
Nebuchadnezzar was used to being defied by his subjects and once again became hostile and violent toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. So, he had the furnace heated up more than usual and gave a command to some of his most brave and valiant soldiers to tie up these three young men and cast them into the fire. Not realizing the fire was super-heated, the king’s soldiers were consumed by the fire as they placed the three Jews into the furnace.
Verses 24-27
“Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, ‘Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?’ They replied to the king, ‘Certainly, O king.’ He said, ‘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!’ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!’ Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.”
Since the king’s soldiers were killed by the heat from the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar was shocked at what he saw as he looked into the furnace. There were not three men, but four in the midst of the fire and they were not consumed. The only things that were consumed were their bindings. The fourth is like a son of the gods means Nebuchadnezzar saw a person whom to him looked like deity. Of course, the king was thinking in terms of pagan gods when he said this. Many theologians believe it was a theophany (a preincarnate appearance) of Jesus Christ walking in the fire, and they make a solid case for this from the Aramaic and the Hebrew. One translation even says, “the Son of God.”
Amazingly not a hair on the head of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego was singed or even smelled like smoke. The result was a testimony for Christ (Jehovah) to all the advisers and other government officials. We are not told if any of them actually believed in Christ for salvation, but this event would certainly have gotten their attention. This is a good lesson for us all as believers. God often uses adversity to release us from the bondage of certain sins in our lives that are keeping us from advancing in our spiritual lives. (Hebrew 12:1-2)
Nebuchadnezzar was still an unbeliever. Therefore, when he referred to the God of Israel as the Most High God, he was merely saying the God of Israel was greater than his pagan gods. What Nebuchadnezzar did not understand was that God was using him when he conquered Judah to discipline the nation of Israel for their disobedience. All these events were part of God’s plan to bring Nebuchadnezzar to the point of Gospel-hearing.
There is a principle of doctrine for us in the Church Age here. Never spend time trying to explain doctrinal principles or policies to an unbeliever or enter into a debate with them. What they need to hear is a clear Gospel message.
Verses 28-30
“Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, ’Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.’ Therefore, I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way. Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.”
Once again, the king acknowledged the God of the Jews, but stopped short of believing in Him for salvation. Who has sent His angel – appearances of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord are documented in Genesis 22:11-18, 31:11-13 and Exodus 3:2, 13:21, 14:19.
He was impressed by the miraculous event and by the Source of the miracle. The decree made by Nebuchadnezzar was again an emotional response to the miracle he had seen. In violation of mankind’s free will, he decreed that everyone who speaks against the God of Israel will be destroyed. He first demanded everyone to worship the image, but then commanded no one speak against the God of Israel. Both demonstrated that the king was attempting to violate their freedom of choice by forcing them to do his will. He was totally confused and was operating entirely on emotion.
As for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, they were promoted (rewarded) by God’s grace. However, their greatest reward came amid the fiery flames as they fellowshipped with Jesus Christ for what was probably a few hours. The principle for us to learn is that God is the One Who does the promoting, otherwise you are not really promoted. Promotion apart from the grace of God is no promotion at all. Live and work as unto the Lord and He will promote you in every area of your life, as He did for these faithful young Israelites.