THE KING’S IMAGE OF GOLD
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Opening Prayer
Today, Father, show me what I must learn to better my walk with you. Help me see where I need to follow you with greater faith and more courage, without any deviations.
Read DANIEL 3
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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 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.
Reflect
What things do you see in your world that tempt people of faith to draw away from their worship of God?
In his letter, Peter uses metallurgical imagery to demonstrate how God tests the genuineness of faith.1 I saw this process firsthand at Rokana Copper Mines. With incredible violence, the copper ore is blasted out of the rock, crushed into powder, mixed with powerful chemicals, poured into smelting furnaces at temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Celsius, and then submerged in electrified tanks of sulfuric acid. The end result is that the impurities are dislodged and skimmed off, leaving almost 100% pure copper. Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace was a literal test of faith for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
The fulcrum of this passage is in verses 16–19. The king decided to create a monstrous golden image, possibly honoring himself (v. 1). Perhaps Daniel’s interpretation of his dream unnerved him.2 Perhaps it reminded him of his mortality and the prospect of sliding into historical oblivion. So, he decided to deify himself by creating a statue, not only for people to remember him but also, he may have hoped, for them to worship him. During his lifetime, he demanded total compliance. Opponents would meet their deaths in the fiery furnace (v. 6). Fear of pain and desire for pleasure are often used by Satan to tempt us, but God may use them to test the genuineness of our faith and to build us up in our quest for uncompromising discipleship. So, the three men were thrown into the fiery furnace (v. 21).
They did not presume to know the will of God, whether he would deliver them or allow them to die. What they knew and insisted upon was that, whatever the outcome, they would resolutely obey the command to have no other gods (v. 18).3
Apply
May we seek obedience to God’s supreme will, not declarations of what he will or will not do.
Closing prayer
Lord of All, you alone are God. Help me recognize idolatry’s enticing allure, whatever form it takes, and give me the wisdom, strength, and courage to resist it.
11 Pet 1:7. 2 Dan 2:39. 3 cf. Exod 20:3–6.
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