In today’s bible study we will tackle, Daniel Chapter 3 Commentary: Fiery Furnace (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).
Click here for previous study – Daniel 2 Commentary: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Daniel Chapter 3 Commentary: Fiery Furnace (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego)
‘Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.’ Daniel 3:1
The king was so amazed when Daniel explained his dream to him, as we read in chapter 2, that he began to fear God. But, unfortunately, his heart was not yet truly converted. His pride returned, and he began again to worship his idols with even more zeal.
Daniel’s interpretation of the dream showed how another kingdom should eventually follow Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar and his counselors were too proud to want to believe this. Their idea of patriotism was to encourage the people to think that their kingdom would never come to an end. Satan encouraged this pride, for he hoped it would hinder God’s work.
The king was now determined to improve on the image which God had shown him in his dream. He was not content to be only the ‘head of gold’, so now he decided to make an image completely of gold, thereby to express the idea his kingdom of Babylon would stand forever. In this way Nebuchadnezzar thought he could fight against God.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Daniel 3:2-7. KJV
We may be sure that the angels of Heaven were watching this contest intently, for, through king Nebuchadnezzar, Satan was trying to overthrow the truth. The same battle is being fought in the world today. In the Holy Scriptures, Babylon is a symbol of the confusion in the religious world of these last days, organised to oppose the truth by trying to turn the consciences of men against God. Similar events will be repeated in various ways in the future, before God sets up His everlasting Kingdom. We will all act a part in that great struggle.
Notice how King Nebuchadnezzar tried to strengthen the worship of idols by the law of the land. But no form of worship can be forced on people by earthly law. Every individual must be free to worship God as his own conscience tells him. No one who worships God sincerely can coerce or harm his neighbor, any kind of worship which is enforced by earthly law is an evil thing. God cannot accept such forced worship, where punishment is threatened against those who refuse to obey. For, immediately, freedom of choice is taken away. God will accept only the free will worship of His creatures. Any forced worship, therefore, is a kind of idolatry.
In this great crowd of people, only three Hebrews understood this principle clearly. They were required to come, because the king had called them. They obeyed as far as they could. But they knew that to bow down and worship the image would be to transgress the clear commandment of God (Exodus 20:3-6). This they could not and would not do.
‘8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 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’. Daniel 3:8-12. KJV
These Chaldean teachers had been humiliated by the truth of God when Daniel revealed the king’s dream, and they were now jealous of the Hebrews. They saw that it was impossible to disprove the truth of the Hebrews’ faith. But since they were dishonest cowards, they had encouraged the king to make an intolerant law, that by this means they could rid the Babylonian kingdom of those who obeyed the truth.
Any religion where adherents are expected to lean upon worldly laws in order to support it shows that it is weak and false. Earthly rulers should give their subjects freedom in religious matters.
Daniel Chapter 3 Commentary: Three Hebrew Boys Thrown in Fiery Furnace
’13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 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.
18 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.’ Daniel 3:13-18. KJV
Surely it takes courage to stand alone before a great crowd of people like this! These three Hebrews were standing face to face with death. Should they compromise their faith? Should they be afraid of the fiery furnace? Should they be afraid of the king’s anger? Although they knew in their hearts that it was really a lifeless image, would it have been wrong to bow down to fasten their sandals, perhaps, and thus appear to be in compliance with the king’s law?
No. These men were not cowards. They knew what was right, and they were not afraid to die for it. They had already considered what to do, and they had already prayed about it. They knew that if God is God, He must be worshipped with the whole heart (Matthew 6:24). They remembered the promise God made to the prophet Isaiah many years before, ‘…. when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.’ Isaiah 43:2. They didn’t tremble at all. While they were courteous and respectful, they answered the king firmly that they could not and would not worship his image.
Let us notice especially the good example of these three young men in showing respect and honour to the ‘powers that be’. God’s Word tells us that we should be ‘subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.’ Romans 13:1. We should be ‘subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work’. Titus 3:1.
But when the laws of men conflict with the laws of God, then our duty is to obey God. When Peter was commanded by the Jewish council not to preach in the name of Jesus, he replied, ‘Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.’ ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’ Acts 4:19; 5:29.
This is just what the three Hebrews did on the plain of Dura. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came to this meeting because they were called. They were respectful and courteous, and showed their willingness to obey the king as far as possible. But to fall down and worship his image; to deny what they knew as truth; to defile their conscience before God; to transgress the clear commandment of God, in order to saver their jobs, their wealth, their worldly honour, and their lives: this they would not do.
They told the king in a nice way, ‘There is no need to give us a second chance. We know what is right and we’ll simply do it again!’
’19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.’ Daniel 3:19-23 KJV
The very fact that Nebuchadnezzar became so angry is proof that he was doing the wrong thing. Although he had subdued the whole world with his sword, he could not rule his own spirit. Even his face was changed. It was foolish of him to heat the furnace hotter than usual, because this only served to make the great power of God to deliver His three servants more obvious.
Daniel 3 Commentary: Son of God Appears in The Fiery Furnace
’24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, 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.’ Daniel 3:24,25. KJV
See how the wrath of man is made to praise the Lord! (Psalm 76:10.) Someone stronger than the king takes charge of the situation. God’s promises to His servants are faithfully fulfilled. How did that heathen king know what the Son of God was like? Well, had he not been given a dramatic, vivid dream in which the last act was one in which ‘the God of heaven set up a kingdom’ (Daniel 2:44,45)? He had been privileged to see the Second Coming of Jesus – he knew what He looked like!
The three Hebrews seemed in no hurry to come out of the fire. They were happy to stay there, if only they could walk and talk with Christ. To be with Him is sufficient reward for all the trials of earth! When we suffer for him today, we, too, will enjoy His presence with us in the same way (see John 15:18; Isaiah 63:9; James 1:2).
’26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 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.’ Daniel 3:26-29. KJV
Now the very thing Nebuchadnezzar had tried to prevent takes place! All nations and tribes and languages quickly hear the story of God’s wonderful power. What the Chaldean teachers did to try to prevent the preaching of the truth results in it receiving greater prominence than before. I am sure that many people made their decisions that day to serve the God of heaven.
Click here for next study – Daniel 4 Commentary: Nebuchadnezzar Goes Mad
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