DANIEL 3 - THE IMAGE OF GOLD AND THE FIERY FURNACE
Dec
11
Written by:
12/11/2011 9:13 PM
DANIEL 3
THE IMAGE OF GOLD AND THE FIERY FURNACE
Dec. 11, 2004
(Dan 3:1 NIV) King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. (Dan 3:2 NIV) 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. (Dan 3:3 NIV) 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. (Dan 3:4 NIV) Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: (Dan 3:5 NIV) As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. (Dan 3:6 NIV) Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." (Dan 3:7 NIV) Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
King Nebuchadnezzar had seen a great statue with a head of gold in a dream. Daniel revealed to the king that the head of gold was King Nebuchadnezzar. After the king heard he was the head of gold in the dream he became filled with pride and ordered a 90 foot tall gold statue to be made. At the dedication of the statue he declared that people of every nation and language must fall down and worship the image when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music. Worshiping the image was like worshiping the king. For those that chose not to worship the image they were thrown into a blazing furnace. Nevertheless, Daniel`s three friends refused to worship the image. (Dan 3:12 NIV) 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, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up." Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego could not worship the image because of the first and second commandments. (Exo 20:2 NIV) "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Exo 20:3 NIV) "You shall have no other gods before me. (Exo 20:4 NIV) "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. (Exo 20:5 NIV) You shall not bow down to them or worship them;
They refused to serve the king`s gods or worship the image of gold. When the king heard this he was very angry. (Dan 3:13 NIV) Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, (Dan 3:14 NIV) 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? (Dan 3:15 NIV) Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes 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?"
The king gave Daniel`s three friends one last chance to worship the king`s gods and the image of gold. Nevertheless, they refused. (Dan 3:16 NIV) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. (Dan 3:17 NIV) If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. (Dan 3:18 NIV) But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel`s three friends believed God was able to rescue them from the blazing furnace. However, even if God did not rescue them they were willing to die rather than worship the image. They were willing to trust God regardless of the consequences.
The king became very furious because Shadrach, Meshak and Abednego would not worship the image. (Dan 3:19 NIV) 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 (Dan 3:20 NIV) and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. (Dan 3:21 NIV) So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. (Dan 3:22 NIV) The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers
Did God rescue them? Yes! (Dan 3:24 NIV) 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, O king." (Dan 3:25 NIV) 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." (Dan 3:26 NIV) 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, (Dan 3:27 NIV) 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.
What happened in the fiery furnace was truly amazing. The heat of the fiery furnace did nothing to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. However, the fire burned the ropes that bound them so they could walk around freely. The fourth man that joined them in the fiery furnace was probably Jesus.
The king was certainly amazed at what he saw and was instantly changed. His anger at Daniel`s three friends disappeared! He even asked them to come out of the furnace. The king realized their God was greater than his gods. He even began to praise the God that rescued them! Because of the amazing miracle Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were promoted in the province of Babylon.
(Dan 3:28 NIV) 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. (Dan 3:29 NIV) 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." (Dan 3:30 NIV) Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
We should be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and trust God regardless of the consequences!
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