Daniel 3:1-15

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

(ESV)

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King Nebuchadnezzar erected an idol of gold. It stood 27 meters high by 2.7 meters wide. With those dimensions, a statue of a man would have been grossly disproportionate. It is possible that a more proportionate figure was placed on top of a tall base, otherwise, the statue may have been more like an obelisk. The king called for all the officials of the provinces to come to the plain of Dura outside of the city of Babylon for the dedication of this image he had erected. As they stood before it, a herald proclaimed that all were commanded to fall down and worship the image when an orchestra of many instruments began playing. Whoever failed to obey this command and worship the image would be immediately thrown into a burning fiery furnace. The furnace that had been used to smelt the gold and prepare bricks was probably on sight and billowing out smoke as a very real and ominous threat. So as soon as the orchestra began playing, all fell down and worshipped the golden image. All except three who stood alone.

Some wise men of Babylon came to the king and accused the Jews. They were malicious in their intent. They were probably motivated by personal jealousy and saw this as an opportunity to rid themselves of these foreigners. They greeted the king with a customary greeting and then reminded him of his decree to worship the golden image or face the death penalty. Then they brought their charge against the Jews. Specifically mentioning their nationality suggests anti-Semitism and resentment against the people and their religious practices that kept them very distinct from the rest of the world. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were named as individuals whom the king himself had appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon but who refused to worship his gods or worship the golden image he had erected. Either they were highlighting their level of insubordination having been given such positions, or they were suggesting that the king had made a mistake in their appointment.

In a rage, the king summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and he asked them if it was true that they refused to serve his gods or worship the golden image he had set up. Then for some reason, he gave them a second chance. Perhaps he valued them in their positions and didn’t want to lose them. Whatever the reason, he had the orchestra play again and if they were to fall down and worship the image, then he would overlook their initial refusal. But if they refused to worship the image, then they would immediately be thrown into the furnace. Nebuchadnezzar added the challenge, “and who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Even with his prior experience with the God of heaven who is able to reveal dreams, Nebuchadnezzar couldn’t see how any god could protect his followers from death in the furnace.

As the world moves further and further into godlessness, are you prepared to stand apart and alone and do things God’s way? (1 John 2:15; Jas 4:4)


Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

Moses and the Burning Bush: Exodus 3