Daniel 3
The rich king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, knew of the true God, but worshiped idols, and had a very special great image made and set up in a place to which crowds of people could come. The image must have been dazzling in the sunshine, for it was made, or covered over, with fine gold. We do not know what it represented, perhaps the king himself. It was very high, “three score cubits”; a cubit was eighteen inches, so the height was about ninety feet.
The king planned a great celebration day to dedicate the image; he sent men to tell all people to be ready; all princes, offers, and chief men were to be present. There were to be all sorts of musical instruments, and when those began to sound, all were to bow down and worship the image.
The king was a cruel man, and whaver he said must be obeyed; he gave orders that anyone who did not bow down should be thrown into a burning furnace.
When the great day came, the three Jewish captives, whose names had been changed to Shadrach, Meshach and Abeego, did not bow down. Some men told the king that they had not obeyed, and he was extremely angry, and sent for them to be brought to him.
When they stood before him, he told them the music should sound again, and if they would bow down, it would be well with them; but if not, they should be cast into the furnace.
To bow down to the image, was the same as to honor it more than God. These men wanted to honor God, so when the king asked them,
“Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hand?” they answered,
“Our God ... .is able to deliver us out from the ... . fiery furnace. 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.”
The king was so angry to hear this, that he at once ordered the furnace made much hotter, and called for his strongest soldiers to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace.
The orders were obeyed, and the cruel king and his men stood near to watch the men suffer. Suddenly the king, greatly astonished, called out,
“Did not we cast three men into the fire?”
“True, O king,” they answered. Then he 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 unto the Son of God.”
The king then called for the men to come out of the furnace. They came out, safe and unhurt. The proud king felt God’s power, and said,
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Who hath sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him.”
Then the king made a law that no peon should speak against God.
We do not know where Daniel was at that time, but he could not have shown more courage than these men, who would rather die, than deny God.
ML 07/05/1942