FACING THE FURNACE OF FIRE
Daniel 3
INTRODUCTION:
1. Nebuchadnezzar – king of Babylon
2. Daniel – prophet of God when Jerusalem besieged (Daniel 1:1)
3. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego
a. They were “youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court” (Daniel 1:4) along with Daniel.
b. Shadrach is the Babylonian name given to Hananiah (“the Lord has been gracious”)
c. Meshach is the Babylonian name given to Mishael (“who is what God is”)
d. Abed-nego is the Babylonian name given to Azariah (“whom Jehovah helps”)
e. They were appointed to administrative positions under Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:19)
THE COMMAND OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR (v. 1-7)
1. The image of gold was 90 ft high
2. Those assembled for the dedication
a. “satraps” – princes (Strong’s), administrators (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on OT)
b. “prefects” – captains, commanders – probably military chiefs in provinces (K&D)
c. “governors” – presidents of civil government (K&D)
d. “counselors” – chief judges, chief arbitrators, counselors of the government (K&D)
e. “treasurers” – superintendents of the public treasury (K&D)
f. “judges” – guardians of the law, lawyers (K&D)
g. “magistrates” – to give a just sentence, judges in narrower sense (K&D)
h. “all the rulers of the provinces” – governor of province, under chief governor (K&D)
3. The command – “Then the herald loudly proclaimed: ‘To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language, that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.” (v. 4-5)
4. The threat – “But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.” (v. 6)
5. What would you do if you were a teenage foreigner among all the dignitaries of Babylonian rule and in the face of threats for noncompliance?
THE REFUSAL OF SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABED-NEGO (v. 8-18)
1. Tattle-tails from Babylon come up to the king and bring charges against the Jews. One might suspect the Chaldeans were not happy that these Jewish boys were in leadership positions.
2. When Nebuchadnezzar hears that they refuse to worship his gods and his image he asks, “Is it true?” and goes on to remind them of the threat for those who do not worship saying, “what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” (v. 14-15)
3. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If is be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (v. 16-18).
4. They would not be swayed from what they knew about the true and living God. They would not falter even when threatened. They knew God could deliver them and if He didn’t they still wouldn’t worship another! Do you know the truth about God? Will you stand before a king and defend it? We you defend Him knowing persecution and maybe death will come?
PUNISHMENT FOR DEFIANCE (v. 19-23)
1. Wrath caused the king to heat the furnace 7 times greater. Nebuchadnezzar responded to their statement with rage and fury rather than reason and understanding. This often happens when false doctrine is exposed – emotions are ignited. This was even apparent in his facial expression.
2. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were tied up and thrown into the furnace with all of their clothing on.
3. The flame of the fire slew the men carrying them
PROTECTION FROM GOD MOST HIGH (v. 24-27)
1. Nebuchadnezzar is astounded “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?...Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” (v. 24-25)
2. When he calls them out he addresses them as “servants of the MOST HIGH GOD”
3. Men who went into the furnace came out alive and “the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.”
4. God promises to provide for His people: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you” (Isaiah 43:2). This is the reason for our faith, hope and boldness.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S NEW DECREE (28-30)
1. The man once boasting threats against these three teenagers now says
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” (v. 28-29)
2. Nebuchadnezzar even made them to prosper in Babylon. Even a pagan king honored men who stood for something.
FACING THE FURNACE OF FIRE TODAY
1. The temptation of sin was idol worship in this story. Today it takes the form of the worship of money, sports teams, our children, ourselves etc.
2. Holding your ground before the king is vital in the mission of Christ. These men were familiar with and faithful to God that they stood before a king in rebellion, in order to obey God. Today we will need to stand before college professors, political figures, or maybe just our next door neighbor and have to give an account for the hope that we have and to refute those who contradict sound doctrine.
3. Faithful while facing death. Today we may lose friends and popularity when taking a stand for God. This is not our goal but it may be a reality. But God will cause persecution to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
4. Knowing the truth about who God is will enable us to be bold and to take the right stand for truth. If we are going to be like Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah we are going to have to be prepared and equipped before we enter that situation.
5. Are you prepared today to stand before a foreign dictator, facing death, and give a defense for the gospel? Well let the training begin.