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Reading & Devotional Guide: Daniel 3

Passion City Church
September, 22, 2024
Click here to listen to this week’s episode of Further In, in which members of the Passion City Church DC team discuss the passage of scripture we’re studying and consider how to apply the truths of God’s word to our lives.

This week’s reading: Daniel 3, Isaiah 43, Psalm 16, John 15:18-27, Matthew 10:28

 

Before diving into Chapter 3, it is essential to recall the first two chapters. In Chapter 1, Daniel and his friends, exiles in Babylon, refused to defile themselves with the King’s food, demonstrating their commitment to the LORD. Chapter 2 reveals Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which showcases the LORD’s ultimate unfolding plan for Babylon, other kingdoms, and His everlasting kingdom. Together, these chapters lay a foundation for the trials the Hebrew men will face in Chapter 3, where their devotion will be tested once again.

 

– Read Daniel 3:1-18–

 

What happened?

In Daniel 3:1-18, King Nebuchadnezzar made a towering golden statue on the plain of Dura, reaching ninety feet high. The massive structure should remind readers of Chapter 2, when Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of such a figure that represented the kingdoms that would rise and fall. 

 

Nebuchadnezzar then ordered all government officials–everyone who was anyone–gather for the statue’s dedication. At the sound of the orchestra, every person present was to bow down and worship the statue. The penalty for refusal was death by extremity– burning in a fiery furnace. All the officials bowed down, except for three men: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The Chaldeans came to the King and “maliciously accused” (or “ate to pieces”) these men for three reasons: they ignored the King’s command, they did not serve the gods of Babylon, and they would not worship this statue.

 

Furious, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and offered a second chance to worship the statue. The Babylonian King was certain that there was no such god that could deliver anyone from such extreme power and punishment. The Hebrew men remained faithful to the LORD and felt no need to give a defense. Their minds were made up that their allegiance belonged to the LORD. They were confident that He was able to deliver them from the furnace but acknowledged that even if He did not, they would still not bow to another god. They trusted in LORD’s ability and his sovereignty.

What to remember?

  • King Nebuchadnezzar made a giant statue of gold (3:1)

  • All government officials were to worship the statue (3:2-5)

  • A fiery furnace was the punishment for not worshipping the statue (3:6)

  • The Chaldeans informed the King that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the statue (3:8-12)

  • King Nebuchadnezzar gave the men a second chance (3:13-15)

  • The men proclaimed their loyalty to their LORD (3:16-18)

Meditation

  • The Popularity of Idolatry

Three times readers are given the long list of government officials present at the dedication and worship ceremony. Four times readers are told the various instruments that were played. Eleven times is the word worship used here. All this repetition should grab your attention. Everyone who was anyone was partaking in the worship of this statue. 

 

There is a deep inclination in humans to “go with the flow” and worship what everyone else worships. The masses always find an image to get their meaning from–be it a politician, popstar, nation, or lifestyle. You face a similar predicament as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Will you worship the things of this world with everyone else, or will you resist the world’s idolatry because of your loyalty to Jesus?

 

  • Our God is able

While King Nebuchadnezzar believed no god could rescue from his power, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted that their God was able to pull off such a rescue. But their faith went beyond deliverance—they declared, “but if not” they still would not bow. Their confidence was in God’s ability and his sovereignty– a deep trust that he works all things together for the good of his people.

 

Do you have a confidence in God’s ability to see you through your current trials? Do you have a confidence in his sovereignty to work these trials together for your good?

Prayer

LORD, 

Thank you for your sovereign power and abiding presence. 

Would you graciously give me an unwavering faith in your power to deliver, and a humble trust in your will, even when the path is unclear?

Would you keep me steadfast in my devotion to you, that I may resist the idols of this world? 

Would you forgive me for the time I have run to earthly idols?

Thank you Jesus for living and reigning, now and forever. 

Amen.

___________________________________________________________

 

– Read Daniel 3:19-30–

 

What happened?

Because of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s unwavering trust in the LORD and refusal to bow to Babylon’s idols, King Nebuchadnezzar became enraged and ordered the men to be thrown into the furnace. His fury was so intense that he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual—likely an idiom meaning “as hot as possible.” The fire was so extreme that it killed the soldiers who threw the three men into the flames.

 

After they were thrown into the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar was astonished to see the men unharmed and unbound, walking in the fire. Even more surprising was the presence of a fourth man, who appeared “like a son of the gods.” While some scholars interpret this fourth man to be an angel, most Christian scholars believe this to be the pre-incarnate Christ. Regardless, this moment fulfilled the LORD’s promise in Isaiah 43:2, “when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”  

 

Recognizing the miracle, Nebuchadnezzar declared that the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was the “Most High,” proclaiming, “there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” In other words, salvation belongs to their God alone. The chapter concludes with Nebuchadnezzar issuing a decree for all of Babylon to honor their LORD and promoting the three Hebrew men for their courage.

What to remember?

  • King Nebuchadnezzar, filled with fury, had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego thrown into the fiery furnace (3:19-23)

  • The three men, accompanied by a fourth, were unbound and unhurt by the fire (3:24-26)

  • King Nebuchadnezzar made a decree for all of Babylon to revere the LORD (3:29)

  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were promoted (3:30)

Meditation

  1. The Fourth Man

Despite being bound and thrown into the blazing furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were untouched by the flames. Not even their hair or clothes were singed. But the most astonishing part of the story is the presence of a fourth man, described as “like a son of the gods” who was with them in the fire. Here we learn that the LORD does not just rule over kings and kingdoms, but also enters the fiery trials (literally) of his people. 

 

The LORD is not just over your story; He is in your story. Just as He walked with them in the furnace, He has come and walked into ours. Through Jesus, the God of the Heavens became Immanuel– God with us. You may face trials that seem overwhelming, but you are never alone. Jesus is present in the midst of your struggles, protecting you and guiding you through them. Will you trust His presence, even in the heat of the fire?

Prayer

Jesus,

I praise you for being with me in the fires of my life.

You do not just rule over my life, you walk with me through life.

I pray for the confidence to know that you are always with me. 

Thank you for saving me from the fire of my impending judgment. 

You, alone, are my salvation.

Amen

Scripture References

1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2He 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.
3So 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.
4Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do:
5As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews.
9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!
10Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,
11and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12But 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, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
13Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
14and 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?
15Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe 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?”
16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.
18But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual
20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
21So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.
22The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
23and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24Then 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, Your Majesty.”

25He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26Nebuchadnezzar 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, 27and 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.

27and 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.
28Then 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.
29Therefore 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.”
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Passion City Church
Passion City Church
Content created by the team at Passion City Church. Passion City Church is a Jesus Church. A small tribe of His followers connected by our common faith and a deep desire to see our city [and the world] come to know His power and beauty. We are not perfect. But Jesus is. Thankfully, we are a Jesus Church.