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