Chapter three of Daniel is an example of true faith in God. It is not about Daniel, but his three friends that came into captivity with him. Their names were Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, but you probably know them best by the names they were given in Babylon; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,[a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He 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. 3 So 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.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As 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. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
King Nebuchadnezzar had a statue built made of gold to honor himself. All the people in any kind of authoritative role had to go to the dedication of the image. Now we know that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were administrators in Babylon at Daniel's request. At the dedication ceremony a herald declared that at the sound of the music everyone was required to fall down and worship this image of gold. Anyone that refused would be thrown into a blazing furnace.
7 Therefore, 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.
8 At this time some astrologers[b] came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! 10 Your 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, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But 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.”
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and 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? 15 Now 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?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliverus[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But 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. ”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The 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, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then 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.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar 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, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the firehad 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.
28 Then 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. 29 Therefore 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.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Now the music started and everyone fell down to worship this image of gold, except Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Now we can assume that Daniel would not have worshipped either and since he is not mentioned we can assume that some of the King's business kept him away from this event. Some of the King's astrologers ran to the King to tell him that the three men refused to worship the King's image. Nebuchadnezzar was furious and summoned the three men. He gave them an ultimatum, either worship the image or be thrown into the furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego told the King that if they are thrown into the furnace, the God they serve would deliver them from it. They then said that even if they knew that God would not save them, they would still refuse to worship the golden image. Now that was the final straw for Nebuchadnezzar, he was so angry that he ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter and commanded the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up the men and throw them into the furnace. The furnace was so hot that the fire killed the soldiers that threw the men into the furnace.
As the King is watching, he sees four men walking around in the furnace unharmed and the fourth one Nebuchadnezzar describes as looking like a son of gods. Nebuchadnezzar calls for the men to come out of the furnace, and they do without even the smell of fire on them. Nebuchadnezzar praises the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and declares that anyone that says anything against their God would be cut into pieces and their houses destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the greatness of God but at this time in history every nation had their own gods. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that the God that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego serve is a great God, but he is not giving up the worship of his gods in whom he believes. The three men are promoted by Nebuchadnezzar. What can we learn from this? Just because you believe in God does not mean that bad things will not happen to you. You just need to keep your faith in God to see you through it and God will bless you.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
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