Daniel 3:1-18 Gold Statue
King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
“But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Well! After these Hebrew upstarts have succeeded in gaining important positions within Nebuchadnezzar’s empire, finally the displaced bureaucrats have an opportunity to get rid of these nuisances. Frankly, these guys don’t care which deity they worship; as far as they’re concerned, whatever Nebuchadnezzar wants, Nebuchadnezzar gets. But this most recent edict of Nebuchadnezzar’s hands these gentlemen a golden opportunity. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have already distinguished themselves by joining Daniel in refusing the king’s rich food, giving them a physical and mental edge over their competitors. This refusal stems from the fact that much of that food has been dedicated to local gods before being brought to Nebuchadnezzar. When Daniel gains favor with Nebuchadnezzar by successfully describing his dream and interpreting it, these three men are also promoted to prominent managerial positions. Those who have been deposed from their positions are fuming and want nothing more than to get rid of these nuisances.
Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”
Nebuchadnezzar flies into a rage, confronting these three men whom he has previously trusted with running the province of Babylon. But the astrologers have appealed to Nebuchadnezzar’s vanity, and he has responded as they have hoped. As Nebuchadnezzar is thundering at these men, the astrologers are likely rubbing their hands in glee.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Notice that these men cover all eventualities. As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are refusing to worship this image, they are avowing that God can rescue them from Nebuchadnezzar. At the same time, the three also avow that they would rather die in the fiery furnace than serving Nebuchadnezzar’s gods or his golden image.
We will take up the rest of the story tomorrow, but the question for us is simple: Whom are we worshiping? Whom will we worship? And how far are we willing to go to serve the One True Living God? In northern Nigeria, in Islamic countries, in North Korea, Christians are dying for their faith. Some of us are scarcely willing to attend church if we become uncomfortable or we have to travel a distance. At this point, we must ask ourselves if we truly worship God or are we merely attending worship services out of habit but not out of commitment? May God help us to remain true to Him, no matter what happens!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You, no matter how difficult things become. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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