Here are some notes on Daniel 3 originally posted here on May 12th of this year.
Chapter three of Daniel records the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and their date with the fiery furnace. Whenever I read this chapter I recall a song by Russ Taff back in the 1980's called "Not Gonna Bow." Great song. Great voice. Great proclamation--I won't bow down to your idols!
There are a number of cool observations that I made that don't contain 'buts' in the text. I thought about the idol itself, described as ninety feet tall and nine feet wide. I've concluded it may have been a statue of a former NBA player (also an 80's reference) named Manute Bol. But, if it wasn't, then it probably wasn't a statue of a human being. The rough proportion of a non-Manute human is around six to one. That's a picture of Manute, by the way.
Another observation has to do with the many titles of the folks Nebuchadnezzar called together. A few of those words are Persian in origin (satraps, for instance). That is interesting because Nebuchadnezzar was a Babylonian emperor. The Persian empire followed the Babylonian. What that suggests is that Daniel was likely written some time after the fall of Babylon. Interesting.
The mention of furnaces is also interesting. Historians have recorded the importance of firing to the process of brick-making in Babylon. Who'da thunk it?
But we're here to talk buts, and there are a couple of biggies here.
Everyone was obeying the order to fall down. Verse 12 begins, "But there are some Jews who you set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king."
You can sense, I believe, a little animosity at the root of the complaint. In verse 8 we see that those who leveled the charge "denounced the Jews." There may have also been some jealousy in there, noting the mention of these three having been given authority. Regardless, the picture of everyone complying except these three is stunning.
Nebuchadnezzar offers the three a second chance. He shows his but (pun intended). "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 burning furnace." Again, this scene is powerful. Bow and live. Refuse and die.
One good but deserves another (okay, I'll stop). But do notice the strength in the men's profession of faith: "If we are thrown in... the God we serve is able to save us from it and He will rescue us from your hand O king. But even if He does not... we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
There are some beautiful lessons to take forward from this text. First, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego recognize in verse 16, that they don't need to defend themselves before the king. Secondly, consider the weight of the if/then clause in the text--clarified by the buts. 'If we are thrown in... then God will deliver us.' 'And if He does not, then we want you to know that we would rather die than cave into idolatry.'
The rest of the story is classic. The fire is so hot that Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers die putting the three men into the furnace. And then the king sees a fourth figure in the fire. Another observation we would do well to ruminate on. The text ends with these three men being granted Nebuchadnezzar's favor, and God having gained a great deal of glory along the way.
I don't imagine anyone reading this blog will be faced with a "bow down or prepare to be burned alive" ultimatum. However, I would bet that there is a great lesson for us to consider in God's faithfulness and our faithfulness. What do you think?
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