Out of the Frying Pan: Daniel 3
We are not certain how much time passed between Daniel 2 and Daniel 3. Some commentators suggest as many as 20 years went by, allowing King Nebuchadnezzar enough time to forget how God used Daniel to reveal and interpret his dream in chapter 2. Others, however, insist that the events of chapter 3 followed almost immediately on the heels of chapter 2 as Nebby aimed to further consolidate his power, unite his rapidly diversifying empire, and prove that his reign would endure forever in spite of his recent vision to the contrary.
Regardless of how much time passed between these two chapters, one thing is clear: Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, thought the worst was behind them. Nebby had acknowledged the superiority of their God, and they were in positions of authority. Surely, nothing could go wrong now. As the spotlight shifted from Daniel to his three friends, though, they were about to face their biggest test yet.
That, of course, was no small thing. These four men – boys, really – were hauled a thousand miles from their homes, forced to live in a pagan king’s palace, and prove themselves godly by not eating his defiled food. Then, before they even finished school, they were nearly killed because the king’s other wise men were unable to reveal and interpret the king’s vision. Surely, God would not compel them to face another, bigger test. In Daniel 3:1-7, however, we discover that this was not the case.
The world will threaten.
King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue the king had set up. Then they stood before the statue Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
A herald loudly proclaimed, “People of every nation and language, you are commanded: When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, you are to fall facedown and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.”
Therefore, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and every kind of music, people of every nation and language fell down and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Daniel 3:1-7 CSB
Just when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego began to feel comfortable and confident that things were finally going their way, Nebby had another wild idea: he built a golden statue and demanded that everyone worship it. About this statue, many things that are unclear. For instance, we are not sure what prompted Nebby to build it,. Perhaps it was an attempt to unify his empire under one religion or just an exercise in his own vanity. So also, we are not certain what form the statue took. The most popular theories are that it was a statue of Nebby himself or that it represented his god, Nabu. In fact, we do not even really know where this statue was erected. The Christian Standard Bible says in verse 1 that it was “on the plain of Dura,” and a 19th century French expedition discovered numerous mounds and what appeared to be the base of a great statue to the southeast of Babylon. However, Nebby was known as a prolific builder, and he was especially fond of building monuments to himself. Moreover, the Akkadian word “Dura” was incorporated into the names of numerous locations throughout the Babylonian realm. In fact, the word itself actually means “walled-in place,” so it could have referred to virtually any walled courtyard within any city anywhere in the kingdom.
There is, however, one thing that we do know for sure. Nebby built this statue as a test of his leadership team’s loyalties. Either the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and other leaders would be 100% faithful to him, as demonstrated by their obedience to worship this statue, or they would be dead.
Is that not just like the world? Just about the time we get comfortable, even confident, we are suddenly blindsided by a trial, temptation, or test that we never saw coming. Are we really dedicated wholly to God, or will we bow to this over here?
Actually, if we are truly honest, these test are usually not quite so obvious as the one Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced. Instead of a great statue that we must worship or die, it may be stuff. You can still attend church and be godly, but why not use that money you set aside to tithe to buy some new clothes or a nicer car? Perhaps it is work. You know that God wants you to be a person of integrity, but if you fudge just a bit, it could really help the sales figures. Whatever it is, the world simply suggests, “Hey, why don’t you make room for this, too?”
For the unbelieving satraps and co., and for most of the world today, it was no big deal to oblige such a request. For the man or woman of God, however, the instant we make something even as important as God is the moment we bow before Nebby’s golden statue because God does not share his throne with anyone or anything.
Of course, Nebby offered a compelling reason why Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would want to bow: if they did not, they would be thrown into the blazing furnace and die. Similarly, it is often tempting to rationalize why we should oblige the temptation. Perhaps we will lose our jobs, people will laugh at us, or someone will call us bigots. Besides, everyone else is doing it.
Notice, however, verse 7: “When all the people heard the sound… people of every nation and language fell down and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.” David Jeremiah suggests that there may have been as many as 300,000 people bowing before Nebby’s statue that day. Now, imagine how conspicuous were the only three men still standing!
The fact of the matter is that this world is desperately trying to conform us to its own likeness, and it is not above threatening grave consequences if we decline. Indeed, the world will threaten. It will tempt us to put something else on God’s throne in our lives, and if we decline, it will threaten grave consequences such as financial ruin, social ostracism, jail time, or even death.
We must persevere.
We must, therefore, ask how we will respond when it happens. Fortunately, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego provided us a fantastic example to follow in verses 8-23:
Some Chaldeans took this occasion to come forward and maliciously accuse the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever. You as king have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music must fall down and worship the gold statue. Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have ignored you, the king; they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Then in a furious rage Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don’t serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up? Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire—and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than was customary, and he commanded some of the best soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. So these men, in their trousers, robes, head coverings, and other clothes, were tied up and thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. Since the king’s command was so urgent and the furnace extremely hot, the raging flames killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.
Daniel 3:8-23 CSB
Things were certainly bleak for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego at the end of verse 23, but before we get to that, let us focus for a moment on the way these three men did not respond when the world threatened them.
Notice, for instance, what they did not do in verse 8. Namely, they did not debate what they should do. In fact, the text does not even note that these three men remained standing when everyone else bowed down. The reader is instead left to assume that these men would never do such a thing as the author simply skips ahead to the moment when “some Chaldeans” went to Nebby to cause problems. No, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not debate because, in their minds, there was nothing left to debate. The matter was settled long before Nebby’s edict came. They would not bow down and worship anyone or anything but the Lord their God, and if we are going to respond well when the world threatens, we must do the same.
Notice also what did not happen in verse 16. When an enraged Nebby offered our heroes a second chance – they could bow down or die – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego responded, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question.” That is, they had already answered, and they would not change their minds. They would not bow down, and they would not even try to explain. Their response revealed both their unwavering resolve and a key realization. Nothing they could say was going to change Nebby’s mind, and they would not waste their breath trying. So also, we must have an equally unwavering resolve, and we must be able to discern when the time for discussion has come to an end.
Notice, thirdly, what was lacking in the rest of the response in verses 17-18: “If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” On the one hand, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were absolutely confident that their God could save them. On the other hand, they did not presume that he would same them. Perhaps the most striking thing about their response, though, is that, regardless of whether or not God rescued them, they would not bow to Nebby’s statue or serve Nebby’s gods because they were servants of the Most High. This stands in stark contrast to so many of our prayers: “Oh, Lord, do this or else I won’t believe in you anymore.” For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, however, there was no such qualification. They would believe in God. Period. Hard stop. New page. Nothing that Nebby could do to their bodies here and now was as real as their God and the eternal salvation that he – and he alone – offered, and he was worth it. We must have the same unconditional faith because our God is real, and the eternal salvation made available exclusively by his grace through faith in Jesus Christ is worth it. It is.
Notice, lastly, what was missing from verses 19-23. In response to our heroes’ stubborn refusal to bow, Nebby “was filled with rage.” He ordered the furnace heated “seven times more than was customary,” or absolutely as hot as it could be. He then ordered the trio bound and thrown into the flames, and so they fell, bound, into the furnace. What was missing? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not mad or surprised. They did not argue, flee, or even flinch. In fact, they did not react at all. Instead, they simply stood there, resolute in their course to the very end, and if we are going to respond well when the world threatens, the bottom line is that we must do the same.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego settled the matter long before Nebby issued his ultimatum. They discerned when the time for discussion and debate was over. They were going to believe in God, and they were resolute in this to the very end. In short, they persevered, and if we are going to live a Christian life in today’s world, then when the world threatens, we must do the same. We must persevere!
Perseverance leads to witness.
Of course, perseverance would be radically more attractive if it did not land Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the bottom of the furnace at the end of verse 23. Fortunately, that was not the end of their story.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?”
“Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king.
He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God—come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on[l] the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them. Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel[m] and rescued his servants who trusted in him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I issue a decree that anyone of any people, nation, or language who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump. For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” Then the king rewarded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3:24-30 CSB
Yes, our heroes landed in the fire, but did you catch what happened after that? For starters, there were four men. As in, not three. And one of those men looked like a son of the gods or an angel. Bible scholars have debated for centuries who this extra figure could have been. Some say it was an angel sent by God, but my favorite theory is that it was a Christophany, an appearance of Jesus before the first Christmas. Either way, this fourth figure was tangible proof: even in the fires of life, God is still with those who persevere.
Also, they were no longer bound. Now, at first glance, this seems like an insignificant detail, but remember, in Old Testament times, there were no pens or paper, let alone copy machines. Thus, one did not write things that were insignificant. The disappearance of these bindings, then, was important. Indeed, we often go through life bound by things like fear of rejection or humiliation, a crippling sense of inadequacy, or weak faith. However, when we find ourselves cast into the flames of affliction and find that Jesus is still there, we typically also discover that those things are no longer as binding as they once were.
Moreover, they were walking in the fire unharmed. In fact, when Nebby called them out of the flames in verse 26, “not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.” Anyone who has ever been near a campfire will recognize how ridiculous this observation was. You see, it is impossible to walk away from a campfire without smelling like smoke, and I can tell you from personal experience how easy it is to walk away with singed hair! But not these guys. Now, there are too many biblical accounts of good people being hurt in their pursuit of God. Indeed, even Jesus, the very Son of God, went to a cross and died. Consider, however, what Jesus wrote in Revelation 2:10-11 to the church in Smyrna: “Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life…. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.” That is, if we will persevere in our faith to the very end of this life, we will find ourselves unharmed when we awake in heaven with a new body and a sparkling new white robe.
Certainly, it is encouraging to learn that God is with us, we will no longer be bound, and no matter what happens in this life, we will find ourselves unharmed in the next. If these things were what the author intended us to see, though, why does the account at this juncture focus on Nebuchadnezzar’s reaction? In particular, why did the author make a point in verse 29 to share the king’s decree that everyone in the kingdom had to respect the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because he alone was able to deliver?
No, instead of focusing on these wonderfully encouraging truths, the author instead focused on Nebby to make a point. When we persevere, God shows up, and when God shows up, people notice. It is called witness, and what we discover in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is that perseverance leads to witness.
Of course, we witness whenever we tell people about Jesus. Even more, we witness when we act as Christ would act. Yet, when we do these things in the midst of the trials, temptations, and tests of life, then our witness is amplified many times over. Indeed, notice the expanding circle of people who recognized God through the first three chapters of Daniel. When Daniel and his friends refused to be defiled by the king’s food, only the guard and chief eunuch knew. When Daniel revealed the king’s dream and its interpretation, the king and his leadership team knew. Now, when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego persevered even through the furnace, the whole empire knew.
Why did their perseverance have such an effect? How much more compelling is the witness who continues to testify even through adversity! Indeed, when the world threatens, do not give up! Persevere because perseverance leads to witness.