A nation, altogether given to idolatry…
Governed by a king that esteemed himself…
more important than the Living God…
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Dan 3:1
With great pomp, the king and all his administrators gathered,
to worship the golden image….
Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: Dan 3:3 -5
Refusal to obey the king…
Carried the death sentence…
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Dan 3:6
So, everyone bowed down…
Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Dan 3:7
Save for three young men…
In the sight of all…
They steadfastly, publicly, resisted the king’s decree…
There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Dan 3:12
The king’s countenance was changed…
Fury. Outrage. Indignation. Wrath.
Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; Dan 3:13 -15
The king demanded to know…
“…who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” Dan 3:15
The furnace was stoked…
…therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. Dan 3:19
The sentence was given…
And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Dan 3:20
And promptly executed…
Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:21
The flames were so HOT…
the soldiers perished….
Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Dan 3:22 -23
While everyone was watching and waiting…
A marvelous thing happened!
Astounded, the king spoke…
“Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
“True, O king.”
“Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither.”
Behold! The saving power of the Living God…
Unfolding for all to see…
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Dan 3:27
The king had no power over them…
The fire had no power over them….
Unflinching. Resolute. Fearless. Valiant
They yielded their bodies to the flames…
And the power of God was revealed…
“…because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort!”
The king was humbled…
In his own words…
“How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! “
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. “ Dan 4:3, 3:28
Amen!
We never know what God can accomplish through one heart that is fully yielded into His hands.
Have you yielded to Him?
I really appreciate your consistency posting!
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of questions: Four men were seen in the fire... one form like the Son of God. First of all, the King did not worship the true God. How would he know what the Son of God looks like? What for the King distinguished the Son of God from any ordinary man? Also, do you think that the fourth man appeared in the flesh? Or was he like a shadow-type form?
I know these are questions that cannot be directly answered by scripture (I don't think, at least), so this is just your opinion. Thanks!
Excellent questions Raquel!
ReplyDeleteTo answer your first question: Though Nebuchadnezzar did not worship the true and Living God at this time, he did encounter him through Daniel’s interpretation of his dream in Daniel chapter 2.
(Dan 2:25-49) In this passage we see that Daniel stood before the king and expounded the character of God to him through the interpretation of his dream. I have no doubt that this made a big impression upon Nebuchadnezzar as no one else in his kingdom could interpret his dream according to the parameters that he set. Remember, they had to tell him what he dreamt and the interpretation. That could ONLY come from God. Nebuchadnezzar answered him with this statement:
The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Dan 2:47
So, Nebuchadnezzar did not worship this Living God that Daniel served, but he did come to understand more about who this God is. Regarding his looks, this is what we do know from scripture: the fourth person in the fire had a different appearance than the other three because special distinction is given for the 4th one.
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Dan 3:25
So, there must have been some kind of visible difference to distinguish between the 4th man and the others. Also, later on Nebuchadnezzar refers to that 4th one as an angel…
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel… Dan 3:28
Now, we know that angels have appeared in other places in scripture as “flesh and blood” type beings. Examples would be, Abraham (Genesis 18), Gideon (Judges 6:11-22) and Samson (Judges 13) In these passages we see that “angels” took on a form of “men” so much so that the people who encountered them did not know until the end that it was an angel they had been speaking with. So, it appears that they can take on a form of flesh and blood, and yet still remain a spiritual being.
On a final note, this was a supernatural event. The furnace was stoked 7x hotter than normal and the guards that tossed Shad, Meshach and Abednego into the furnace, died from the heat of it. Shad, Meshach and Abed. should have been dead, instantly. So. I would submit to you that in a supernatural event, God makes Himself known through the unfolding of that event. Those who are observing it happen just know it is God doing it. In Romans ch.1 we see that God has given light and understanding to every man through their own conscience…so they are without excuse for denying the truth of God. The conscience is a special place in mankind that God can use to influence and reveal His truth to them and God holds them responsible for that revealed truth. I am certain that God was using this event to stir and influence the conscience of all the onlookers, and even king Nebuchadnezzar himself.
I hope that helps.
God Bless you!
Sorry I haven't replied back for a few days... (I have been working on final papers-- only 3 more left! Then HOME!) Anyway, I actually read your response when you first posted it. Just haven't had a chance to reply back. And my response is this:
ReplyDeleteWOW! You know your Bible very well. And you can pull it all together so eloquently and completely. Thank you! You answered my questions exactly.
I was wondering because I've heard two theories on it (I'm not claiming either one): 1. that it was the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ and 2. an angel.
The term "angel" that the king uses in this context is a masculine noun meaning "messenger, representative." And then the reference to the "form of the Son of God" literally means the appearance of a son (genetically related male) of God. So looking up each word in the Strong's concordance didn't seem to clarify further whether it was an angel or a form like the Son of God.
This supernatural happening was so GREAT. Man... if only we knew what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said about the "fourth man" after this experience. :)
Thanks, again Preacher K! (I'm not sure if you want to keep your name anonymous.)