Daniel 3:8-23The Unity Celebration pt.2

Introduction

We are examining the dynamics of this Unity Celebration, a call to unity, a command to kingdom loyalty and allegiance that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up in order to unify all the various nationalities around one god and one nation. We saw last time this was not an uncommon practice. He had conquered many nations and he wanted to solidify his kingdom hold on them by having them swear allegiance, worship this image he had set up. We saw last time in the first seven verses of this chapter that the masses complied with his command. They saw it as not a problem. They were pantheists in their theology. Adding one more was not a big deal to them. Getting along and toleration was the name of the game for most people. As it is today. We all know the pressure to conform to this world’s way of thinking and doing things.

Now we turn to the uncommon and the unliked. I say unliked, because those who want everyone to comply and conform, anyone who stands out as different or non-compliant is going to be unfriended. The ones who claim to be most tolerant will all of a sudden become intolerant. Most people don’t like others to rock the boat. I know I was taught early in life that you are not to stand up in the boat while fishing lest you overturn it and we all go in the water. There is a danger in standing up in the little fishing boat.

What we have here are three Jews who have chosen to stand up in the boat. They will stick out like a sore thumb. People will notice them not bowing. You can imagine how they would be thinking how dumb they were. Didn’t they hear the warning? Don’t they know it is a serious thing to stand up against the king? They will be killed if they stand up. And after all, most people want to live, they don’t want to die. But we have here three men who are more concerned about honoring God than they are about staying alive. So we come to this next section:

II. Three Jews Defy, 8-23

And we are going to look at this in the following manner so that it is easy to follow:

A. The Accusation, 8-12

B. The Inquisition, 13-15

C. The Refutation, 16-18

D. The Execution, 19-23

A. The Accusation, 8-11

Now we have a problem. ON the one hand, the king was probably very happy that all who gathered bowed down just as he commanded. He must not have seen them all or maybe wasn’t present to see there were ‘certain Jews’ who would not bow down to the image. Nevertheless, there were those who would make that known to him. What is astounding to me in this is that out of all the people in the kingdom, only three refuse to bow. Or that is all we need to know about. Daniel, mysteriously is not mentioned. We don’t know where he is at. And it is purely conjecture to posit reasons. The fact is he is not one of these.

There are always going to be those who want to attack or be malicious toward those who are God’s people. We ought not think it strange to come against such people in our lives. The Bible is full of examples of God’s people being maligned by the ungodly, The prophets were, David was, Moses was, the apostles were, most importantly Jesus was. So it should not surprise us in the least. In fact, we should almost expect it if we are living godly lives in the public eye. However, we can trust God will vindicate the wrongdoing.

We come face to face with ‘certain Chaldeans’ who maliciously accused the Jews

These malicious Chaldeans come to the king with “long live the king” which was a typical court greeting. But considering the situation it has a smell of irony, hypocrisy toward the king who will kill any who do not bow to him. So there is a bit of disingenuous wording here. These men were accusing the Jews of disloyalty really. But the wording here is such that the Jews were not trying to be disloyal, they were not seeking ill-will for the king at all. But the word translated ‘accused’ is a word that means to devour, to eat up, thus to slander, in Aramaic it is used with another term that means ‘pieces’ thus to eat in pieces, A picture of devouring them piece by piece. That along with what they say in v.12 gives us a clear picture that these accusers were the one’s who were disingenuous.

“long live the king” typical court greeting but considering the situation it has a smell of irony, hypocrisy toward teh one who will kill any who do not bow to him.

The word translated ‘accused’ is a word that means to devour, to eat up, thus to slander, in Hebrew it is used with another term that means ‘pieces’ thus to eat in pieces, A picture of devouring them piece by piece.

These Chaldeans were clearly jealous of being passed over by these Jews or they would not have mentioned their appointment in v.12.

They remind the king of his decree. So in a sense holding him accountable with his own words. In short, he has to act upon them or he will be embarrassed, They begin, “thou, O King.” They place this all on his shoulders.

Notice additionally how they put this “There are certain Jews whom thou has set over the affairs of the province of Babylon. . . .”v, 12

They have placed the onus on the King. He has to act in order to save face.

Their accusation was two-fold:

1.they do not pay attention to you -”have not regarded thee”LXX “do not fear your commandment” the aramaic is a play on words in v.12 with v.10 “you have made a decree” same Aramaic words for both phrases. In other words, they said, “King, you made a decree.” and “thy have not obeyed your decree.” It is like these men were challenging the king to compel these Jews to obey. He gave the command but if they don’t obey what good is the command. You put your foot down and they don’t care. They ignore you. That is an affront to the king. What king can stand for that kind of obstinacy?

2.they do not serve your gods/worship the image

The first was probably not true, the second was true. I don’t think the Jews were trying to be rebellious to the king. I think the text of Daniel shows they were never against the king. I am certain they were not obstinate with the king. They would have been doing what Jeremiah told them to do.

Jeremiah 27:8 ESV

“ ‘ “But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, declares the Lord, until I have consumed it by his hand.

Jeremiah 27:

Listen to this letter Jeremiah wrote to the exiles in Babylon,

Jeremiah 29:4–7 ESV

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

:4-

So clearly these three would have been praying for the king, not antagonizing him. However, they could not and would not bow to other gods. The Law of God forbade them from that.

Here is the accusation, partly true partly false. This is often the tactics of those who would attack one who is standing for what is right. They use half truths and they inflame the emotions of others.

When believers who stand for truth and do not go along with the rest then the group becomes intolerant of the believer.

That is what happens here. We have the accusation, now we move to the

B. The Inquisition, v.13-15

Now The king is furious so he commands the three be brought to him. His emotions are running high. People in a rage rarely are competent to make important decisions. Usually they say things and do things they later regret. They lend credence to the adage, “Doest thou well to be angry?” The Scripture has much to say about the folly of those who are angry people. Just read Proverbs and note the number of references to anger. Here are three of them:

Proverbs 14:29 ESV

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs

Proverbs 25:28 ESV

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

You get the idea that a person who acts on their anger is not in a good position. In his anger the king doesn’t look at the big picture. He is full of his own pride and arrogance, forgetting that Daniel’s God is the same one of these three Jews. And he is no match for Him. But God allows him to run his course.

He questions them about this, but only as to the second accusation.

He gives them another chance to obey his command to worship the image. with the warning they will be cast into the furnace if they don’t. That in and of itself is an oddity for this king. He doesn’t usually give second chances. You will remember with regard to his dream, he told his advisors if you can’t give me the dream and interpretation you are going to die. There was no second chance there. Unless, Daniel’s God comes through they would have all died.

then in his syncretistic way he states: “who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” He expected that no god would be able to. He was too full of himself. Another indication of pride run amok.

Never mind that they served the same God as Daniel.

So we come to the third aspect,

C. The Refutation, 16-18

The three answered:

“we have no need to answer you. Our God is able to deliver us from you if he wants or if not we will still not serve your gods or worship the image.”The word for ‘answer’ means to ‘return or restore. In other words, the idea of returning a word to the king’s question or request. They were not so fearful of the king as to think that they needed to give an answer to him. That is, to obey his command to bow to the image.

v.17

“if it be so” lit. if to be, It is not a question as to whether or not God exists. It is not a question of whether or not God could deliver them. Rather it is a question of whether or not God will deliver them. God is able if He so chooses, to deliver us out of your hand. This surely is a reply to the king’s statement in v.15”what god is able to deliver you out of my hand.” Answer -Well, God/YHWH can if He chooses to.

You see they didn’t fear the king. they feared God, LXX ‘For God is in heaven, one Lord of us, whom we fear . . ..” The idea of fear here is not one of terror but one of respect that leads to obedience. They will obey God rather than man/the king. You will remember that Peter and John answered the Sanhedrin with the same sort of answer when they were told to quit preaching Jesus saves. They said in

Acts 4:19 ESV

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,

Acts

or

Acts 5:29 ESV

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Chrysostom said it this way about these three “But the greatest, and most astonishing fact was, that the multitude of those who fell down, neither affrighted, nor enfeebled them. They did not say to themselves any such things as many are ofttimes wont to say; “If we were the first, and the only persons to worship the image, this would have been a sin: but if we do this with so many myriads, who will not make allowance? who will not think us worthy of defence?” nothing of that sort did they say or think, when they beheld the prostrate forms of so many tyrants” John Chrysostom. (1889). The Homilies on the Statues. In P. Schaff (Ed.), W. R. W. Stephens (Trans.), Saint Chrysostom: On the Priesthood, Ascetic Treatises, Select Homilies and Letters, Homilies on the Statues (Vol. 9, p. 368). New York: Christian Literature Company.

“But the greatest, and most astonishing fact was, that the multitude of those who fell down, neither affrighted, nor enfeebled them. They did not say to themselves any such things as many are ofttimes wont to say; “If we were the first, and the only persons to worship the image, this would have been a sin: but if we do this with so many myriads, who will not make allowance? who will not think us worthy of defence?” nothing of that sort did they say or think, when they beheld the prostrate forms of so many tyrants”

In other words, what he said was that there are so many falling down to this image. It is not wrong of us to do that too. These three didn’t say that at all. They didn’t go along with the masses. Instead they stood apart from them.

1 John Chrysostom. (1889). The Homilies on the Statues. In P. Schaff (Ed.), W. R. W. Stephens (Trans.), Saint Chrysostom: On the Priesthood, Ascetic Treatises, Select Homilies and Letters, Homilies on the Statues (Vol. 9, p. 368). New York: Christian Literature Company.

v.18

Their faith is such that even if God chooses not to deliver them, they still will not bow to the gold image the king set up. They will not serve the kings gods nor worship the image.

These guys are taking a stand for one true God, going against the syncretists, those who think there are many gods and take offense at teh suggestion that there is only one true God. But this has been their MO since the beginning of their exile, while along with Daniel they took a stand against a diet that would defile them. God gave them favor there. Now here this should be no surprise. They knew where they stood with God and with man. they chose God.

They were willing to suffer the torture of being burned alive if need be. Regardless of that possibility they were going to serve God alone.Suffering is not something that believers are inoculated against. Rather, it is to be expected even embraced when it comes as from the hand of our loving God who always does what is right. We are to trust and obey and serve no other gods but YHWH.

The God of Israel said they are to have no other gods nor serve other gods. Instead they were to fear God which means they were to love Him with all their heart. They were quite familiar with Deuteronomy and knew

Deuteronomy 6:13 ESV

It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

Note: that even though a believer loves the Lord he may still suffer for the sins of the nation in exile as these did. nevertheless, they were more than willing to suffer what they had to in order to follow the Lord. They knew God was able to deliver if he so chose or not to. Either way they believed it was God’s choice not theirs. They only had the responsibility to obey God rather than man and let the outcome fall with God. Whom they knew to be gracious, just, always right in His choices, loving and so on. They exhibited the same kind of faith as Moses with regard to pharoah and choosing to be with his people rather than enjoy the luxuries of the Egyptians.

Note: that even though a believer loves the Lord he may still suffer for the sins of the nation in exile as these did. nevertheless, they were more than willing to suffer what they had to in order to follow the Lord. They knew God was able to deliver if he so chose or not to. Either way they believed it was God’s choice not theirs. They only had the responsibility to obey God rather than man and let the outcome fall with God. Whom they knew to be gracious, just, always right in His choices, loving and so on. They exhibited the same kind of faith as Moses with regard to pharoah and choosing to be with his people rather than enjoy the luxuries of the egyptians.

These three refused to be assimilated into the kings worship system.

Here is a pertinent lesson for believers today. Does God have all power? Yes. Is God able to deliver believers from all problems and trials? Yes. But does God deliver believers from all trials? No. God may allow trials to come into the lives of his people to build character or for a number of other reasons () namely, endurance, character, hope. The purpose for trials may not always be understood, but God simply asks that his children trust him—even when it is not easy. As Job, who endured incredible suffering, exclaimed, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (). Although God does not guarantee that his followers will never suffer or experience death, he does promise always to be with them. In times of trial the believer’s attitude should be that of these young men (3:17–18).1 Miller, S. R. (1994). Daniel (Vol. 18, p. 120). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Jesus put it this way

1 Miller, S. R. (1994). Daniel (Vol. 18, p. 120). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Matthew 10:28 ESV

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are you willing to make that kind of commitment to the Lord. It may not cost your life in a furnace of fire. It might cost your livelihood like the baker. It may mean you lose business, or you might need to switch careers. But are you willing to stand for the Lord or not?

This leads us to the King’s response,

D. The Execution, 19-23

The king was even more furious so that his face even changed against them.

Question: why would you think that an unbeliever who cares nothing for your God, who only wants what is best for themselves would think that you standing for right would be okay with them? I mean they would be thinking what you think is right may be right for you, but not me; especially in this day of moral relativism. It should not surprise any of us who are walking with the Lord when those who hate God (all unbelievers do) take offense at our acknowledgement of God.

When we think about his face changing. This is a picture of one who appears kind and friendly and then all of a sudden their countenance flips to turning purple with rage.

This is a word play for the same word that is used for ‘his face changed’ image/tselem (referring to his face) is the same one that is used for “he had set up an image/tselem. In other words, as he set up an image, now the image of his face changed. The image is an expression of himself. (CBC) The writer mocks the kings response by tying his appearance to the face of the image.

I once had an encounter where a man wanted one thing from me and who thought I was in the bag, but when he asked my decision and I told him no, he flipped the switch on me. It was like he was an entirely different man. I was shocked to say the least. But now I know better. He revealed his true heart at that time and confirmed for me that I had made the right decision.

The furnace was heated 7x hotter than normal, they were thrown in bound with their clothes. the men who put them in there were burned up themselves. This is hyperbole to show the impossibility of anyone surviving this without God’s intervention.

So now the king in his rage has the furnace heated 7x hotter than normal. This is hyperbole to show the impossibility of anyone surviving this without God’s intervention. The three were thrown in bound with their clothes. the men who put them in there were burned up themselves.

but the three merely fell bound into the furnace. Unfazed, unburned.

The LXX of this was that they were singing to the Lord in the furnace. the word used is ὕμνησαν which we get the word hymn from.

Thus this reminds me of Paul and Silas in prison singing hymns, .

It is also a mark of one who is filled with the Spirit, .

The LXX indicates they were singing hymns and praying to the Lord when the king commanded them to be thrown into the furnace. The LXX version of this event in -45 contains the prayer of these three Azariah the spokesperson.

What also is interesting is the king gives these Jews a second chance. In the previous episode he didn’t give his advisors a second chance. Either they gave him the dream and interpretation or they were to die. So this seems striking to me. I wonder if it hints at the hope they would comply.

Also what is interesting in the LXX is that when it describes those who were casting them in were above the furnace and those below were feeding the fire with various fuels when flame shot out 75 feet (49 cubits) broke out of control and burned those it reached around the furnace. At the same time the Lord descended into the furnace with the three Jews. Reminds me of the fire from God that consumed the offering on the altar both in burnt offering and Elijah’s altar.

It said in v 50, 51 that the Lord made the middle of the furnace like a moist wind gently whistling so that the flames did not touch them and they sang praises and extolled and praised and exalted God in the furnace, vss52-90

v.23

these men fell down having been bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Into what would normally mean certain death. But they were spared.

The Lord was with them in the fire. He didn’t deliver them out of the fire or keep them from going through the decision making process of standing for Him, But when they did He was with them.

This is the Daniel version of the good news, the gospel. For you see we are all worthy of death. Death is certain for all of us. None of us get out of this without dying, unless the Lord comes first. But what is the promise of the Lord?

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

So Beloved trust in the Lord amid your fiery furnace.

Conclusion

A. The King astonished

v.24

the king was astonished, startled/alarmed

he arose terrified-greatly alarmed, so as to move in haste, ; ; . used of the king afraid regarding his dream, and Daniel after seeing the vision, . So this speaks of his emotional state inside himself as a result of seeing the four in the furnace. Hence he arose hastily in alarm at what he saw. It was a totally unexpected thing to see three men walking in the fire unharmed after his own soldiers were immediately killed by the flames. Not mention to see a fourth man walking with them. There is no explanation for such a thing.

He saw four men not three walking around unbound in the fire, unhurt. the fourth was like the son of God.

In his mind he is bigger than the gods of his own pantheon.

v.25

So we have come to an understanding that following the Lord is not going to be all cookies and Ice cream. It might require you to make a decision to take a stand for Him. That will most likely cost you. It might mean your life. I think of John Chau a 26 yr old missionary who was killed when he attempted to take the gospel to the most isolated tribe in the world. Christianity Today reported that the “graduate shouted, “My name is John, and I love you and Jesus loves you,” to Sentinelese tribesmen armed with bows and arrows. He fled to a fishing boat when they shot at him during his initial visit, with one arrow piercing his Bible.

The passive for unbound, indicates they did not unbind themselves.

walking around is the same word used in for God walking around in the garden with Adam and Eve.

The young missionary did not survive a follow-up trip on November 17.

The fourth one resembles the son of god. Surely, the king is not thinking of Jesus Christ. He was a pantheist, so son of god could refer to any of his various gods. Yet, we believe this to be Jesus walking with them as He did in the garden.

v.26

“You guys might think I’m crazy in all this but I think it’s worth it to declare Jesus to these people,” the native of Washington state wrote the day before in a letter to his parents obtained by the Daily Mail. “Please do not be angry at them or at God if I get killed.”” (Christianity Today, 11/21/2018, “Missionary Killed by most isolated tribe”).

The king told them to come out and only the three came out

B. the King Blessed God, v.28

the king was also impressed that these three trusted their God and were willing to yield up their bodies rather than serve any god but their own God. They were willing to refuse to swear allegiance to him in order to serve their own God.

What are you willing to give up in order to Lift up the Lord to others?

According to the King himself this was an issue of worship, bowing before the image was a worship issue.

This obviously pictures what God can do for those who trust in Him.

C. The King decreed to honor God v.29

make a decree not to speak anything against their God or be torn apart and houses destroyed.

No other god who is able to rescue in this way. which was in answer to his statement in v.15 “who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

Baboom, the God of Israel can and does.

This corresponds to his response to Daniel, in “truly, your God is God of gods, Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries.”

Truly a slap in the face of those who wanted to see these Jews demoted. Now they would not dare to say anything against them or their God.

The king had seen a miracle he could not deny or excuse away. The only thing he could do was to acknowledge God. He may have been fearful because he had mistreated His followers.

These three were willing to be burned alive in the furnace. John Chau willing to die too.

D. The king promoted the Jews v.30

Just as the king promoted Daniel so he also promoted these three.

The word for promote is a word that means to prosper. He caused them to prosper, probably material rewards as well as promotion in job.

This should be great lesson for all believers who for their stand for Christ are met with opposition.This should be an encouragement to trust God in the situation. He is able if He so chooses to turn your trying situation into a blessing. With God all things are possible Jesus said.()

The fact that Nebuchadnezzar had defeated Judah, and in their minds their God. They would have been thinking Molech/Baal/Marduk their gods were greater than YHWH. But this dispels that with flying colors. The Lord makes it clear to the King and to all others that YHWH is greater and that Judah’s defeat was not because YHWH did not exist or was weak. There was another reason for the defeat.

This miracle also serves as a witness and encouragement to the Jews in exile and still in the land, and to the gentiles that YHWH was worthy of trust and to turn by faith to Him for salvation. Miracles were used by Jesus and the Apostles to attest to the truth of the gospel message. This is one of those miracles.

the fact that God brought them through the fiery furnace without a singe or smell of smoke ought to encourage us to boldly take a stand for Christ no matter the opposition.