Daniel 3.23-Shadrach, Meshach And Abednego Fall Into The Furnace Of Blazing Fire While Securely Bound
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday July 25, 2012
Daniel: Daniel 3:23-Shadrach, Meshach And Abednego Fall Into The Furnace Of Blazing Fire While Securely Bound
Lesson # 98
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 3:23.
This evening we will study Daniel 3:23, which records Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego falling bound into the blazing, fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king sculptured an image composed of gold, its height ninety feet, its width nine feet. He erected it on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar, the king issued an order to assemble the satraps, military commanders as well as the governors, advisers, treasurers, lawyers, judges in other words, each and every one of the dignitaries from the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue, which Nebuchadnezzar erected. 3 Then when the satraps, military commanders as well as the governors, advisers, treasurers, lawyers, judges in other words, each and every one of the dignitaries from the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue, which Nebuchadnezzar, the king had erected, they stood directly in front of the statue which Nebuchadnezzar had erected. 4 Next, a herald publicly proclaimed with authority: “To all of you nations, ethnicities and language groups, all of you are commanded: 5 At the precise moment when all of you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, dulcimer, drum as well as each and every type of musical instrument, all of you must fall down in order to worship the gold statue, which Nebuchadnezzar, the king has erected. 6 However, whoever refuses to fall down in order to worship, in that very hour, they will be deposited unceremoniously in the midst of a blazing, fiery furnace.” 7 Because of this, at the precise moment when each and every one of the people from the nations heard the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, dulcimer as well as each and every type of musical instrument, each and every one of the nations, ethnicities and language groups fell down worshipping the gold statue which Nebuchadnezzar the king had erected. 8 Because of this, during this time certain Chaldean men made assertions, specifically, they slanderously accused some individuals from the Jewish race. 9 They made a statement to the king and said, 10 “O King live forever! You O king issued a command, namely that each and every person who hears the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, dulcimer as well as the drum and in addition every type of musical instrument, must fall down in order to worship the gold statue. 11 However, whoever refuses to fall down in order to worship, they will be deposited unceremoniously in the midst of a blazing, fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jewish men, because you assigned them the administration over the province of the city of Babylon-Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, these men have absolutely no respect for your command O king. By no means do they serve your god, that is, by no means do they worship the gold statue which you erected.” 13 Then, because of rage, yes and a furious rage at that, Nebuchadnezzar issued an order causing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to be brought into his presence. Consequently, these men were brought into the king’s presence. 14 Nebuchadnezzar asked a question and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, all of you are refusing to serve my god, that is, all of you refuse to worship the gold statue, which I erected? 15 Now if all of you are ready, namely that, at the precise moment when all of you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, dulcimer, drum as well as each and every type of musical instrument, all of you must fall down in order to worship the gold statue, which I erected. However, if all of you refuse to fall down in order to worship, in that very hour, all of you will be deposited unceremoniously in the midst of a blazing, fiery furnace. Now, let’s see, what God exists who has the ability to effect the rescue of all of you out of my power?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, as for us, we are by no means obligated to respond to you concerning this matter. 17 Certainly, our God, whom, we serve, exists in the state of being able to rescue us from the blazing, fiery furnace so that He will cause us to be delivered out of your hand O king. 18 However, if not, let it be known to you O king that we are refusing to serve your god, that is, we refuse to worship the gold statue, you erected.” 19 Consequently, Nebuchadnezzar was totally and completely enraged. Also, his facial expression was changed against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He responded and issued an order to heat the furnace seven times more than which it was normally heated. 20 Then, he issued a command to certain, strong valiant men who were in his military to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego for the purpose of depositing them unceremoniously into the blazing, fiery furnace. 21 Therefore, these men were tied up in their sandals, tunics and hats, as well as, their other garments. Then, they were unceremoniously deposited into the blazing, fiery furnace. 22 Because of this, because the king’s command was uncompromisingly severe so that the furnace was excessively hot, those men who carried Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the flame of the fire killed them. (My translation)
Daniel 3:23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. (NASB95)
Verse 23 stands in contrast to the previous statement in verse 22 and thus the contrast is between the soldiers who died from the flames and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who survived the fiery furnace because the Lord delivered them.
Daniel 3:23 However, these men, the three of them, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego fell bound into the midst of the blazing, fiery furnace. (My translation)
The fact that Daniel makes a point to identify for the reader that these three were securely bound when they were executed serves to make their deliverance by God that much more impressive to Nebuchadnezzar, his soldiers and the dignitaries who were eyewitnesses to this deliverance.
This statement corresponds with other verses in chapter three, which serve the same purpose of the writer.
In Daniel 3:20, we read that Nebuchadnezzar issued a command to certain, strong valiant men who were in his military to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego for the purpose of depositing them unceremoniously into the blazing, fiery furnace.
There is no mention of their clothing yet in Daniel 3:21 we not only have these soldiers carrying out the king’s order but also mentioning their clothing.
Usually, when a criminal was executed, they were stripped of their clothing.
However, in Daniel 3:21, this is definitely not the case in order to impress upon Nebuchadnezzar and those who were eyewitnesses and the reader that a great demonstration of God’s power delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from certain death.
In Daniel 3:27, Daniel writes that when the king saw that these three were still alive along with another unidentified individual whose appearance was not of this world and were walking around in the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar ordered them out.
The king along with the other dignitaries and soldiers at the execution observed that their bodies along with their clothing were totally and completely unaffected.
There was not even the smell of fire upon them, which would be impressive.
It would impress those at the execution and the reader that a great miracle had taken place since the clothing of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was untouched by the flames.
Also, Daniel 3:25 records that Nebuchadnezzar saw them walking around in the furnace with another unidentified individual whose appearance was not of this world.
This would tell the reader and the witnesses that a great miracle had taken place.
Furthermore, Daniel 3:19 says that Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was normally heated.
Then, in Daniel 3:24-27, we read that they are totally untouched by the flames with Nebuchadnezzar and his dignitaries and soldiers as witnesses.
This again, would impress upon the witnesses and the reader that something supernatural had taken place to deliver Daniel’s three friends.
Then, in Daniel 3:22 the reader is told that the strong, brave soldiers carrying out the execution of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were killed by the flames of the furnace as a result of Nebuchadnezzar ordering it to be heated seven times more than normal.
Therefore, the fact that Daniel makes a point to mention all these things emphasizes that they were delivered by a great demonstration of omnipotence by the God of Israel.
The prayers of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego which were offered up by means of faith to the Father while they were being executed by the king of Babylon which appropriated the power of God in their lives resulting in their deliverance.
Their prayer of deliverance was answered by God since it was according to His will (1 John 5:14-15).
That they were praying is indicated by the fact that in Daniel chapter two, Daniel requested their help in prayer so that they might be delivered from death and God answered their prayers and they were delivered when God gave Daniel the content and interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
Therefore, there can be no doubt that they went to God in prayer this time when Daniel was absent.
Therefore, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s prayer for deliverance from death was answered because they prayed according to the Father’s will and they offered their prayers up by means of faith (Matthew 17:14-20).
Matthew 21:22 And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. (NASB95)