Daniel 3:1

Daniel 3:1 NKJV

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

Describe the image Nebuchadnezzar made. (v1)

Image: gold

height = sixty cubits (125 feet)

width = six cubits (12 1/2 feet)

2. Whom did the king invite to the dedication of the image? (v2)

satraps (princes/or privy counselors who had access to the

king at all times) or (governors who held jurisdiction over

a number of provinces within the king’s domain)

the administrators

the governors

the counselors

the treasurers

the judges

the magistrates

all the official of the provinces

3. What charges were brought against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? (v14)

They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you

have set up.

4. What did Nebuchadnezzar ask these Jews whom he had set over his affairs? (v14)

“Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve

my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?

And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

5. How did they answer Nebuchadnezzar? (vs16-18)

They answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have

no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God

whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery

furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not,

let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods,

nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

6. How did the king receive this answer? (v19)

He was full of fury and the expression on his face changed toward

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

7. What commandment did Nebuchadnezzar give concerning them in this matter? (vs19b-20)

He commanded: they heat the furnace seven times more than it

was usually heated and mighty men of valor who were in his army

were to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and cast them

into the fiery furnace.

NOTE: verse 21 “Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments...” It seems they had them put on all the clothes they possessed.

8. Whom did Nebuchadnezzar see in the fiery furnace? (v25)

“I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they

are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

9. What was true of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego after being in the furnace? (vs. 26-27)

Nebuchadnezzar recognized them as “servants of the Most High

God.”

Their bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not

singed nor were their garments affected and the smell of fire was

not on them.

10. What decree did Nebuchadnezzar issue concerning the God of the Jews? (v29)

Any people, nation or language which speaks anything amiss against

the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut in

pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap.

11. What did Nebuchadnezzar say about God’s ability? (v29b)

There is no other God who can deliver like this.

12. What did Nebuchadnezzar do which showed his approval of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? (v30)

He promoted them in the province of Babylon.

Question for Thought:

What did these Jews mean when they said, ”We are not careful to answer thee in this matter?” Ought we to “not be careful” to answer?

The king had stated that the only way they would be spared was to worship the gold image. To “not be careful” meant there was not answer or no need to discuss it. They served the Almighty God and would not bow down to any other. … useless to answer

Memory Verses: Daniel 3: 17-18

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and hHe will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”