ETB Daneil 3:14-28

Welcome

Pray

Understand the Context

Depending on which version of the Bible you are reading and the formatting, our passage today may be under a heading of “The Fiery Furnace”. Some versions break up Chapter 3 into two or three parts separating the image, the furnace, and the deliverance. I like the headings used in the NASB which instead of focusing on the problem in the form of the furnace it points to the men’s refusal and subsequent protection and praise of God.

Last week as we began our study in Daniel, we saw how the 4 young men from Jerusalem where still dedicated to serving their God even at the beginning of their captivity. As time passed the commitment did not decrease but grew as the youth grew into men. After Daniel is used by God to reveal and interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Chapter 2, he is promoted in the kingdom, and he appoints his friends as the dominate leaders in the city of Babylon. Our passage in Chapter 3 takes place around 20 years later. Although the king may not have remembered how he had at one time praised the God of Israel (Dan 2:47), it appears that the image he saw in his dream had a lasting impression and he begins construction on a similar golden image at the beginning of Chapter 3. Once completed, all the people are to “worship” this sixty-cubit idol, in obedience to the king’s declaration and in part as homage to himself. Although there may have been more than 3 men to refuse to bow before this statue, the other leaders in the kingdom did not pass up an opportunity to possibly elevate themselves and get rid of Daniel’s friends as authorities over them. Nebuchadnezzar was of course angry, but apparently respected either them or the work they did and offered them an opportunity to recant their rebellious action.

Explore the Text

Daniel 3:14–15 ESV

Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

The word translated throughout our passage today is not what we typically think of as “worship” today. Although there was music when it happened it was more a signal for the ancient act of “worship” to begin.

It is a verb meaning to fall down, to bow down, to lie down in worship. The word occurs four times, only in Isaiah (Isa. 44:15, 17, 19; 46:6). It refers to bowing or lying flat before a wooden or golden idol to worship, to pray, or to seek deliverance from it (Isa. 44:17). Isaiah satirized those who lowered themselves in this way before an idol and did not recognize that an idol is only the work of human hands. [The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament]

The act of bowing down in homage is generally done before a superior or a ruler. Thus, David “bowed” himself before Saul (1 Sam. 24:8). Sometimes it is a social or economic superior to whom one bows, as when Ruth “bowed” to the ground before Boaz (Ruth 2:10). In a dream, Joseph saw the sheaves of his brothers “bowing down” before his sheaf (Gen. 37:5, 9–10). [Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words]

The king by claiming the statute that he “made” was to be worshipped places himself equal to or above other gods.

We still have “signals” or “calls” to worship today. Many Islamic areas broadcast the muezzin’s calls over loudspeakers so that all within the city can begin the prayer time. The church down the road from me still “chimes” on Sunday mornings. In our passage today the call to worship comes in the form of a live orchestra. It is difficult to definitely say what these instruments were as most of the words are only in the book of Daniel, in Aramaic describing ancient instruments from various cultures incorporated into Babylonia. One paraphrased English translation simply says “big band”. Whatever they were, they were loud enough and distinct enough that all who heard it recognized their meaning.

Refusal to obey the call to worship, like several other edicts of the king, resulted in death. Here a qualifier is added that the punishment would be immediate or “this very hour.” The form of punishment is different than any other listed in the book and may be attributed to the placement and construction of the idol itself. Such a large statue covered in gold would undoubtedly require a large furnace in close proximity. The descriptive words used are often translated as “burning fiery furnace” or something similarly redundant. Other than to emphasize the heat or its use, unclear why the redundant adjectives. It is kind of like saying a “automotive gasoline car.” This means of execution however would not only be carried out quickly but would also make for a fast death.

Nebuchadnezzar reveals his pride and forgotten acknowledgments of God of chapter 1 and 2 in the last phrase when he claims ultimate power over all those in his kingdom. He thinks he is above all the gods because of his dominance on the battlefield and the dream of chapter 2. This level of pride is what he is judged for in next chapter. Other leaders opposing God’s people have verbalized a similar statements and their pride cost them many lives in their armies (Ex 5:2; 2 Kings 18:35).

The exiled Israelites are not intimidated by such a claim.

Daniel 3:16–18 ESV

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

The Applied Old Testament Commentary (The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace (3:1–30))

The Apostle Paul wrote that we should obey our earthly rulers, since they have been given their authority by God (Romans 13:1–2). However, we must not obey them if they command us to do something that God forbids—such as worship idols (Exo 20:4-5), or keep silent about Jesus Christ (see Acts 4:19; 5:29)

These men were physically standing before their earthly king, but they were bowing before the Heavenly King with their hearts. In essence they were proclaiming to all who were present “We will stand righteous before our God for obeying His laws. His laws overrule yours.” Or as one commentary put it, these men did not have answer for God Himself was about to.

The building of the statue took time. During that time, I am sure that Daniel and his friends had many conversations about how they were going to respond when the “dedication day” came. It appears that they were prepared to respond as God had prompted them much in the way that Jesus encouraged his disciples to do when their persecutions would come when He was gone (Luke 21:13-15). There would be no way for the other counselors to “withstand or contradict” the witness these men were about to live out before their very eyes.

Some translations start verse 17 with “if He exists” making it sound as if the 3 men doubted God’s existence. They could not have faced death so boldly with any doubt about the possibility of deliverance. They know that God is “able” to deliver them. This word speaks to the capability but not the desire to perform an action.

They were saying that God may deliver them or He may choose not to rescue. It was His choice. Their faith was not limited to belief in a miracle but also included trust in God’s sovereignty. [The Moody Bible Commentary]

Their trust however was totally placed with their God and His choices, not with the king standing before them. Paul wrote of similar mindset to the Romans - Rom 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

In direct rebuttal to the king’s claim of power, the men boldly state they will be taken “out of your hand”. By stating this last it makes the king’s statement less emphasized as he does not have control over their life as he supposes.

If there was any doubt in the Israelite’s mind it is not in the existence of God, but only in His “willingness” to deliver. These men would never “assume” to know God’s intentions and thoughts. They submit to His divine will, even if it means their physical deaths. Living out both Old and New Testament proclamations of willingness and surrender to God’s sovereign control of our lives.

Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.”

Mat 10:28 “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.”

Not only were these men not going to obey this particular edict, but like they had committed themselves in chapter 1 to not “defile” themselves with the king’s food, they were not going worship any of the gods in the king’s land. By saying they would not serve “your gods” they were verbalizing their commitment to Yahweh alone and saying, “we would rather die than blaspheme our God.” This is a quite the contrast with the “wise men” at the beginning of the chapter who lie and manipulate the king to appease him.

One commentary said that “Though they were employed by Nebuchadnezzar (2:49), they “served” Yahweh. [The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures.] For these men, in their hearts and minds they knew it was better to serve the eternal One True Living God and be thrown into a temporary earthly fire than to serve a temporary earthly king and be thrown into the eternal fire.

These statements and bold stances against the earthly king’s authority in front of many witnesses of course did not sit well with Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 3:19–23 ESV

Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

In verse 13, he was in a “furious rage” then apparently, he calmed and cordially spoke with them until now when his countenance changed again because of being “filled with fury”. This implies that the first raging was typical, but this one is “over the top.” Reminiscent of the mood swings seen in King Saul. This wording may also be intentional to draw connection with the furnace and how it was made “hotter” than normal later in the same verse.

Even though the furnace heat was greatly increased, it is doubtful that a thermometer was used to quantify the heat levels. "Seven times more than usual” is much better story telling language than “as hot as it could go”. The number seven often being used to symbolize “completion” would support this descriptive phrasing instead of literal data.

Once the inferno was prepared, some of the king’s men would need to facilitate the “throwing in” of the condemned. Not that the 3 faithful men would need to be strong-armed into submission, but it is significant to state that these men were not the bottom of the barrel but the “some of the best” because of what happens to them. Regular men may not have survived, but the king would expect those that fought with him and won against the “gods” of other nations would be protected from mere flames. This caliber of the captors also helps emphasize that that there was “no naturalistic explanation for the survival of the three.” [The Moody Bible Commentary]

The importance and identity of the list of clothing that the men were wearing is debated. It could point to the immediacy of the timing and that the men did not have time to prepare for their deaths. May be to make them catch on fire quicker or cause a bigger flame as the skin would not “burst into flames” like the fabrics would. Could be a bit more good story telling language. Their true significance is revealed later in the chapter.

At the beginning of verse 22 the wording “overheated” begins to reveal the lack of control the king had over the situation. His urgency and lack of self-control begin to reveal his mistakes being made. It may also be worded this way to emphasize a comparison with the king’s enraged emotion state. The heat of the furnace was so out of control that the men whom he had won battles with he has now carelessly killed with his arrogance and rage.

Believers today can expect non-believers to take extreme actions of persecution. Many in the world do not want to confront the reality of their sin. Consequently, they consider the gospel, with its challenge to repent and place faith in Jesus, a threat to the lifestyles they have chosen. Christians may face persecution in various forms. Sometimes we may miss a promotion or even lose our job because of our stand for Christ. Former friends may choose to shun us and turn away from their relationship with us. In some countries, Christians face imprisonment and death for their faith. They have to count the cost of following Christ at a level many do not have to face. We need to pray for the persecuted church worldwide.

Jesus warned us persecution would come (John 16:33). He even told His disciples the day would come when people who kill believers think they are doing service to God (John 16:2). However, we also must remember that Jesus is with us in every situation to strengthen us for the action we must take (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5). He will provide the grace for us to honor Him through our allegiance.

[LifeWay Adults (2021). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022. LifeWay Press.]

However prideful or childish the king’s edict was, he followed through with his promise on “immediate” punishment and the 3 men were thrown in or “fell bound” into the furnace. All those watching saw the bonds and the men as they went into the furnace. No possibility of being tricked or “others” falling in and the 3 Israelites “missing” the fires with the emphatic wording, and confirmation of witnesses in the next verse. The beginning of the chapter (Dan 3:2) and later in our passage has a list of all those that were required to be present at the dedication of the statue. All of them were in the habit of obeying and yielding to the king’s commands so it would be doubtful that they would lie now about something that does not improve their status before the king.

Our scene is set, and like Elijah before all the prophets of Baal (1Kings 18:30-37), we watch in amazement how the Lord God responds.

Daniel 3:24–25 ESV

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

This time the king’s emotions show up in more than his face and words but his whole body reacts in amazement. The word “haste” in other places in Daniel is translated as “terrified”. What the king was seeing was “frighteningly unbelievable”.

The unbelievable sights contrast with what was just witnessed: Four instead of three, walking instead of laying still from being tied up, calmly walking about in the fire instead of being still and burning, not hurt or screaming and crying out in pain because of the heat, the bindings or the unhindered fall.

The king does recognize that one of those in the inferno is vastly different than the others. In Job 1:6 we read “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord”. The wording in our passage is similar and the root word for “god” is the same as the Israelite’s response in Dan 3:18, and the king’s in Dan 3:26, 28. As Jewish reader’s and listeners this would be an angel of Yahweh, as evangelical Christians we see Yahweh’s Son, the second person of the Trinity.

About 100 years earlier when prophesying about the coming Savior, Isaiah wrote Isa 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” God inspired the prophet to write what He was seeing accomplished in the lives of these men and inspiring countless others to remain faithful in the face of all sorts of persecutions.

Our books finish the lesson with verse 26, however I’m going to read through verse 28.

Daniel 3:26–28 ESV

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.

The word translated “came near” in other places is used to describe the bringing of a sacrifice (Ezra 6:10) in an attempt to “draw near” to another or God. The king is now recognizes his “superior” and accepts his fate as he approaches the same furnace that killed his own men earlier. Yahweh may have mercifully protected this gentile king as well to allow the story to continue for His name to be glorified and proclaimed.

The king’s “came” is different than the word used when the 3 men acquiesced to the king’s calling to leave the furnace. There is an interesting similarity between this "verb” of them coming out of the furnace and how they were thrown in. Both have an implication of coercion and an unwillingness on the part of the Israelite men. They didn’t want to go in and the didn’t want to come out.

Once the men did come out the fire, the miracle of what happened continues to develop. In Hebrews when listing the great cloud of witnesses this event is referenced speaking to the delivering power of God being able to “quenched the power of fire” (Heb 11:34). Not only did the king’s authority and rules have no influence but even the laws of nature have yielded to the God of these Israelite men. The description of just how little effect the fire, both of the furnace and the king’s emotions, had on these men continues with progressively smaller areas of expected change.

In another drastic change, Nebuchadnezzar recognizes that the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is the one who has saved them from the condemnation of his rules. Their noncompliance, initially the reason for their capital punishment, is now elevated as virtue. [Faithlife Study Bible]

The New Bible Commentary 3:19–30 ‘The Flames Will Not Set You Ablaze’

Ch. 3 begins with a decree from Nebuchadnezzar which threatened to destroy the kingdom of God; it ends with a further decree in which all other kingdoms (people of any nation or language; 29) were threatened with destruction should they offend the kingdom of God. While this registers a triumph for the kingdom of God, and (by contrast with 2:47) expresses the humiliation of the king (28b), the narrator provides us with hints that Nebuchadnezzar was by no means a man of genuine faith. He was impressed exclusively by the miraculous (cf. Acts 8:9–23); his response was to promote the Hebrews (30), not to share their trust (28).

Apply the Text

In every circumstance, believers can express trust in God. When we face faith-challenging situations, it is all the more important to declare our allegiance to Him. God will choose His response, but He calls us to faithfulness. Hebrews 11 records other accounts of people who trusted in God and experienced great deliverance (Heb. 11:32-34). However, in some circumstances, God chose to glorify Himself through people’s suffering and even death for the sake of His name (Heb. 11:35-40). We need to be ready to take our stand for God whatever the cost.

[LifeWay Adults (2021). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022. LifeWay Press.]

The Applied Old Testament Commentary The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace (3:1–30)

Modern Christians may think that this story of the fiery furnace has little to do with them. But though the story is ancient and the details strange, it has much to say to Christians today. Peter wrote: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you (1 Peter 4:12–13). Christians are called to suffer (1 Peter 2:21); they need to expect to suffer as they follow Christ (John 15:18–20; 2 Timothy 3:12). Furthermore, Christians are called to glorify God in their suffering—whether they live or whether they die (Philippians 1:20, 29–30).

The Teacher’s Bible Commentary Refusal of Three Youths to Worship the Idol of God (Dan. 3:1–30)

Conditions in our country have not yet reached the critical stage that calls for God’s people to suffer physical abuse. There are many social pressures put upon Christians who hold firm to their convictions. Even the economic squeeze is sometimes invoked. Quite often Christians lose in the business world because they will not “go along” or because they “do not fit” in certain circles. There are certain indications on the horizon that “it could happen—even here.” God’s people must always be ready to stand firm in their witness regardless of the cost.

Sometimes life brings incredible challenges and declaring our allegiance to God and His Word can force us to confront great cost. The Bible assures us God will never forsake His children, and that He will always strengthen us for such moments as we trust Him. At the same time, we have no guarantee He will intervene in our situations as He did with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The Lord will choose the means through which we will honor Him.

[LifeWay Adults (2021). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022. LifeWay Press.]