Remaining Holy in a Hostile World: Tried Before Fire

Introduction

The 90 foot statue of gold had been erected on the plain of Dura! All the officials from Babylon had been called to the celebration. The date of dedication of the image had been announced and a decree had been been made. There would be lots of music at this celebration and everyone would bow to this statue when the music was played. It would be a joyous occasion, but just one caveat: If you would not bow down, you would receive a death penalty. Death by being burned together in a furnace of fire. This is the reality of the world that three friends: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah faced. We do not know where Daniel is during these events, but he could have been on a mission from the King at some far remote location. The Scriptures are silent. Whereas in Daniel 1 we see the outward faith of Daniel now we see the outward faith of his three friends. They have been placed at the highest levels of Babylonian government. Daniel 2:49 “Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” Would that be enough to keep them from the furnace of fire? Will these three friends remain holy in the hostile world they are in?

Jealousy and Racism

Daniel 3:8–12 NKJV

Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”

After setting up the background of what was going on we see that certain Chaldeans (not all of them), remember saved all of their necks, but that doesn’t matter. They had been demoted under these foreigners, they Jews. They came forward and accused or as the ESV says, “maliciously accused the Jews.”

There will be many people that will accuse of us of many things. We even be guilty of the chargers. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were guilty of the chargers that were going to be presented at this trial.

These certain Chaldeans go before the the King and laud him with praise before restating what we already know and what has been decreed. You made a decree that EVERYONE who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music will fall down and worship the golden image. You made that known.

The punishment for anyone does not fall down and worship the image would be cast in the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

They restate the decree and the punishment for not doing it.

Then they bring on the accusation and who it is directed to.

Daniel 3:12 “There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.””

Certain Jews. There were many Jews that DID bow down to the image. These Chaldeans are walking a fine line too. In a way they are accusing Nebuchadnezzar of appointing them in the first place. There are certain Jews. Not all of them, but it shows the anti-Semitism of these certain Chaldeans. Their position had been changed and they were going to get it back even if they needed to get these three dead.

They name the men that the King had appointed: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Their names were spoken. Their names were accused before the judge, the King. The Chaldeans say that they have not paid attention to you. You give them this position and they are just ignoring you. They have their own path. They don’t serve your gods or worship the image of gold that the king had setup. They are laughing at you. They are snubbing their nose at you.

A lot has changed since the end of chapter 2 when Daniel had told the dream and the meaning, as so often happens with us. We forget what the LORD has done in our lives too.

The Trial Before the Fire

Daniel 3:13–15 NKJV

Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

The very fact that the King feels like he has been mocked by these three men whom he had promoted makes him mad. More than just mad, he is enraged and furious!

We have already seen this rage in chapter 2 where he wants all the wise men’s houses made into ash heaps and them cut into pieces. He does not have a cool head. He is a hot head.

He commands for them to be brought in.

He wants to get the facts before he throws them in. He restates the claims of the Chaldeans. “Is it true…you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image?” Maybe it was a miscommunication, maybe something was not clear. He will give them a second chance. He goes on to say if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the music and at that moment you fall down and worship the image which he made than this misunderstanding can be cleared up.

Is not, if you once again disobey my command and are mocking not just the gods of Babylon, but the king himself.

Immediately you will be thrown/cast in the midst of the fiery furnace! Instant death if you do not obey.

Who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?

Who indeed is the god who can deliver them from the King’s hands?

Exodus 5:2 “And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.””

King Nebuchadnezzar has forgotten the power of Israel’s God. Maybe He can reveal mysteries of the heart (if he even remembers that event at this moment), but can Israel’s God save people from death in a fiery furnace?

Response of FAITH AND HOLINESS

Daniel 3:16–18 NKJV

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego 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.”

Just like Daniel. These three friends had purposed in their heart to not defile themselves. They had setup barriers in their lives. They would not commit idolatry. Making this choice they knew could cost them their job, their homes, and their lives. They knew they were guilty by being associated with the One true God.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3

Their faith in God’s ability to deliver them and their unwavering stance in the face of martyrdom has served as an example to all exiled and oppressed Jews

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3

Their statement here shows that they did not need to make a defense before the king; they had already made up their minds as to whom they would serve. Compliance was unthinkable to them.

Our God whom we serve:

Is Able

He can deliver us

He can deliver us from the Fiery Furnace

He WILL deliver us from your hand (either way they were going to be free from the King). God was either going to rescue them from the fire or take them home.

YET IF GOD DOES NOT Physically deliver them:

We do not serve your gods

nor will we worship the golden image which had been setup

Remember these three friends have not read the rest of Daniel 3. They do not know the end of the story. They know to just remain holy as God is holy. They do not know the outcome. They are going to remain faithful to God. Whether God would chose to take them out of the furnace or allow them to die in there and take them home. They do not know the outcome. They know He can do either. They are just going to remain faithful.

Trials

1 Peter 4:12–13 NKJV

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

We may not see a trial similar to this in our lives, but maybe we will.

The chorus of the song Guilty sung by the Newsboys says:

Even if it gets me convicted I'll be on my knees with my hands lifted

If serving You's against the law of man If living out my faith in You is banned Then I'll stand right before the jury If saying I believe is out of line If I’m judged 'cause I’m gonna give my life To show the world the love that fills me Then I want to be guilty

By association Guilty of being a voice proclaiming Your ways Your truth Your life I'll pay the price to be Your light

One Last Thing

Who is the god who will deliver you?

Jesus died on the cross

Hell