Daniel 3

Daniel 3:1 ESV

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

Image: statue n. — a sculpture representing a human or animal.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:1

it was 90 feet high (about the height of a present-day eight-story building) and only 9 feet wide.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:1

Without doubt the use of gold in this image was inspired by Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s dream (2:32, 38).

Daniel 3:2 ESV

Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:2–3

The satraps were chief representatives of the king, the prefects were military commanders, and the governors were civil administrators. The advisers were counselors to those in governmental authority. The treasurers administered the funds of the kingdom, the judges were administrators of the law, and the magistrates passed judgment in keeping with the law. The other provincial officials were probably subordinates of the satraps. This list of officers probably included all who served in any official capacity under Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 3:3–4 ESV

Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,

Daniel 3:5–6 ESV

that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:4–6

In demanding that these officials fall down before the image of gold … Nebuchadnezzar was demanding a public display of recognition and submission to his absolute authority in the kingdom.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:4–6

The fact that the officials were commanded not only to fall down before the image, but also to worship it, indicates that the image had religious as well as political significance.

Let’s Recap

#1 We have an Image!

This is Image is not a god because there is not a god mentioned.

But..... The king wanted them to fall down and worship!

The king wanted them to acknowledge that the Image deserved to be worshiped.

#2 Nebuchadnezzar used music to influence the people!

Wait Image is everything!

An article I read:

There’s something universal about the creative arts that’s good for health, and mental health in particular. Visual arts, drama, literature, music, despite their differences, all have some things in common – they make us feel, provide meaning, stimulate reflection, and bring us together.

Now the creative arts should bring us together but let’s be honest.... The creative arts are aiding in our image development.

Nebuchadnezzar wanted to influence the people to believe that the Image he created should be worshiped.

And he used the creative arts to do it.

Nebuchadnezzar was a King following the “course of this world”

He was clearly influenced by the prince of the air!

Wait............

This happening today....

The creative arts…

Music

Movies

Social Media Reels

Tic Toc

TV

Dances

They all create a mental sound…

They all challenges us in a way

To bow down to an Image....

An Image that contradicts the true Image

Exodus 20:4–6 ESV

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Don’t Bow!

How are we bowing?

Things we watch....

They are teaching us…

What is the Image of a Marriage.

How my relationship should look.

How my parenting should look.

It’s influencing me unknowingly

We can get caught in the creative art of what we are watching and hearing and not focusing on the content.

And watching it and hearing it can cause me to bow down to it.

The Image represented what should be regarded as holy, true and right, But it wasn’t.

Please don’t tell me that there is not a difference in sound!

The Babylonians had a sound! And the Jews had a sound…

My son knows the difference…

Psalm 137:1–3 ESV

By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

We can’t allow the culture to create the Image!

We still have to take a stand.

And by taking a stand we presenting an Image.