Wednesday Bible Study Fellowship, April 2, 2008
A Golden Image and a Fiery Furnace
Daniel 3
Introduction: When we began Daniel we noted several things. First, the theme of Daniel: “Persistent government of God in the government of the world”, states Dr. G. Campbell Morgan. Too often, because we don’t see God at work, we get discouraged because the world seems to be winning! After all, Daniel is in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar is the king. Jerusalem is destroyed.
Secondly, we must remember Babylon is very humanistic, very secular. In the midst we find Daniel and his three friends. These are godly men, living in an ungodly nation. The pressure to conform is enormous! But we find that even in the face of death, they choose not to conform! This is reminiscent of Daniel 1:8.
I. The demands of the king (1-7)
A. The king’s image of pure gold is established in the plain of Dura.
B. There is a mound 6 miles southeast of Babylon which has a large square of brick construction. Many believe this is the base for Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. ((Walvoord, pg.81)
C. Everyone must fall down and worship this image. Those who don’t will be thrown into a blazing furnace (Jer.29:22).
D. Nebuchadnezzar had made this image of gold, following the interpretation of his dream (Daniel 2). Instead of just the head of gold, he made the whole statue gold! I agree with Dr. J. Vernon McGee: “It is more likely he made it of himself”. (pg.52)
E. Dr. McGee notes that the image reveals to us the mind of Nebuchadnezzar:
1. rebellion against the true God. He demands to be worshipped.
2. unifying power of worship. He is instituting a world religion.
F. How much does this remind you of the first Babylon and the Tower of Babel (Gen.11:1-4) and the last Babylon (Rev.17 & 18)?
G. In my mind this helps my belief that Babylon is the place for the final rebellion.
II. The king’s questions (8-15)
A. After being reported to the king for not bowing down and worshipping, the three Hebrew youths must appear before Nebuchadnezzar.
B. “Is it true?” (14)
C. “If you are ready…” (15)
D. “…What god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” (15) Doesn’t this sound like Pharaoh (Ex.5:1-2)? Doesn’t this sound like Rabshakeh (Is.36:13-20)?
E. Our God is able:
1. Hebrews 7:24
2. II Tim. 1:12
3. Jude 24
4. Eph. 3:20
5. Phil.3:21
F. But are we convinced that he is able? Are we training our youth: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”? (John 16:33)
III. The Betrayers
A. The betrayers were the Chaldeans, “…whom their own countryman, Daniel, had saved in the nick of time (2:24) not long before this.” (Newell, pg.48)
B. Possibly they resented the Jews because they had been promoted (2:49, 3:12). After all, this was a different race, a different language, and they had been captured!
C. The Chaldeans “denounced” or “accused” the Jews. This word in Aramaic means “they ate their pieces.” In other words, they wanted to devour Shadrach, Meshach and, Abednego! “This connotes slander or malicious accusation which devours the accused piece by piece.” (Walvoord, pg.86)
IV. The response of the faithful (16-18)
A. “…we do not need to defend ourselves before you…” (16). How wonderful to live for an audience of One! (Gal.1:10)
B. “…the God we serve is able to deliver us” (18). (I Sam.17:37)
C. “…we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (18) (Exodus 20:3-6)
D. These three teenagers “…are the first martyrs of record in Scripture, and while they did not lose their lives…they are certainly the first recorded to have been confronted with the choice between idolatry or death.” (Newell, pg.48)
V. The response of the faithless (19-23)
A. Jer.29:22
B. Jer.52:8-14
C. What a leader says (Dan.2:46-47) doesn’t mean it’s in his heart!
D. Nebuchadnezzar was “…full of fury…” and as a result “…full of folly…” (Walvoord, pg.90)
E. “He ought to have cooled the furnace seven times less if he had wanted to hurt them; but instead of that in his fury he heated it seven times more.” (Ibid) [quoting King]
VI. The preservation of the faithful (24-30)
A. There was a 4th person!
B. The fire did not:
1. harm their bodies
2. singe their hair
3. scorch their robes
4. smell on their persons
C. The fire did burn the ropes that bound them.
D. Nebuchadnezzar praises God (28-29).
E. Nebuchadnezzar promotes the three Hebrew youth (30).
“My friend, you and I are living in a world today in which we are going to have trouble. Some of God’s children do get into a fiery furnace, but He is able to keep them even there, and he is able to bring them out of it. We simply do not trust the Lord like we should- we do not have the faith of these three Hebrew children” (Dr. J. Vernon McGee, pg.65). Finally, note that the three teenagers declared that God was able to save them from the fiery furnace. Then they say “…He will rescue us from your hand…” (17). Then they add, “but if He does not…” (18). They knew God would rescue them from Nebuchadnezzar. They weren’t sure how God would do it. Would it be through death? Would it be through a miracle? They didn’t know! Stephen wasn’t rescued from death (Acts7:59, 60). James wasn’t rescued from death (Acts 12:2). But Peter was miraculously rescued the night before his execution (Acts 12).