Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
"There are plenty of men today who are bowing down to
the golden image that the world has set up... But there were three with stiff
knees which did not bend. Those were Daniel’s three friends, who knew well that
to do the king’s bidding would be to break the law of their God; and they at
all events will not fall down and worship... They were too stiff in the
backbone for that. They remembered the command, “Thou shalt have none other
gods before Me.” These are the kind of servants God wants — men who will stand
up bravely and fearlessly for Him."
Nebuchadnezzar’s
Gold Statue
(Daniel 3)
King
Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set
it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then he sent messages
to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges,
magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the
statue he had set up. 3 So all these officials came and stood before the statue
King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then a
herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to
the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre,
harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King
Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be
thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7 So at the
sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation
or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 But some
of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. 9 They said to
King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! 10 You issued a decree requiring all
the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of
the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. 11
That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a
blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no
attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship
the gold statue you have set up.”
13 Then
Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar
said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to
serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you
one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear
the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately
into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my
power?”
16 Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend
ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God
whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your
Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your
Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have
set up.”
The Blazing
Furnace
19
Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his
face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven
times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his
army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing
furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed
in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in
his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the
soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.
24 But
suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers,
“Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”
“Yes, Your
Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.
25 “Look!”
Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire
unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”
26 Then
Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and
shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come
out! Come here!”
So Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers,
officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire
had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing
was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!
28 Then
Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He
sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the
king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever
their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will
be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like
this!”
30 Then the
king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the
province of Babylon.
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