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The Book of Daniel Meditations: Chapter 3

 

       The Babylonian kingdom worshipping Nebuchadnezzar’s image.

King Nebuchadnezzar decides to create a 90-foot golden image for the entire kingdom to worship. In the previous chapter, in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Babylon was personified as the golden head on the image. So it’s possible that this was an attempt to preserve the glory of the Babylonian Empire. 


Nebuchadnezzar enforces the worship of this image throughout his kingdom. Failure to comply with this new law will result in execution by fire, specifically being burned alive in a fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to comply with this new demand. They were devout followers of YHWH, the God of Israel. As followers of the One True God, worshipping or even bowing to any other god was forbidden. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were determined to obey God and willing to pay the ultimate price. 

Enraged by their defiance, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the three men to be executed by fire in the furnace. In fact, the furnace was heated seven times it normal temperature. Once Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown in, it seemed like the three men were meeting their end. But something miraculous happened. 


       The Lord protects the three Hebrew men.

Nebuchadnezzar sees four figures in the furnace instead of three. The king even exclaims that the fourth man is “like the Son of God” (verse 25). The Hebrew men walk out of the furnace unharmed and even absent of the smell of smoke. The chapter concludes Nebuchadnezzar recognizing to true God of Heaven and honoring Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego for their devotion. 

Following the Lord is not easy. In fact, we are not guaranteed an easy road. But Christ Himself promises to be with us. He fulfilled this promise in the form of a Christophany (a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ in the Old Testament) with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego by being with them in the furnace. The Lord reminds us that He’s an ever present help. We can trust Him! 

 

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