Note: We don't know how much after the chapter 2 this story takes place, but it does seem likely that it occurs after
chapter 2.
Nebu builds a giant statue and commands that everyone worship it or gets toasted in the furnace.
the statue is roughly 90 feet high by 9 feet wide. funny looking if all of it's statue (like a modigliani)
but that might include a base, like the statue of liberty; that would help.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refuse to worship.
where's daniel?
who knows. chap. 2 left him in charge of the province of Babylon, so maybe he was away on business.
Nebu gives Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego a second chance saying, "What God is there who can deliver you out of my hands?".
They refuse the second chance saying, "Our God can deliver us; but even if He doesn't, that doesn't mean you're right."
Nebu tosses our three plucky heros into the furnace, which doesn't harm them a bit.
Nebu sees the three men unharmed in the furnace and notices a fourth who is "like a son of the gods".
The three are released, the king issues a decree that forbids saying "anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego", and promotes the three.
Misc notes:
who's the 4th guy in the furnace?
christ? maybe.
an angel?
doesn't say, ergo we don't need to know.
is this all gold (gold covered) statue a play on the gold-headed statue in chap 2?
possibly. nebu may have thought he was going to be able to 'beat' the prophecy this way.
but it doesn't say, and really, that's not the point of the tale.
1. Conflict between Babylon and God (again)
The story is set in context of 'the Exile' (God's people has been beaten by pagans).
This is most directly summarized up in Nebu's question, "What God is there who can deliver you from my hands?" (v15)
a. a very direct attack on 'God'
daniel has dealt with escalating problems
vegetables
dream / death if not interpreted
b. note that this is the first direct persecution in Daniel
further - this is some of the first direct persecution in the Bible.
previous cases of idolatry were the result of Israel deluding themselves; this would be due to force.
2. God is stronger than the might of Babylon
Daniel 3, like the rest of the book, strongly emphasizes God's power over Babylon (gods and people).
major theme for exiles: is God still powerful?
the might of babylon emphasized:
note: the chapter emphasizes this, esp as compared with chapter 2 which focuses on the prophecy and supernatural ability of Daniel/God.
v15 "what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?"
v19 angry king, furnace heated 7 times hotter
v21 tied up...in all their clothes
v22 the soldiers throwing them in die in the fire
yet, God delivers Israel:
3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego hold obedient regardless of cost
The three are determined to obey God despite the consequences, whether they are saved or burned (v18).
"But even if He does not, let it beknown to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods
or worship the golden image you have set up."
Though their obedience was not dependent on their being saved, their salvation fits God's desires and
Nebu issues a decree praising God (v28,29)
Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His
angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king's command, and yielded up
their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.
"Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch
as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way."
Daniel 2 shows that God is clearly behind events that seem normal, random, and potentially negative.
Daniel 3 illustrates how we are to live, assuming that belief is true.
1. Believe that God is in charge
A. Daniel argues that God is in charge of events.
Is God in charge of what happens to us?
Daniel seems to argue that he is more than able to handle the job.
B. That means that "bad things" that happen are from God.
God was in charge when Israelites died, losing to Babylon
God was in charge when he saved the three from the fire.
C. God is in charge when things happen to us too.
lose your job?
live with an unreasonable spouse?
major health issues?
i can say these things, but they won't be any easier for me to live through.
bad things happen in the bible all the time
christ ended up crucified.
heb 11:35-38
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36Still others
had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn
in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute,
afflicted, tormented— 38of whom the world was not worthy.
2. Concern yourself with your response to events
A. Don't worry about outcomes.
the '3' weren't worried about being burned or not. they obeyed, not knowing they would live.
we worry about the wrong things.
god is evidentally willing to let some of us physically suffer, emotionally suffer.
this must not be the sort of thing we should worry about.
B. Worry about not screwing up.
negative: defaming god.
positive: glorifying god.
daniel is all about god's glory; the revelation of god's power.
- be like christ, regardless of what happens.
christian success is not a mystery
it's ridiculously hard. but it's very clearly spec'd out for us.
- hang in there.
it's long, and you will face misery
keep your eyes off of yourself - be willing to die.