The king of Babylon proves in this chapter what we observed at the close of chapter two. He viewed the God of Daniel as only one among many gods. He still is very much a pagan. God’s power will be demonstrated again, but Nebuchadnezzar still will not learn his lesson.
This colossal image of gold was no doubt an outgrowth of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Didn’t Daniel say that the king was the head of gold? Daniel 2:38. Didn’t Daniel say that all the kingdoms described were to proceed from the head?
Daniel had also said that God had given him a kingdom, power, strength and glory, Daniel 2:38. This great image then would set forth the majesty, glory and dominion of the king and his great kingdom.
This statue was about ninety feet tall and nine feet wide at the base. The text says the statue was made of gold. It was most likely either stone or wooden in construction and overlaid with gold, Isaiah 40:19. Nebuchadnezzar was probably puffed up with vain pride.
It is doubtful that this image was solid gold, but rather was overlaid with gold. Much of the furniture of the Tabernacle was not pure gold but wood overlaid with gold.
When the image was completed, the king called for all the dignitaries of the kingdom to attend the dedication. These officials probably made the journey from all over Babylonia to be there for this event. It must have been a large and costly affair.
Nebuchadnezzar had already demonstrated his capacity for executing those who did not obey him, Daniel 2:12, so, I’m sure these dignitaries would be thinking about this.
Dunagan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Eight classes of officials are summoned to the dedication of this image. Satraps were chief representatives to the king, that is, ‘kingdom-guardians’, or men who ruled large provinces. Prefects were military commanders. Governors were civil administrators. Advisors were counsellors 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 the law. All of this may suggest that the image was intended to symbolise the empire and its unity under the king.’
Keil, in his commentary, says the following.
‘A refusal to yield homage to the gods of the kingdom, they regarded as an act of hostility against the kingdom and its monarch, while everyone might at the same time honour his own national god. This acknowledgement, that the gods of the kingdom were the more powerful, every heathen could grant; and thus, Nebuchadnezzar demanded nothing in a religious point of view which every one of his subjects could not yield. To him, therefore, the refusal of the Jews could not but appear as opposition to the greatness of his kingdom.’
The announcement is made to all nations and peoples of every language, Daniel 3:4. Amid all the festivities comes the command, ‘fall down and worship the gold images that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up, Daniel 3:5. The noise from the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all the other music must have been very loud, Daniel 3:5.
Everyone refusing to do so would be cast into a fiery furnace, especially heated to a high temperature, Daniel 3:6. This was a common method of execution among the Assyrians and Chaldeans.
This threat would affect relatively few, since almost everyone would think nothing of bowing to the king’s image. Even those opposed to paganism might think they could do so, and no harm would be done.
In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the statue looked forward to the fourth empire under which God set up his eternal kingdom, with the stone not cut by human hands crushing all the parts of the image, Daniel 2:40-45.
This fourth kingdom, being the Roman Empire, also forced its citizenry to worship its emperors, who had statues erected in their honour, just like Nebuchadnezzar did.
The consequences for both the Babylonians and the citizens of Rome who refused to bow down and worship the statues of the kings were death, Daniel 3:6 / Revelation 13:15.
When everyone heard all the noise from the various instruments, they fell down and worshipped the image, Daniel 3:7 / Exodus 23:1 / Ezekiel 23:37 / Romans 12:1-2 / Revelation 17:1-2.
Notice that some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews, Daniel 3:8. They tell Nebuchadnezzar, may he live forever, Daniel 3:9. There’s nothing like lowering yourself to the king to get what you want. They remind the king of his decree, Daniel 3:10-11 / Daniel 3:4-6.
These astrologers then go ahead and report to the king that some Jews didn’t bow down to his image, Daniel 3:12. There were a few who would not bow; however, these were the three friends of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Daniel 3:12.
Not only did these three Jews refuse to worship the golden image, but it seems that it was a well-known fact that they did not worship any of the pagan gods, Daniel 3:12. No doubt the reason why these three were reported to the king was resentment over the fact that they did not honour any of the pagan gods of the Babylonians.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Many Israelites worshipped idols in Palestine, and Moses had predicted that they would worship them in exile, Deuteronomy 4:27-28, but these young men were as scrupulous about their observance of the Mosaic Law as Daniel. For them, death was preferable to disobedience. Nebuchadnezzar’s gods were responsible for his success, according to Mesopotamian thinking, and to disregard them was tantamount to repudiating Nebuchadnezzar.’
But what about Daniel? He does not seem to be involved in any way. Why was not Daniel involved? He may have been in some other part of the kingdom at the time, or else he occupied such a position of power and strength he could not be attacked. In fact, he may have wanted to see this acted out to demonstrate who the true God was.
The reaction of Nebuchadnezzar was rage and fury, Daniel 3:13 / Daniel 2:12 / Daniel 3:19. The Babylonians knew Nebuchadnezzar was prone to outbursts of fury and so, they figured it was his fit of rage that got them into a situation where a former Jewish slave was set in authority over them, Daniel 2:28, and now it will be a fit of rage that will get them out from under at least three Jews.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are immediately brought before the king, Daniel 3:13. After asking the three if it was true that they refused to worship his gods and bow down to his image, Daniel 3:14, the king was willing to give them another chance.
Butler, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It would seem that Nebuchadnezzar had already seen sufficient evidence of the power of God so that he would have spoken with some restraint, but it is easy to forget if one does not believe with all the heart in the first place.’
If they would change their minds and fall down and worship the image, all would be well with them. If they continued to rebel and show insolence toward the king’s command, they would immediately be placed in the furnace, Daniel 3:15.
Surely, they would not dare to refuse him. The king may have felt that, in view of what Daniel had said about him, Daniel 2:37-38, to resist him would be to resist God, since God had made him the head of gold, Daniel 2:38. They should be subject to him because their God would not deliver them out of his hands, Daniel 3:15.
We must admire the faith and courage of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Acts 5:29 / Matthew 22:21. Their answer was blunt and to the point. Regardless of God’s actions on their part, whether he would choose to rescue them or permit them to die, they would not serve any of the gods of Babylon nor worship the gold image, Exodus 20:3-5. There is but one true God, and He only would they worship, Deuteronomy 6:4-5.
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘How they might have excused themselves: 1. We are only three. What can we do? 2. We are young. What can the young do? 3. We are away from home. How can this be expected of us? 4. Everyone is doing it. Why should we dissent? 5. If we do not, we will die, but if we do, we can live long and useful lives to God. 6. We know it is only an idol, so why shouldn’t we just go through the motions! All the Devil’s lies! All nobly repudiated!’
Campbell, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Those who believe the saying, ’Every man has his price!’ should consider well the response of these men in this crisis when their lives were at stake. They could not be bought for any price!’
Once again, the king is furious, Daniel 3:13 / Daniel 2:12 / Daniel 3:19, so enraged that it changes his attitude towards them and then commands that the furnace be heated seven times as hot as what was normal, Daniel 3:19. He also commands his strongest soldiers to tie Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego up and throw them into the furnace, Daniel 3:20.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes. These clothes were probably their articles of official attire, and they were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace, Daniel 3:21.
The furnace was so hot that when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the furnace, the men responsible for casting them in were killed by the flames and intense heat, Daniel 3:22. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were firmly tied, fell into the fiery furnace.
Since we do not know the shape or form of the furnace, we do not know exactly how these men were consumed by the heat. Probably because of the urgency of the king’s command, in their haste, they became careless. The fact that they perished served to illustrate the miraculous delivery of the three Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
The furnace was such that it permitted the king to see into it, and when he looked, he observed them walking about, evidently no longer bound and unhurt, Daniel 3:24 / Exodus 3:12 / Psalms 23:4-5 / Isaiah 7:14 / Isaiah 43:1-3 / Isaiah 63:9 / Matthew 28:20.
Also, a fourth man is observed with them, Daniel 3:25. Who was this person? The rendering, ‘like the Son of God’ by some versions, is not a correct rendering. A more correct rendering would be ‘like a son of the gods’ or a supernatural being.
Who was this supernatural person? In Daniel 3:28, Nebuchadnezzar calls him an ‘angel.’ God has often sent His angels to minister to those in trouble, Psalm 91:11 / Hebrews 1:14. This would not be anything unusual, Daniel 6:22 / Daniel 7:10 / Daniel 9:21. Some believe that it was the pre-incarnate form of Jesus Christ, Genesis 16:13.
The king calls out to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and calls them ‘servants of the Most High God, Daniel 3:26 / Daniel 3:29. He calls for all of them to come out, Daniel 3:26. Obviously, he was greatly shaken by this turn of events.
They came forth unhurt, without a hair singed and not even the smell of fire upon them, Daniel 3:27 / Isaiah 43:2 / Hebrews 11:34. No doubt a complete examination was made to determine their condition. It was indeed incredible to all who had come for the dedication and had bowed to the image.
Nebuchadnezzar again goes into one of his elaborate speeches of praise of the God of the Jews, Daniel 2:47. He acknowledges that it was God who rescued them through the means of an angel, Daniel 3:28.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego put their faith in God and defied the king’s command and were willing to die serving the true God rather than worship any other god, Daniel 3:28.
Obviously, God was able to deliver them out of the hands of the king, and God could have turned on the king for ordering the three to be executed. Such a god must not be antagonised in any way. He must be praised and honoured.
Nebuchadnezzar still is not converted but remains thoroughly pagan. Nebuchadnezzar made it official that the Israelites could serve their God without danger of retribution.
A royal decree forbade any misrepresentation or speaking against the God of the Jews, ‘because there is no other God that can save in this way’, Daniel 3:29. To further offset any repercussions from his decree, which backfired on him, he has the three men promoted, Daniel 3:30.
Goldingay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Nebuchadnezzar’s ability to cancel one of his laws and replace it with another is evidence of the might of his personal power. Rulers of the Medo-Persian Empire, which replaced the Babylonian Empire, Daniel 2:38-39, could not do this; it was impossible for them to override a previously written law, Daniel 6:8 / Daniel 6:12 / Daniel 6:15 / Esther 1:19. Nebuchadnezzar made Judaism a recognised religion with rights to toleration and respect.’
History is not in man’s hands, and the government is not on man’s shoulders. God is supreme and is in control of the fortunes and destiny of men and nations. Nor is the Calvinistic sense that man has no control over his destiny, but in the sense that God overrules to bring about His desires in His own way and in His own time.
Sometimes the Christian may feel that evil has the upper hand, but God has not laid down His sceptre. He is still on His throne ruling the universe, Psalm 2:1-4 / Psalm 2:11-12.
1. The example of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego speaks loudly to Christians today.
There is no place or set of circumstances in which it is too difficult to be faithful to God. We often invent excuses, but every Christian can be faithful to God if they so will.
2. God is our refuge in times of trouble, Psalm 46.
He is our only and real deliverer. When a man puts his trust in himself, he will always fail. Education, philosophy, wealth, or fame cannot deliver us; only God can. We have no other recourse but to surrender to His terms.
3. When acting by faith, trials can drag the Christian from obscurity into fame and then chase him up to glory.
4. Compromise has always been man’s way of getting out of difficult situations.
But with God it is either-or; no man can serve two masters, Matthew 6:24. He must make up his mind about who he will serve. Man is wise to put his trust in God and serve Him.