Daniel Chapter 3

The Fiery Furnace Episode

Daniel 3:1-30

  1. Setting
  2. The pressure of assimilation and the mortal price that may be paid for faithfulness.
  3. Highly relevant to a time of persecution.

Daniel 3:1-7 – 1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.4Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”7Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. NASB

  1. Nebuchadnezzar erects a golden image (3:1-7)
  2. V1 – What did the image look like?
  3. One of the Babylonian gods?
  4. Of himself, with laudatory descriptions?
  5. A non-human symbol of his empire?
  6. The image of his dream?
  7. It’s size
  8. 60 cubits high = 90 feet
  9. Ancient Reference: Colossus of Rhodes (70 cubits)
  10. The proportions = 60 to 1 = large pedestal
  11. Probably overlaid with gold leaf (Isa 40:19; 41:7; Jer 10:3-4)
  12. Location is uncertain. “Dura” means “city wall” or “fortress.” Dura must have been within easy reach of Babylon.

  1. V2,3 – Uses “satraps” which is a Persian description = writing during the Persian era.
  2. V3 – These three terms placed together = no one was exempt from obeying the command.
  3. V5 – The Musical instruments and their names reflects Greek influence.
  4. Horn = wind instrument formed from an animal’s horn.
  5. Flute = “to hiss” = whistling instrument.
  6. Zither/lyre
  7. Harp = Triangular
  8. Pipe = bag(pipe)
  9. Babylonians loved their music (Isa 14:11; Psa 137:3; Herodotus I:191).
  10. The purpose of the commandment: The purpose of the homage to the statue as probably more political than religious. Homage to the Babylonian gods was the same as homage to Babylonian rule. Perhaps the empire was beginning to crumble already (as predicted in the dream) and Nebuchadnezzar needed to solidify his rule of the throne. The refusal by important government functionaries by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was a serious threat to his authority.
  11. They are committing treason.
  12. Jeremiah 29:22 –King of Babylon already burned two false prophets alive.
  13. God is acknowledged, not because he is God, but because this helps to undergird the state.

ILLUSTRATION: Herr Baldur VonSchirach in 1936 declared, “One cannot be a good German and at the same time deny God, but an arousal of faith in the eternal God. If we act as true Germans we act according to the laws of God. Whoever serves Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer, serves Germany, and whoever serves Germany serves God.”

  1. V6 – The Furnace of Fire could have either been a beehive shaped or tunnel shaped furnace within viewing distance of Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 3:8-12 – “8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

  1. The friends of Daniel are accused of disobedience (3:8-12)
  2. Astrologers denouncing Daniel’s friends.
  3. “Denounced” = “they ate their pieces” = malicious slander. May have been prompted by professional jealousy or hatred on ethnic grounds (Esth 5:8).
  4. We must remember that these very astrologers owed their lives to Daniel and his three friends (2:17-18, 24).
  5. Their accusation implies ingratitude, “The very three men you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon…”
  6. How dare they?
  7. Personal attack, “They pay no attention to you, O King. They neither serve YOUR gods nor worship the image of gold YOU have set up.”
  8. Where is Daniel? Could be traveling, ill, or too powerful to come under attack by the astrologers (but not powerful enough to save them from the King).

Daniel 3:13-18 – “13Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” NASB

  1. The friends of Daniel refused to obey or apologize (3:13-18)
  2. V 13-15 – confronted and offered a chance to recant.
  3. What God could save you from my hand?
  4. Echo Sennacherib’s field commander comment – 2 Kings 18:35
  5. 16-18 – Obviously guilty; they did defy the King’s edict. Death is preferred to Apostasy.
  6. This would have been idolatry (Exod 20:4-6)
  7. Cast themselves to God’s mercy rather than recant.
  8. They were certain God COULD deliver them but uncertain as to whether or not God WOULD deliver them.
  9. The ability of God is probably ethical ability (17), i.e., if it fits into His plans. In other words, they don’t doubt His power, but His providence.
  10. They recognized that God’s will might be different from what they find pleasant, and they were willing to have it so, without complaining.
  11. Better to obey God rather than Man (Acts 5:29).

Daniel 3:19-23 – “19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.” NASB

  1. The three friends of Daniel are put into the furnace (3:19-23)
  2. V19, “His attitude toward them changed” = Nebuchadnezzar is enraged at their resolve, bound and threw them into the fire.
  3. The one who in his pride has created an image with the purpose of assuring uniform loyalty finds his own image provoked beyond his control.
  4. Seven times hotter than usual
  5. Took the lives of the “strongest soldiers.” The destructive nature of an angry person.
  6. Proverbs 14:29 – quick tempers shows folly; patience shows wisdom.
  7. Proverbs 15:18 – Hot-tempered person stirs up conflict.
  8. Proverbs 22:24 – Don’t be friends with a hot tempered person or even associate with them.
  9. Proverbs 29:11 – Fools gives vent to their anger.
  10. Ecclesiastes 7:9 – don’t be quick to be provoked; anger = fools.
  11. James 1:20 – Human anger does not produce the righteousness of God.

Daniel 3:24-27 – “24Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”25He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”26Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. NASB

  1. The three friends of Daniel are delivered by an Angel (3:24-27)
  2. V25 – The four loosed, the ropes burned off to emphasize the miracle
  3. Hebrews 11:34, “Those quenched the fury of the flames”
  4. See Isa 43:1-2; Deut 4:20
  5. The fourth figure in the fire: The Son of God or Son of the gods.
  6. Nebuchadnezzar identifies him as a divine being in verse 25 and then an angel in verse 28
  7. May early Christian expositors adopted the view that this being as a preincarnate appearance of the second Person of the Trinity as the “Angel of the Lord”
  8. “Hidden Man of Eternity”
  9. Angel of the Lord who appeared to Abraham at Mamre (Gen 18), Jacob at Jabbok (Gen 32:20; Hos 12:4), Moses in the burning bush (Exod 3:2), Joshua near Jericho (Josh 5:13-6:5), to Gideon at Ophrah (Judg 6:11) and to others at various times in various places.
  10. Reminder, “I will be with you.”
  11. Exod 3:12; Isa 7:14; Matthew 28:20; Psa 23:4-5
  12. V 27, “Most High God” = Chief of the gods (same as 2:47). He is a polytheist.

Genesis 3:28-30 – “28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. NASB

  1. The confession and decree of Nebuchadnezzar (3:28-30)
  2. Neb now has the answer he asked in verse 15
  3. Notice that God deals gently with Nebuchadnezzar’s defiance, in the next chapter, He will be humbled.
  4. Notice God’s destructive response to Sennacherib – Isa 36:18-20; 37:36-37
  5. Judaism is now a recognized religion and threatens all who interfere with it (Ezra 6:6-12).
  6. Their faith quenched Nebuchadnezzar’s flame (Heb. 11:34). They gave up their bodies for God’s sake (Rom. 12:2).
  7. V 30 – three men are promoted.
  1. Reflections
  2. We rely upon God’s mercy and pray that we fall into his hands rather than the hands of men (As David in 1 Chr 21:13; 2 Sam 24:14)
  3. We long for God’s great mercy in times of great need (Psa 25:6; 1 Pet 1:3).
  4. What does God require of us? See Micah 6:8, Zechariah 7:9, Matthew 5:7, Jas 2:13, 3:17… MERCY.
  5. How should we approach God? See Hebrews 4:16