The further we go through the book of Daniel, the more convinced I become that its central purpose in the life of God’s people is to serve as a clear reminder of the superiority of God over all other rulers and authorities and powers. In chapter 1, we read the story of Babylon destroying the dwelling place of God’s people and carrying those people into exile. Even in a foreign land, however, God watched over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah so that they were healthier and wiser than anyone else in the king’s house. God demonstrated His ability to care for and bless His people regardless of their location or circumstances. Then, in chapter 2, God sent the King of Babylon a dream in which He revealed that His kingdom would eventually crush every other kingdom on earth. God demonstrated, through the dream, His absolute sovereignty over all time and all places.
This theme of God’s superiority continues as we move to chapter 3. In this chapter, we encounter a familiar story – the story of the fiery furnace – that serves to illustrate the absolute authority of God in all things. As we will see, the story culminates with a clear demonstration of God’s power – continuing the main theme found in the book of Daniel. The story also has clear implications for our lives as well. Specifically, God’s absolute authority and power should radically affect the way that we live our lives. In short, because we know that God is sovereign and in the position of ultimate authority, we ought to live lives of faithful and steadfast obedience to Him. Moreover, those lives ought to be full of confidence and hope in that sovereign God. Let us look at the story and see these lessons.
The chapter actually begins with an ironic action on the part of Nebuchadnezzar as we read, “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon” (3:1). The chapter gives us no time reference, but there can be no doubt that this was placed directly after chapter 2 to make the connection between the two. In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar saw a dream of a statue with a head of gold and a body of other metals that was crushed by a stone made without hands. In Daniel’s interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar learned that he was the head of gold while the other metals were other kingdoms that would follow him. In chapter 3, it seems that the king has built a statue in defiance of the dream because it is made entirely of gold. Clearly, Nebuchadnezzar’s goal is to act in defiance of the dream he was shown by God. And to drive the point home, he gathered all the leaders of his kingdom together and commanded all the people of His empire to bow down to the statue that he had made (3:2-6). Clearly, this was an effort on the part of Nebuchadnezzar to exercise and demonstrate his authority over his kingdom and his subjects.
As a brief aside, I think there is a key lesson that we can learn just from Nebuchadnezzar’s actions at the beginning of this chapter: we should be wary about trusting the emotions of a particular moment as proof of authenticity. At the end of chapter 2, it could seem that Nebuchadnezzar has become a follower of the one true God because of Daniel’s ability to interpret the dream as he proclaims, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery” (2:47). However, it is clear form his actions in chapter 3 that no such change has taken place. I point this out because emotions that arise in a particular moment are not the best indicator of whether we have been truly and genuinely affected by truth or not. Do not misunderstand this statement as a denial of the need for emotions. Emotions are crucial and necessary parts of life, but they ought not be the basis on which our confidence rests. Rather, our emotions ought to rest on the sure foundation of our hope and confidence. According to the New Testament, the sure sign of change is genuine fruit and not a particular level of emotion. We see evidence of this reality in Nebuchadnezzar’s actions here.
But back to our story, Nebuchadnezzar’s decree would have been no big deal for the many Babylonians who were part of his empire because they were used to having numerous gods. It would have been no problem for them to integrate one more idol into their pantheon. However, for the Jewish exiles – like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – this would have been a crisis that tested their ultimate allegiance to God. Foundationally, the issue is not the idol per se but who has authority over the lives of these three men. The contest is not really between the idol and God but between Nebuchadnezzar and God.
This is important for us to understand as we enter the story because it helps us understand the true issue. Most likely, none of us struggle with bowing down to idols, so it would be easy to see the story as entertaining but not morally relevant. However, if the ultimate issue is who possesses authority over our lives, this applies directly to all of us because every one of us must decide who we are going to obey. In reality, Nebuchadnezzar is a representation of every authority that competes with the ultimate authority of God. Seen in this light, it is clear that this story not only reveals to us the character of God but forces us to face the reality of authority (and who possesses it) in our own lives.
Faced with the declaration from Nebuchadnezzar that they must bow or be killed, the vast majority of the people choose to worship the statue: “Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up” (3:7). It is clear that Nebuchadnezzar functioned as the authority for these people – at least on some level. But as the story continues, we learn that – contrary to the explicit appearance of verse 7 – it was not all the people without exception that fell down and worshiped because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are maliciously accused before Nebuchadnezzar for not bowing down (3:8-12). Upon hearing this, Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and called them in to reiterate his demand that they obey his order (3:13-15). In this confrontation, we see again that the issue is not the idol so much as whether the three men will submit to Nebuchadnezzar’s authority. In calling them in specifically, the king is seeking to force them into submission.
Understanding the incredible pressure Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were under in that moment helps us appreciate their response even more. The men declare, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (3:16-18). In short, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are making clear to Nebuchadnezzar that – while he does hold a position of authority in their lives (evidenced by their respectfully addressing him as “king”) – he is not the ultimate authority in their lives. Instead, they make clear that the ultimate authority for them is God. They are going to obey God before everyone else, no matter what threats are levied against them.
As we observe the actions of these three men so many years later, it is amazing how relevant their actions and words are for us today. As we have seen, this was a contest of authority. Ultimately, for those of us who have repented of our sins and trusted in Jesus Christ, our ultimate authority is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – Jesus himself. We are ultimately responsible to the Lord. And He has told us how to live. In the example of these three men so many years ago, we are given a clear example of how we are to live and walk in this world. Our ultimate allegiance is to the Lord. We ought to stand on Him, His commands and His desires over and against all other authorities. This does not mean there is no place for submission to other authorities because God has told us to submit to certain ones, but it does mean that our submission to the Lord is primary. This is crucial because, at root, all sin – among other things – is an issue of authority. And there are countless authorities competing for our allegiance. Who do we submit to? Who has authority? Is it those around us? Is it the culture? Is it a spouse or even a child? Is it our own wants and desires? Or is it the Lord? In light of the incredible example set by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we must examine our own hearts and see who occupies the position of authority.
But we should not merely take their example and stop. Rather, we should examine what caused them to stand so firmly. It is clear that their action stemmed from a belief about God. They not only believed that God was the ultimate authority but that all power truly belonged to Him. They were sure that God was able to save them even from the fire. More than that, they trusted that even if He did not save them, it was better to obey Him than disobey Him. Related to the issue of ultimate authority, this is the issue of ultimate power. To put it in terms of fear, they were more afraid of what God could do to them for disobeying than what Nebuchadnezzar could do to them. To put it in terms of allegiance, they were more concerned with honoring God than with honoring Nebuchadnezzar. They knew the power of God and it controlled them. Jesus expressed the same reality when He said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). This same thought controlled the early apostles (Acts 5:29) as well as people like Martin Luther who stood against competing authorities even within the Church and even in the face of death. In the same way, we should stand firm because of what we know to be true about God. He is able to deliver us. But even if he does not deliver us in this life, we know that a glorious hope awaits those who persevere in obedient faith (Heb. 11). Our responsibility is to stand firm in faithful obedience and trust the outcome to God.
Upon hearing the bold proclamation of the three men, Nebuchadnezzar is “filled with fury” and orders the furnace heated even more. He has Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego bound in their garments and thrown into the fire – which is so hot that the men who throw them in are killed by it. Because of his anger, Nebuchadnezzar exercises his authority to the full against Daniel’s friends that does what he can to take their lives (3:19-23). However, after throwing them in, Nebuchadnezzar looks into the furnace and sees four men walking around: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and a fourth “like a son of the gods.” Astounded, Nebuchadnezzar called out to the three men in the furnace, and the three men came out completely untouched by the flames (3:24-27). Upon seeing this, Nebuchadnezzar praised the true God, issue a decree promising death to any who spoke against the true God, and then promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in his kingdom (3:28-30).
Here is the incredible culmination of the story. This is the demonstration of the very reality that drove Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to stand firm in the first place. God vindicates the faith of His servants by fulfilling the words of Isaiah 43 in their lives. They walk through the fire and are not burned, and the flames do not consume them. In this deliverance, God provided for them, and for us, a clear demonstration that He is indeed worthy of the faith placed in Him by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Much like the rest of the book of Daniel, the culmination of this story is a demonstration of the utter superiority of God over all others. He alone is ultimately in control and deserving of worship and allegiance. He alone is the ultimate authority who is able to carry out every plan and every desire. He alone is able to keep those who trust in Him in any and every circumstance. He alone is God, and He is to be worshipped, obeyed and trusted.
For those of us here today, this is a reminder of the God that we serve. No doubt, the faith of the three men – which was already strong – was only further strengthened by the deliverance from the furnace. As we sit today and look back, we have even further reason to entrust ourselves – in all circumstances – to this God. The God who delivered these men from the fire has delivered us from immeasurably worse flames – the flames of hell. The God who delivered these men from the hands of the wicked king Nebuchadnezzar has delivered us from an immeasurably worse ruler – the prince of the power of the air. God has delivered us and bought us with a price, so we have every reason to praise and follow Him just as earnestly and faithfully as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Our hope and confidence rests on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our hope and confidence rest on the fact that this death and resurrection happened because God in His love has determined to sum up all things in His Son and to redeem a people for Himself through the sacrifice of that suffering servant. Our God is able to carry out every plan He has made. Our God is able to keep those who trust in Him. He is able to save them from death if He wills, and He is able to deliver them to eternal life through death if He wills. Either way, faith in our Lord and in our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, is the only proper response from us. May we be faithful as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were faithful.
As we come to the table, we come remembering the ultimate demonstration of God’s love and power on our behalf. God showed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego mercy and grace in sparing their lives – vindicating their faith in Him. God has shown us even greater mercy and grace and will vindicate our faith in Him when we die or the Lord returns and we dwell with Him forever. Let us proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Amen.