A Moment of Crisis (Daniel Chapter 3)

Years ago there was a popular song alluding to many events which could make a hero out of the person who responded correctly to them.  As each opportunity was examined, however, the response was always the same: "That's a fine opportunity for someone, for somebody else--not me."
Thus every opportunity to become something more than ordinary was firmly rejected.

Doesn't this remind you of the average believer today?  God brings experiences into his life which provide occasions for him to exhibit faith and courage, but he says, "Somebody else, Lord--not me."  He seldom experiences the joy of a life walked by faith, and those around him are deprived of an example of the mighty works of God in response to faith.

I think Daniel Chapter 3 is an excellent witness for God, which comes when God's power is coupled with man's obedience.

Part 1 (Daniel 3: 1-7)

Chapter 3 in Daniel opens with an account of Nebuchadnezzar's building a great golden image in the plain of Dura near the city of Babylon.  There is some doubt about what the image represented, but it probably was meant to impress the king's subjects with his majesty, might, and magnificence.

After the building of the image had been completed, the king commanded the governmental leaders of Babylon to attend its dedication.  Nebuchadnezzar was an absolute ruler; consequently, no one dared refuse his summons.

Every governmental officer was represented; however, Daniel's name is absent from the list.  Scripture is silent about the reason, but I think he may have been absent on extended business in some remote province of the empire.

The king then gave instructions concerning the procedure to be followed in the dedication.  At the sound of the six musical instruments, the assembly of VIPs were to fall down and worship the image (vs. 5).

As an added inducement for the people to follow these instructions, the king commanded those who did not obey be thrown into a hot furnace.  This was meant to eliminated from the minds of the people any thought of disobedience.

Part 2 (Daniel 3: 8-18)

Daniel 3: 8-18 makes it clear there were three exceptions to this universal obedience.  Daniel's three friends refused to bow.  Evidently some of the Chaldeans were watching the Jews to see whether they would obey the king.  When the three Jews failed to comply, the Chaldeans immediately went to the king and reported them (vs. 8).

It's doubtful their main motivation was the threat the Jews presented to the authority of the king.  I think it's more likely the Chaldeans saw an opportunity to rid themselves of these foreign usurpers who had positions which, they felt, rightfully belonged to true Babylonians.  Further, I suspect they had been looking and plotting for such an opportunity.

By the way....The men who accused the Jews were the very same men whom Daniel had rescued earlier from the wrath of the king.  How ungrateful they were!  I think ingratitude and this idea of "entitlement" is one main sin of today's generation.

Moving on....

After reminding the king of his decree (vs. 9-11), they made three charges against the Jews:

1. They did not honor the king.
2. They would not worship the king's gods.
3. They would not worship the golden image.

The reaction of the king was what they had hoped for: he was furious to know anyone would defy him.  The king considered this defiance a direct challenge to his authority, and couldn't tolerate it.  Commanding the three Jews be brought to him, he asked whether they understood the significance of what they had done.

Because he had no reason to question their loyalty in the past, and because they were such useful and wise servants, he gave them the benefit of the doubt by inquiring whether they had misunderstood the meaning of his decree.

He gave them a second chance to worship the image.  If they still disobeyed him, then their death was certain, for he boasted no god could deliver them from his power (vs. 15).  The king could conceive of no power greater than what he himself or his dogs exercised.

The witness of the three Jews was loud and clear.  They had no defense against the accusation made against them, for their disobedience was not caused by lack of understanding.  They knew worshiping the image meant a denial of the true God of Israel and an infraction of the first commandment (Exodus 20:3-5).

They were willing to pay any price which the king might impose upon them.  They realized God could deliver them from the penalty decreed by the king, but they also considered the possibility God might not choose to do so.  I believe God doesn't always save us from the trials we face, BUT he alway spreserves us in it!

Regardless of the outcome, Daniels friends were determined to remain true to God.  Their faith manifested itself by a willing submission to whatever God would allow to happen to them.  In life or death, they could only gain through a faithful witness to God.

Part 3 (Daniel 3:19-30)

The attitude expressed by the three Jews was more than Nebuchadnezzar could endure.  Their refusal to obey him and take advantage of his generous offer of a second chance compounded their guilt.  They had challenged his authority, and now they insulted him.

This made the king so angry his physical appearance was actually changed.  No longer was he willing to give them an opportunity to repent.  He had the furnace heated seven times hotter than necessary.  It now matched the heat of his inflamed fury against the three Jews.

I picture the furnace being something like a modern brick kiln.  It was most likely wider at the bottom than at the top and maybe had two openings, one at the bottom where materials were added to supply the fire and where ashes were removed; the other, at the top where people were cast into the fire.  I envision steps leading up the side of the furnace to the opening above.

After the fire was as hot as the king desired, he commanded the three Jews be thrown down into it.  The strongest men were appointed to this task because it required carrying the three Jews up the side of the furnace to the top (vs. 20).  The Jews were bound fully clothed, carried up to the top, and cast down right inot the middle of the raoring flames.

The extremely high temperature of the fire is affirmed by what happened to the men who threw the Jews into the furnace.  The heat and flames were so inense they were scorched to death (vs. 22).  This description helped illustrate for me the magnitude of the miracle which pretected the intended victims.

Evidently Nebuchadneszzar was sitting near the furnace looking into the fire through the opening at the bottom.  He expected to see three bodies come crashing down, consumed by the fire in an instant.  Imagine his surprise and shock when his expectations were disappointed.

No wonder he left his seat and checked ot see whether or not he could believe his eyes (vs. 24).  He even asked his counselors to verfy the men had really been thrown into the fire, and they confirmed it to be true.

Instead of three men the king saw four persons in the fire.  The fourth person impressed the king as a supernatural being.  In the original text verse 28 actually describes the fourth man as an angel or messenger of God.

No further identification is given in this chapter; however, we know the being was either a preincarnate appearce of Christ or an angel sent by God to protect the three Jews.  Another incredible detail was the three men were no longer bound; they were freely walking around in the fire.

Nebuchadnezzar was convinced the Jews had been delivered by supernatural means, and so he called the men to come out of the furnace.  He calls them "servants of the most high God" (vs. 26).

I personally don't read too much into that phrase.  Nebguchadnezzar was a believer in polytheism.  He admitted only the God of the Jews was the greatest of all the gods, and I believe that's as far as he would go.  It didn't destroy his belief in other gods, nor did he trust the Hebrews' God.

Having come out of the fire, the Jews were examined by the other governmental officials.  Here was a manifest the full magnitude of the miracle.  Nothing was burned; not even the small of fire was on them! Their bodies and clothes were the same as before they entered the fire.  As with all miracles God performs, this miracle was complete in every detail.

Once the miracle had been verified by all present, the king began to praise the God of the Jews.  Two things impressed the king.  First, he observed the men's trust in God, which resulted in their deliverance.  Second, he realized they had completely yielded their bodies to God, although they knew it might cost them their lives.

I love how God proves in this chapter how even unsaved people take notice of the believer's confidence in God.  They cannot help admiring real courage when they see it. Nebuchadnezzar believed it would have beeen dangerous to offend such a powerful God; therefore, he made a decree forbidding anyone to speak against the God of the Jews (vs. 29).

The kings final act was to reward the Jews.  They were promoted in the governmental ranks of Babylon (vs. 30).  The occasion which threatened to destroy them provided instead for greater prominence in the kingdom.  How frustrated their enemies must have been!

A crisis confronted the Jews; they faced the challenge courageously.  These three men were found equal to the situation because they knew and trusted God who is above every situation.  Setting aside any thought of rationalization would justify a compromise, they placed their confidence in God and stood there ground.

As a result, they  were privileged to hear a heathen dictator voicing his respect for God.  God had visited the Gentiles iwth an unforgettable demonstration of His omnipotence, and they glorified the name of the most high God.

I think chapter three contains more than a historical account of three courageous Jews.  The chapter is reminiscent of the events of the tribulation.  At the end times of the Gentiles, the man of sin will erect a statue in the temple at Jerusalem.

He will order everyone to worship a Western dictator whom the statue represents.  Death will be the penalty for defiance.  Many Jews will die for their refusal to practice idolarty and worhip the beast.

But God in His mercy will deliver thousands of saved Jews from their persecutors.  He will protect them from the awful wrath of their enemies by hiding them in a place He has prepared to secure them until the tribulation judgments have passed.

These Jews will come through the fires refined and purified.  In the day of Messiah's glory these saved Jewish survivors will be elevated to Judicial and legislative positions in the administration of the coming kingdom of Christ on the earth.  God will be greatly glorified among the Gentiles as the result of His extraordinary work in the Israel of the future.