Daniel 3:13-18

c. PROFESSION OF DEDICATION

TEXT: Daniel 3:13-18

13

Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14

Nebuchadnezzar answered and said unto them, Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15

Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter.

17

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king.

18

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

QUERIES

a.

What did Nebuchadnezzar mean by his question to the three youths?

b.

Why did they have no need to answer the king in this matter?

c.

Does their answer exhibit a lack of faith in God?

PARAPHRASE

Then Nebuchadnezzar in a furious rage, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in before him. As incredible as it is, is it still true, he asked, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Adebnego, that you are refusing to serve my gods or to worship the golden image I set up? There must be some misunderstanding on your part so I will give you one more chance. When the musical instruments are played, giving the signal, if you fall down and worship the statue, all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown into a flaming furnace within the hour. And what god can deliver you out of my hands then? The three Hebrew youths replied, O Nebuchadnezzar, if we went into lengthy explanations you would not understand, therefore, there is no need for us to make such an answer. Either our God will deliver us and the issues will then be cleared upfor our God is well able to deliver us from any circumstancesor else, for reasons best known to Him, He will not deliver us. But in either case, please understand, O King, we will not alter our position nor serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you set up.

COMMENT

Daniel 3:13-14. NEBUCHADNEZZAR IN HIS RAGE AND FURY COMMANDED TO BRING SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABED-NEGO. The king is incredulous! He cannot believe that anyone would defy his royal edictleast of all three foreigners placed in such high positions by his special favor. Their apparent ingratitude shocked him at first and then spurred him into a furious rage. The phrase Is it of purpose. would be better translated Is it true. At least the king is fair enough to give the three men an opportunity to answer for themselves. Nebuchadnezzar must have recognized the envy and jealousy behind the accusations made by the Chaldeans.

Daniel 3:15 NOW IF YE BE READY. BUT IF YE WORSHIP NOT. The king is also ready to give them a second chance to obey the royal edict. But that is all. If they do not worship the next time they hear all the musical instruments giving the signal to do so, they shall be speedily (that very hour) cast into the flaming furnace. Then, boastingly, what god can protect you from my power? It would seem that Nebuchadnezzar had already seen sufficient evidence of the power of the Hebrew God 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.

Daniel 3:16-18. WE HAVE NO NEED TO ANSWER THEE IN THIS MATTER. This is not an answer of insolence. It is an answer of reality. The Hebrew lads know that due to the king's spiritual ignorance and blindness extensive explanations of their reasons for obedience to Jehovah-God and disobedience to paganism would be useless. There is no need of lengthy explanations because either God will deliver them from the fire and the whole issue of who is the most powerful, Nebuchadnezzar or Jehovah, will be cleared up, or else, for reasons best know to God, he will not deliver them from the fire. In either case, they are not going to worship the image of Nebuchadnezzar. They were wholly committed to the will of God as they knew it. Whatever the consequence of obeying His will, they were persuaded it would serve His purposes. They have no revelation that God will certainly work a miracle on their behalf and protect them from the furnace. All they know is that His word prohibits worshipping idols and His word promises divine approval and salvation ultimately to those who commit themselves to doing His will. These Hebrew lads did not lack faith in God. They exemplify the most complete, unreserved faith of the Old Testament saints.

QUIZ

1.

Why did Nebuchadnezzar give the Hebrew lads a second chance?

2.

What is Nebuchadnezzar's boast?

3.

Is the answer of the Hebrew lads one of fatalism or faith?

4.

Did the Hebrew lads know God was going to deliver them miraculously?