STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL.

March 30, 2021

Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden image… Dan. 3:1-30

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were pressured to deny God, but they chose to be faithful to him no matter what happened! They trusted God to deliver them, but they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences. We should be faithful to serve God whether he intervenes on our behalf or not. Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first.” Life app. Stud. Bible

  1. Dan. 3:16-18 “…O Nebuchadnezzar, we are no careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from your burning furnace, and will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to thee, O king, we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
  2. “If it is so’. Even if death is the consequence of noncompliance, they will still hold fast to their religious commitments and trust God for deliverance.
  3. ‘Our God.’ A courageous proclamation of faith. God is both able and faithful to deliver His people.
  4. ‘And if not.’ If God elects not to deliver them from death, they will not regret their decision to stand firm. let it be known to you, O king Their bold address to the world power demonstrates that they fear God more than the king.
  5. ‘Not serve’. Their stated refusal to obey effectively seals their fate; Nebuchadnezzar will not tolerate open defiance.” FSB
  6. These were men of faith.
  7. They relied on God’s word. Is. 55:10, Lk. 5:4-7; 1:35-38
  8. Trust in His faithfuness. Heb. 11:11-12, 2Cor. 4:13-14, Is. 50:5-9, Lk. 12:27-30.
  9. Risked their lives. Heb. 11:17-19,24-27, 1Sam. 14:1, 6-14, Ruth. 1:12-18, Est. 4:13-16; 5:1-4; 7:1-6.
  10. They were determined at all cost. Job. 23:8-15; 27:26, Act. 20:24; 4:19-20, 1Chro. 4:9-10, Neh. 2:19-20; 4:1-9; 6:1-15.

 “We should rather call them the three champions, the first three of the worthies of God’s kingdom among men… When they were duly called to the fiery trial, they acquitted themselves bravely, with a conduct and courage that became sufferers for so good a cause. The king was not so daringly bad in making this idol, but they were as daringly good in witnessing against it” M. Henry