For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.
Passage: Daniel 3:1-7
1 King 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. 2 He 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. 3 So 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.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As 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. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7 Therefore, 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.
A. Find Out:
- What did the king set up? v.1
- Why did he send for all the leading people? v.2
- Where did they stand? v.3
- What were they required to do? v.5
- What would happen if they didn’t? v.6
- What happened when the music played? v.7
B. Think:
- Look up Exodus 20:3-5 How does this make the present situation a problem?
- What, therefore, is the crux issue for Daniel and his friends?
- What issues in OUR society today do we have to take stands against?
C. Comment:
In this passage today we see the uncompromising stand that the king makes: either everyone will worship the idol he has made or they will die! It is as simple as that. In this we see the foolishness of godless man who, although he has had opportunity to believe in the living God, still goes towards foolish idol worship. We are not told why he should do this, but Satan is always looking to lead people astray from worshipping the one true living God, and if he can, he will do it so that it puts God’s people into an awkward position where they either have to conform to the world or suffer in the fires of persecution and opposition.
It is at such times that we have to decide whether or not we will be all out for God. Compromise in this situation would have left them feeling guilty and out of God’s will. Obedience appears to mean death – but God has other plans. Look up 1 Samuel 2:30c We’ll never know how committed to the Lord we are until the time comes when we are challenged by the world’s standards and demands. It is then we have to decide like Joshua – see Joshua 24:14,15
D. Application:
- Are there areas of your Christian life that you are embarrassed about with non-Christians?
- Confess such things to the Lord (He knows them!) and ask for His help to be bold and unafraid.
Passage: Daniel 3:8-20
8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They 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.”
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and 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? 15 Now 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?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If 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. 18 But 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.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
A. Find Out:
- Who denounced them? v.8
- Of what were the three accused? v.12c
- What did the king do first of all? v.13-15
- Why did they say they didn’t need to defend themselves? v.16,17
- How did they show their commitment to God? v.18
- What response did this have in the king? v.19,20
B. Think:
- What two things were these young Jews sure about?
- How do you think they could be so sure?
- Look up Romans 8:38,39
C. Comment:
As we said previously, these young men are in an impossible position. Obedience to the king means disobedience to God and disobedience to the king means death. This is undoubtedly the greatest crisis point in their lives. Few of us in the West are called to face this crisis, but it happens in many other parts of the world today.
When brought before the king, who obviously thinks enough of them to give them an audience, they boldly assert their belief and trust in God despite what might happen. This is one of the greatest examples of loyalty to God we can find in the Bible! Verses 17 and 18 are two of the most glorious verses recorded of human commitment to God! Note that they maintain two things: first their trust that God can save them and second that whether He decides to save their lives or not they will obey His commands. This is the crux every believer needs to come to: will I obey God despite what it may cost me? Can I trust the Lord whatever the future appears to hold? Jesus did – see Hebrews 12:2 – as he looked beyond the Cross to what came after it.
D. Application:
- Have I yet come to that point of commitment that I will follow the Lord whatever????
- Am I willing to give up friends and social acceptance if the world rejects my position when I stand out as one of God’s children?
Passage: Daniel 3:21-30
21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The 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, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then 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.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar 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, 27 and 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.
28 Then 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. 29 Therefore 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.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
A. Find Out:
- How was the heat of the fire seen? v.22
- What shocked the king? v.25
- What did the king do himself? v.26
- How did he refer to them? v.26
- How had they been affected by the fire? v.27
- What was the king’s first response? v.28
- What was the second thing he did? v.29
- What was the third thing he did? v.30
B. Think:
- What were the two things that must have thrilled the three friends?
- How further was the faith of the three friends rewarded?
- How far do you think this made the king a believer?
C. Comment:
A miracle of preservation clearly takes place, but the wonder of it is that not only were they saved from burning but God’s representative was actually there with them. The Lord didn’t just stop them getting burnt, He actually shared with them in the whole thing. Wherever we go, God will be there with us.
This is the glorious Christian truth: God may not shield us from every difficult circumstance but He will be with us in it! The king is overwhelmed by the wonder of what he sees happening. He appears full of praise, he protects them for the future and he promotes them, but we should be careful to note that it is still “the God of…” and not “My God”.
As willing as he is to recognise the wonder of what has happened, he is not yet willing to take God as his one and only Lord. We need to learn that many people may acknowledge God but that is different from allowing Him to be Lord over their lives. Nebuchadnezzar has still got a long way to go before he acknowledges that God is his God.
D. Application:
- Thank the Lord that He will be with you wherever you go and whatever you have to go through.
- Pray for those you know who acknowledge God but haven’t taken Jesus as Lord & Saviour yet.