DANIEL 3THE FIERY FURNACE 1.
"Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up." Daniel 3:1-3.
Daniel had saved the lives of all the wise-men of the kingdom, but they were jealous of him and still wanted to get rid of him. The king talked a lot about his dream and how that he was the head of gold - He talked a lot about Daniel also. The Wise-men did not dare attack Daniel and the 3 Hebrews openly. They bided their time. They planned and one day they saw their chance. Approaching the King with much flattery, they said: “Why don’t you make an image like the one in your dream, only make it ALL GOLD!” they said, to show your kingdom will last forever. You could make everyone worship it! The King gave the orders and soon work began on an immense golden image that would tower 90 feet high on the plain of Dura.
Decrees were sent all over the world telling the important people all over the world to come on a certain day and worship this huge image. He probably sent Daniel somewhere else that day. But Daniel's 3 friends, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego were commanded to attend. They had been watching the construction of this great image and they had been praying for courage to do what they must do.
The day came; the king and all his important men gathered to see the people worship the golden image on the plain of Dura. "Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up." Daniel 3:4-7.
The music played- everybody bowed down-- EXCEPT Daniel’s 3 friends, Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego. They would not worship any other god than the TRUE GOD of heaven. There they stood as tall as they could. They didn't even bend down to 'tie their sandals.' "Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." Daniel 3:8-12. Of course, the 'wisemen' were watching for their chance to bring the matter to the attention of the King. "These Hebrew", they snitched, "Do not obey thy decrees, Oh King!"
|
