Faith in Impossible Times: A 4-Day Study in DanielSample

DAY 3 Daniel 3 - Faithfulness in Persecution: Fiery Furnace

To this point, Daniel's three friends are somewhat in the background until chapter 3. Remember, they, too, were brought from Israel and expected to assimilate into Babylonian culture with new names, foods, and gods. Here, we encounter another “court tale of contest” where a test of loyalty to King Nebuchadnezzar takes center stage.

The Golden Statue

Daniel 3:1–7 (NLT) — 1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. 3 So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” 7 So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

• What does the nature of this command reveal about how the king views himself?
• What does the response of the people reveal? Why is this significant?

The king was not merely demanding respect; he was insisting on worship, an act that is sacred and reserved solely for God. By expecting his subjects to worship him, the king was overstepping his bounds and encroaching on a domain that, according to their faith, belonged only to the divine.

Exodus 20:3–5 (NLT) — 3 “You must not have any other god but me. 4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.

• Why do you think there are no exceptions in God’s commandments to His people surrounded by pagan nations with many gods?
• How might a Christian today be expected to worship cultural idols?

Serve Only One

Daniel’s friends remembered God’s command to serve no other gods before Him - and they stood firm while all around them were self-serving.

The opening section of this chapter seems to emphasize one theme - pettiness. We witness the pettiness of King Nebuchadnezzar in his construction of the statue and the implications of his command. We also see the pettiness of the court’s wise men who rush to cause trouble for Daniel’s friends. Notice how they describe them to the king as young men "whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon" (Daniel 3:12). Clearly, they are driven by jealousy to bring to light what the king would have otherwise not noticed. This sets the stage for an important message in the book of Daniel: those facing persecution or pettiness can not only survive their circumstances but thrive wherever they are placed. Let’s see how Daniel’s friends put that to the test.

Daniel 3:8–18 (NLT) — 8 But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! 10 You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. 11 That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

• In what way did Nebuchadnezzar challenge God’s authority?
• Threatened with death, they refused a second chance to worship the king. What hope were they clinging to as they refused the second chance?
• If hope is assurance, what was their hope that was greater than rescue?

The Furnace

Daniel 3:19–25 (NLT) — 19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. 24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. 25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

• How does King Nebuchadnezzar respond to the defiance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? What emotional descriptions does the text use? What actions did he take in their punishment?
• How was the king's overreaction evidence of a man whose only hope is in himself?
• What is your first reaction to the king seeing four in the fire instead of the three who were thrown in?

No Contest

This becomes evident in Daniel 3:24 when Nebuchadnezzar himself observes that the fire did not harm the men and notices a fourth figure with them. Daniel Akin suggests, “Some believe this is a theophany, a manifestation of God’s presence. I believe it is this, but more. I believe this is what is called a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God. The Lord was in there with them. The God who did not deliver them from the fire was the God who met them in the fire and delivered them out of the fire!” Similar to the narrative in chapter two, this story also foreshadows a coming King and kingdom that cannot be destroyed, even in the most severe trials.

• How does the presence of the fourth figure in the furnace (interpreted by some as an angel or a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ) demonstrate God's presence with His people in times of trial?
• Reflect on a time when you experienced God's protection or deliverance in a difficult situation. How did you know God was with you?
• How can your steadfast hope in God in current trials help others find hope by demonstrating that God is greater than any trouble or force facing us?

The Rescue

An old preacher once said, “We are on the winning team!” This sentiment couldn't be truer than in Daniel's book. Just as in chapters one and two, those who remain faithful to Yahweh continue to triumph and receive favor. Nebuchadnezzar himself recognized that the success and rescue of Daniel's friends was solely due to their God.

Daniel 3:26–30 (NLT) — 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.

• When the men come from the fire unharmed, it is the king and not them who offers praise to God. Why do you think this is significant?
• The steadfastness of three captive men impacts an entire nation. How does that encourage you to use your life for God’s glory?

A Dramatic Change

The same king who once arrogantly asked, "What god will be able to rescue you from my power?" now declares, "There is no other god who can rescue like this!" (Daniel 3:29). This dramatic change in Nebuchadnezzar underscores a major theme throughout the book of Daniel: Yahweh is supreme and has the power to deliver His people, even when the situation seems impossible. It reinforces the message that those who trust in Yahweh are truly on the winning team.

Personal Application

• What are some modern-day idols or pressures to conform that believers might face today?
• How can we prepare ourselves to stand firm in our faith when faced with similar pressures to conform?