Story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter”
17. “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king”
18. “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Part 1.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon ( now Iraq) made a golden statue, 30 metres and 5 metres wide and set it up on the Plain of Dura , then he sent messages to all the magistrates, administrators, governors, counselors, judges and all the officials of all the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that he had set up.
So all the dignitaries gathered together for the dedication of the golden image that king Nebuchadnezzar had made.
Then a herald cried aloud; “O people of all nations and languages, whenever you hear the sound of the harp, flute in symphony and the band strikes up and the music starts playing, that everyone will fall down (bow down) and worship the golden image that king Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
And whoever does not bow down and worship the golden image shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
So when all the people of Babylon heard the music started playing and the band strike up with all the symphony, that all the people, nations and languages bowed down and worshiped the golden image that king Nebuchadnezzar had made.
But some of the officials went to the king and accused certain Jews of not following the king’s order and refusing to worship the golden image.
They asked the king. “Your majesty, did you not make a law that whenever we hear the band strike up and the music start playing, that everyone should bow down and worship the gold image that you have made, and that anyone who refuses will be thrown into the fiery burning furnace?
“Well, king, there are some Jews out there – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who you have appointed over the affairs of Babylon, who are refusing to serve your gods, or to worship the image that you have set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, ordered that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be brought before him. So they brought the three men before the king.
The king asked them, “is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you are refusing to serve my gods, or to worship the golden image that I have set up. I will give you one more chance to obey my law, when the band strikes up, and you hear the music starts playing, you should bow down and worship the golden image that I have set up.
“If you refuse, you will be thrown in the fiery burning furnace in an hour, and who is the god that can deliver you out my hand.”
To be continued tomorrow.
