Daniel 3

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold that was as tall as the CN Tower. The width of it is curiously thin at the base and we wonder what to make of the Babylonian king’s activity. Why would he make this idol in the first place? Especially given his confession of who the true God is, why would he undertake a project of this nature? The ending of chapter two appears to give explanation for the king’s actions. He builds this tall statue which represents him because he is thinking of himself. Remember his dream? The statue is erected to glorify him in the dream as the head of gold and apparently the entire statue is gold not just the head! Indeed the whole image building exercise gets to the king’s head. He demands all the people of his kingdom to gather together at the dedication of this blasphemous structure and hear the sound of the music and fall down and worship the statue which represents his own glory. Apparently everyone does it, except three Jews. Daniel is curiously absent in this story. His three friends though who had been exalted at the end of chapter two are in focus.
Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are the names of the three Hebrews who are more famously known by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three will not worship the image that Nebuchadnezzar sets up. Malicious reports get out that they are not bowing to this idol. Nebuchadnezzar is raging mad over their defiance and demands them to come into his presence. Upon their arrival Nebuchadnezzar seeks to intimidate the three into submission to him. He gives them the ultimatum of one last chance to bow down once the music band starts playing. The three Hebrew boys respond by saying that it is not necessary for them to reply to his silly demands. They declare that their God is able to deliver them from the threats of the fiery furnace. But even if they are not delivered from the fiery furnace the king is being served notice that they will not have their compliance with the idolatrous image that the king set up. Civil disobedience is on display here at its finest.
The king is irate by now and there is no need for the music band to play because that is a lost cause. The only thing hotter than the furnace is the king’s rage. He commands the furnace to be cranked up seven times hotter than usual to let the boys know they have affronted the king. What is showed to us next is nothing short of a miracle. The boys go bound into the fire, apparently at the mercy of the king and his government. This is where the story usually ends. But the Bible is not that kind of story. It shows God showing up at the most interesting of times.
The boys are no longer bound in the fire and they are free! Nebuchadnezzar is aghast with astonishment! He can’t believe his eyes. He explains to his men about what he sees. We threw in three but there is a fourth and he like the son of the gods! God shows up in the most intense persecution. God appears with His people in their trial and greatest hour of need. God does not fail or forsake! This is clarion call to the church to be faithful when everything is going wrong because God will make it right! Only hold on and be of good courage. Wait for your deliverance is near! Call on the name of the Lord and you shall be saved!
The three Hebrew boys are called to come out of the fire and they are examined only to find out that the fire did not have any power over them, none at all. Nebuchadnezzar praises their God as the true God and promotes them in his kingdom.  Coming out of that affliction and being vindicated shows God’s ways with the righteous. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of this in His cross and resurrection. Easter promises this hope! May the Lord who preserves and keeps His people grant you the power to be faithful in your witness to the Triune God. Amen.

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