Bible Memory Verse:
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it…” Daniel 3:17
“…I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:9
Today’s story is also from the book of Daniel. Daniel was not there at the time. Perhaps he away on official business, perhaps he was sick and so not called on to bow down to the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar set up. The Bible doesn’t say. Since Daniel wrote the book of Daniel, he must have been told what happened.
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates & all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down & worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of all the instruments, all the people, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
At that time some astrologers came forward and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kind of instrument must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 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, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These men were brought before the king and he 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? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of instruments, 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 rescue you from my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
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 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up them up and throw them into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the men who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, “Wasn’t it three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?
They replied, “Certainly, O king.”
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.”
Nebuchadnezzar 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, and the government officials 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.
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 defiled the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 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.”
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
QUESTIONS:
1. What did King Nebuchadnezzar command everyone to do?
2. Who told the king that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego wouldn’t worship the statue?
3. Why wouldn’t they worship the statue?
4. Were they sure God would deliver them from the fire?
5. How many men were in the fire?
6. What decree did King Nebuchadnezzar make after he had seen how God rescued Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?
7. What finally happened to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?