Slides for this study

Daniel 3:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

The king makes an image all of gold.

• Probably looked like the one that he had in his dream.
• Why all of gold?
• In Daniel 2, his kingdom was going to pass away. After that would be silver.
• But now the king wants his kingdom to last forever. It’s going to be all of gold!
• King Nebuchadnezzar is trying to reinterpret prophecy – change prophecy.

What is the dimensions of this image?

• 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide.
• Six is man’s number. And they are always related to the enemies of God.
• Man was made on the sixth day.
• Goliath was six cubits tall.
  • 1 Samuel 17:4
    And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
• The number of man and 666.
  • Revelation 13:18
    Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

 

RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL

King and the image:

• We see a “king” – political figure.
• Setting up an “image of gold” – religious connotations.
• We see here a combination of religious and political.
• This is very important to dig into and study.

Where have we seen religious and political in Daniel? Seems like we haven’t so far. But actually we have.

• The feet of iron and clay in Daniel 2. Remember, this was given the most description in Daniel 2 when talking about the image.
• What did the iron and clay represent? Divided Rome.

What did these two elements of iron and clay represent separately though?

• What was the iron? It was the kingdom of Rome.
• How about the clay? What does the clay represent in the Bible?
  • Isaiah 64:8
    But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.
  • Jeremiah 18:6
    “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the LORD. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
  • It represents God’s people. Back then they were referred to as a nation (Israel). However today God’s people are found in the church. We see this in the study of the book of Revelation – 7 churches.
• So this kingdom isn’t just talking about a divided Rome, it is talking about a kingdom that mingles both religious and political together. It is a Religio-Political power.

What happens when you mix religious and political together?

• It always results in persecution.
• Example:
  • Crucifixion of Jesus
    • Religious – Caiaphas the high priest.
    • Political – Herod and Pilate.
  • Muslim country like Malaysia
    • You are not allowed to convert Muslims. And there was a pastor that did and he went missing. Another pastor was killed because of it. And the government there tends to overlook it.
  • Conversion Therapy in Victoria.
    • News articles about it.
  • So religious + political = persecution.

Only Christ can combine religious and political and there be no persecution.

• Acts 5:31
  Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
• Revelation 19:16
  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

So in Daniel 3, we see a king (political) setting up an image (religious). What can we expect in Daniel 3?

• PERSECUTION!
• Let’s continue.

Daniel 3:2-3
2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Notice all the people that Nebuchadnezzar gathered together to dedicate this image.

• Satraps.
• Administrators.
• Governors.
• Counselors.
• Treasurers.
• Judges.
• Magistrates.
• Officials of the provinces.

All political figures and civil authorities.

• But why are they there?
• Sounds like there’s going to be some discussion about the ruling of the kingdom.

Daniel 3:4-6
4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

They are there to worship!

• Political entities there to worship. Political plus religious!
• And right there is the persecution as well.
  • If you don’t worship, you will be cast into a fiery furnace.
• The word worship is mentioned 8 times in this chapter.

The battle at the end of time, the mark of the beast, is also about worship as well.

• Revelation 13:15-17
  15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
  • The mark of the beast is about forced worship as well.
• And God calls us to worship Him, the Creator God!
• Revelation 14:6-7
  6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
• There will be worship wars at the end of time.

 

MUSIC AND WORSHIP

But notice that there is something at the heart of this call to worship with Nebuchadnezzar. What is it?

• It is the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery and symphony (verse 5).
• There is music mentioned.
• This music is repeated 4 times throughout the chapter.
• When the music is played, everyone has to bow down and worship!

Music at the end of time can lead us to false worship. We need to be so careful.

• What is true worship all about?
• John 4:23
  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
• True worship is not about the music. It is about the Holy Spirit and the Bible.
• Music is important to enhance the worship experience, but our focus should always be on the Bible and asking God for His Holy Spirit.

What is the meaning of Babylon?

• It means to confound or confusion.
• This originated at the tower of Babel when God confused the people by adding all the languages and dialects.
• The music of Babylon can lead people to confusion. There is a type of music out there that is not good.

Numbers 24

• Balaam had been hired by Balak, king of Moab to curse the children of Israel. But he couldn’t. He was unsuccessful. Every time he tried to curse them, a blessing came out of his mouth.
• So in Numbers 25, Balaam taught Balak to send in his Moabite women to dance because the children of Israel. And they would end up committing fornication.
• Numbers 25:1
  Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab.
• Numbers 25:6-9
  6 And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 7 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. 9 And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
• Numbers 25:14-15
  14 Now the name of the Israelite who was killed, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father’s house among the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a father’s house in Midian.
• Zimri – means my music.
• Cozbi – means false.
• When you put them together, it means false music. It gives this understanding that there can be music that is bad. We need to be so careful.

And in Revelation, we see something about Babylon and fornication.

• Revelation 14:8
  And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
• Could this be related to the music of Babylon?

As Christian’s today, we need to be so careful what we listen to.

• There can be music that can lead to confusion to the point that rational beings will be so confused that we will make the wrong decision.

So this topic of music is introduced here in Daniel 3. Let’s continue reading.

 

Daniel 3:7
So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Worship was in full effect. But not all would bow down to worship.

Daniel 3:8-12
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Daniel’s three friends:

• Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego did not bow down even though they were there.
  • They weren’t pretending to tie their shoelaces or pick something off the ground just at the convenient time when the music played.
  • They didn’t think to themselves, instead of facing the image, let me face Jerusalem and in my heart I am praying to God.
  • No, they stood straight up. They were not going to give the least hint that they were in agreeance with Nebuchadnezzar to worship this idol and go against their faith.
• Now we see their faith clearly. They weren’t just simply following Daniel. They were strong in their beliefs in God as well.
• Where was Daniel? We don’t know and we’ll just leave it at that. But now the three of them get to shine and show their faith without Daniel being present.

Daniel 3:13-15
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

Upon hearing the report of the three Hebrew boys not wanting to worship his golden image, Nebuchadnezzar goes into a rage.

• He has them brought before him and he checks to make sure they understand what the instructions were.
• But he adds a little at the very end.
• “who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
• Nebuchadnezzar is challenging the God of heaven. He’s denying that anyone can stand against him.

Did Nebuchadnezzar know who that God was?

• Absolutely he did!
• In Daniel 1, he gets to see first hand the result of those that are faithful to God.
• At the end of Daniel 2 look at what he says:
  • Daniel 2:47
    The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”
• He knew the true God of heaven.
• But now he turns around and asks – who is that God? Just like someone did back in Egypt.
  • Exodus 5:2
    And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.”
  • Pharaoh knew who that God was. He was the One that was about to bring the plagues down on Egypt. He was the One that had saved Egypt from national ruin during the 7 years of famine because of Joseph.
• This response was a defiant rejection of the God of heaven after what God had done to reveal Himself so clearly to Nebuchadnezzar.
• Nebuchadnezzar was denying the existence of God after having such clear evidence.

But look at how the three Hebrew worthies reply.

Daniel 3:16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego 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 gold image which you have set up.”

They were prepared with a response. They didn’t hesitate.

• They were not going to worship the golden image. They had already made up their mind. They had purposed in their heart just like what they did back in Daniel 1 in regards to the kings food and wine.
• Their response was clear and decisive. And we need to have the same response in the future as well because this is what the Bible tells us:
  • Matthew 10:18-20
    18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
  • God will give us a word to speak. But we have to be faithful. Faithful even until death!
• Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego believed that God could deliver them from the fire.

However, the key is found at the beginning of verse 18.

• “But if not…”
• Even if God did not deliver them and allowed them to perish, they still would not bow down to the golden image.
• This is something so important for us to understand about God.
  • He is more than able to deliver us from anything if He desires.
  • However, it does not mean that He always will.
• This is not a promise that is guaranteed to us.
• Just because you become a Christian it doesn’t mean that everything in your life will just be easy and that God will give you everything you desire and you will never go through any trials or any heartache.
• That is just not true.
• God is infinite in wisdom. He knows what is best for every person out there. And we need to recognize that just sometimes God will not save a person from a trial.

Upon hearing that response, how does Nebuchadnezzar react?

Daniel 3:19-21
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

He is so angry that he heats up the furnace seven times hotter than it was usually heated!

Daniel 3:22-23
22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

The furnace was heated up so much, that the soldiers who were commissioned to throw the three boys into the fire were killed in the process.

The young Hebrew boys must have been claiming the promise found in Isaiah:

• Isaiah 43:2
  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

Daniel 3:24-25
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

First, they were loose walking around in the fire with their hands and feet that were bound were now free.

• Everything that had been used to bind them had burnt away in the fire. All the unnecessary things were burnt away.

But how did Nebuchadnezzar know that the fourth person in the fire looked like the Son of God?

• Through Daniel chapter 1 and chapter 2.
• And the witness of the Hebrew boys in their life and deportment.

Daniel 3:26
Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.

What does Nebuchadnezzar call the Hebrew worthies?

• He calls them “servants of the Most High God.”
• Nebuchadnezzar recognizes the true God of heaven. He is the Most High God.

Daniel 3:27
And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

The smell of smoke was not even on the three of the young men.

• The hair was not even singed. The fire had no power over them at all.
• God had shielded them fully from the fire as if they had never even been near it.

You know, it’s better to be in the fire with Jesus, than outside enjoying life without Him.

• It’s better to be faithful to God and in the fire, than unfaithful and outside enjoying the beautiful weather.

Daniel 3:28-30
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

Now every ruler and political leader in the whole province of Babylon got to hear about the God of heaven. They are all standing there as king Nebuchadnezzar makes this declaration.

• The knowledge of God spreads far and wide.
• No one is allowed to speak anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
• It is through the faithfulness of these three boys and the persecution that they faced that the good news about the true God of heaven goes everywhere.
• You can imagine, everyone is talking about it.
• Many are probably enquiring about the God of the Hebrews now after this incident.

The Bible says that before Jesus can come back for a second time, at least one thing needs to happen.

• Matthew 24:14
  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
• If we are to preach the gospel to everyone, we have to endure persecution.
• Look at what happens just before verse 14 of Matthew 24.
• Matthew 24:9-10
  9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
• There is persecution!

How could Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego have such amazing faith that they were willing to die for God?

• It was because of Daniel 1.
• It all began there.
• They were faithful in the little things. It was through the little things that God was training their faith so that they would be ready to face bigger trials in life.
• So often we think that the little things are beneath us. That we will rise to stand faithful when it really matters. Not realizing that every little thing matters and molds our characters to prepare us to face the bigger issues and trials in life.
• May God helps us to be faithful – and in this case, it is not faithful in the little things, but to be faithful unto death!