Week 32 Day 6
The golden image --
the controversy and two clear choices
Do what you are commanded to
even though you don't agree with it
or make a decision to stand alone
and thereby remain true
to your own principles
This is a story of civil disobedience
involving three influential Jewish exiles
who had been placed
in a position of power
by the king of Babylon
They had an incompliant attitude
Acquiescing would have meant
going against their conscience
customs
religious training
Disobedience meant
being thrown into
a very hot furnace
God is able to save us
that we know
Whether God will save us
we do not know
These three faithful-to-God exiles
provided the perfect opportunity
for God to work an amazing miracle
The king
to his credit
saw it and believed.
OPPOSING THE POWERS THAT BE
Three righteous and determined exiles defy the king of Babylon.
Daniel 3
1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold and set
it up in the province of Babylon. 2The king sent word to gather
all the officials of the provinces to the dedication of the image.
4Then a herald cried aloud: "It is commanded, O peoples,
nations, and languages, 5that 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;
6whoever does not , shall be cast immediately into the midst
of a burning fiery furnace."
8Certain Chaldeans 9said to Nebuchadnezzar, 12"There are
certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province:
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."
13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage, gave command to bring
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these
men before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them,
"Is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the image
which I have set up? 15Now if you are ready at the time you
hear the music, and fall down and worship the image, good!
But if you do not, you shall be cast immediately into a burning
furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you?"
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered, "We have
no need to answer you in this matter. 17Our God is able to
deliver us from the burning furnace, and He will deliver us
from your hand, O king. 18But if not, let it be known that we
do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image."
19Then Nebuchadnezzar commanded that they heat the
furnace seven times more than was usual, 20and then bind
and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
24The king was astonished; he rose in haste and spoke,
"Did we not cast three men into the fire? I see four men loose,
in the midst of the fire, and the fourth is like the Son of God."
26Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the furnace and spoke,
"Come out, and come here." 27The hair of their head was not
singed, and the smell of fire was not on them.
28Nebuchadnezzar spoke, "Blessed be the God who sent
His Angel and delivered His servants. They have frustrated
the king's word, and yielded their bodies that they should not
serve nor worship any god except their own God!"
This Bible passage was condensed from the NKJV
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