Daniel's Three Friends (Daniel 3:1–30)

 

Daniel's Three Friends (Daniel 3:1–30)

How does one live in the midst of tribulation and hardship? From beginning to end, by faith alone. What is seen is not everything — the invisible kingdom of heaven is everything. Satan the devil may threaten us as though we are about to suffer immediate loss and harm, but he cannot overcome the power, authority, and glory of God. Therefore the righteous person will live by his faithfulness (Hab. 2:4).

In Daniel chapter 3, God protected and saved Daniel's three friends who were thrown into the blazing furnace. Even if they were to fall into the burning fire, they refused to compromise with and rejected idol worship. God blessed their faith and displayed his power and authority to save even from within a furnace-like pit of fire.

The Gold Statue

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." 7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (Dan. 3:1–7)

Nebuchadnezzar badly misunderstood the vision he had seen in his dream. That vision was given by the Almighty God to reveal to him what would take place in the future. Through it, God was teaching him about the sovereign God who created all of heaven and earth and who establishes and deposes nations and kings. The ancient Gentile nations were in ignorance and darkness, worshiping many idols in place of the Lord God. God sent the prophet Jonah to the city of Nineveh to proclaim a message of judgment.

But the king of Babylon, upon hearing Daniel's interpretation of the dream, took the word that the head of pure gold was himself and erected an enormous statue — twenty-seven meters high and two point seven meters wide. And he commanded all peoples, nations, and people of every language to bow down to it in time with the music. God regards it as an abomination for people to make an image of any animal, the sun, or the stars — or anything at all — and worship it. This shows that he had absolutely no knowledge of God the Almighty Creator. When God descended on Mount Sinai, he came in a thick cloud. Similarly, the reason he did not show his form was to prevent people from making and worshiping idols.

"Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice... You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully." (Deut. 4:12, 15)

Daniel's Three Friends

8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "May the king live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 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, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar 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? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, 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 be able to rescue you from my hand?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Dan. 3:8–18)

Anyone who did not bow down to the gold statue faced certain death by being thrown into the blazing furnace. The king's officials discovered that Daniel's three friends were not bowing down to the gold statue and brought an accusation against them. Nebuchadnezzar had enjoyed all the people bowing down to his gold statue in time with every kind of instrument, but this matter greatly disturbed him and he was filled with rage. Defying the king's command was something utterly unthinkable. He summoned the three and questioned them about the matter from beginning to end, threatening them that if they did not bow down even now he would throw them into the blazing furnace, and asking which god could deliver them from the furnace.

Why then did Daniel's three friends refuse to bow down to the statue? It was because doing so would constitute idol worship. The first of the Ten Commandments is not to bow down to any god other than the Lord God Almighty (Exod. 20:3–6). Gods other than God are not real. Making images of the sun, moon, and stars, or of animals or fish, and worshiping them is a futile and empty thing. All idol worship provokes the fierce wrath of the jealous God.

Idol worship is equivalent to adultery — abandoning God, who is the true husband, and uniting with another (false and empty) god. God descended on Mount Sinai, gave his commandments to Israel, and made a covenant by which he took them as his people. This was God entering into a marriage relationship with his people. In the future there will be the wedding of the Lamb, when the Lord Jesus Christ is united with the church adorned as a pure bride (Rev. 19:7–9).

God has hidden within the marriage relationship the secret of the union of Christ and the church. Within the marriage relationship, two people share everything in life together — in the most intimate and deepest way — going through all of life's joys and sorrows together for a lifetime. In raising children, and in relationships with both families and neighbors, they are recognized not as two but as one (Gen. 2:24). In particular, the joy and fullness of physical union between the two is a blessing permitted only within the marriage relationship. Physical union outside this relationship is adultery and idol worship.

The Three Friends Thrown into the Furnace

19 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 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. (Dan. 3:19–23)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the blazing furnace as the price for refusing idol worship. Though the king tried to persuade them and gave them the opportunity, they refused without hesitation. The three believed that God was able to deliver them even if they fell into the furnace fire. And even if he did not, the three young men told the king without hesitation that they would not bow down to the gold statue. They endured the tribulation right before their eyes by believing in the invisible God.

Jesus said that no one can serve both God and money. The human heart is one. It was created to serve and worship God alone. When we are united with God and abide in him, all the spiritual grace of heaven — love, joy, and peace — wells up and overflows like a spring. Serving God alone is not a restriction of freedom — it is rather the path to true freedom.

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (John 8:31–32)

True freedom is the power and authority to discern good from evil and to follow the truth. Idol worship is being deceived and overcome by falsehood rather than truth. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin, seized by the power of sin (Rom. 6:16). The Israelites entered the land of Canaan and bowed down to Baal, the agricultural deity. They were deceived by the lie that doing so would bring good harvests and plentiful crops. In the end, as the price of idol worship, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and they were taken captive to Babylon.

The freedom that transcends death comes from believing in the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator God. It was a fearful and terrifying thing for them to face the prospect of falling into the blazing furnace and dying right before their eyes. In fact, the people who bound them and threw them into the furnace were themselves burned to death by that fierce fire. It was a devastating force that could melt even strong iron. The reason they did not become slaves to fear and compromise in the desperate extremity of intense persecution was because of their faith in the living Creator God.

How does God stay with us? How does he save us in particular during moments of extreme pressure and hardship? Jesus said that in the last days, those who believe in Christ will be dragged before councils and questioned, but they should not worry about what to say — because the Holy Spirit will speak through them (Mark 13:11). The Spirit of God's truth who dwells within believers helps them in their weakness with wordless groans and intercedes for them himself (Rom. 8:26). God pours out the gift of faith — the assurance — that is more than able to overcome the terror and fear of the blazing furnace.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:37–39)

Four Men Walking in the Fire

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, Your Majesty." 25 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." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then 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, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers 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.

28 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 defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 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." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. (Dan. 3:24–30)

God protected and saved the three young men by sending an angel. By leaving them completely unharmed within the blazing furnace, he displayed the power, authority, and glory of God the Creator. In particular, he made this visible not only to those suffering tribulation but also as a testimony to unbelievers, including the king. Even if harm were to come, God is the resurrection and the life and is able to raise the dead.

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt. 10:28)

Amen!

November 1, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.