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

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

Daniel Interprets the Dream (Daniel 2:1–49)

 

Daniel Interprets the Dream (Daniel 2:1–49)

How does one know the future? Fundamentally, no one knows what will happen tomorrow. Yet God reveals what is to come and what the invisible kingdom of God is like through various channels. He makes himself known through the mystery of the universe and all creation and of life itself, and above all he teaches through the living word of God.

Daniel chapter 2 tells of how God showed a vision in a dream to the Gentile king Nebuchadnezzar and made known to him what would take place in the future. Yet until God interpreted the dream through Daniel, neither the king nor the so-called wise men of the world could understand the meaning of the vision. God is pleased to give understanding of his secrets. He teaches the secrets of the kingdom of heaven to everyone who asks, seeks, and knocks (Matt. 7:7).

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

1 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means." 4 Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it." 5 The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me." 7 Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."

8 Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me." 10 The astrologers answered the king, "There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans." 12 This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death too. (Dan. 2:1–13)

God spoke to people in many different forms and ways. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made (Rom. 1:20). God spoke directly to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses through his voice, a burning bush, or visions. During the period of the Judges and the monarchy, he gave his word through prophets. Finally, Jesus came to this earth and spoke the word of God directly through the lips of the Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:2). And to us he has given the sixty-six books of Scripture.

God gives dreams to people. He gave a dream to Pharaoh king of Egypt as well. That dream was a revelation that showed the future. But not every dream is a revelation. The king of Babylon had seen a vision in a dream, and his mind was troubled by it. He was troubled because he could not understand the vision he had seen in the dream.

Around the king there were magicians, enchanters, and astrologers who could interpret dreams and visions. But King Nebuchadnezzar demanded both the content of the dream and its interpretation, and despite the repeated requests of the astrologers, he was resolute that he would not tell them the content of the dream. If they could not produce the content of the dream and its interpretation, all the astrologers of Babylon would face an inescapable death sentence.

The wise men and astrologers pleaded with the king that no one except the gods could interpret his dream. It was the same with Pharaoh king of Egypt. The secrets of God cannot be known unless the Lord himself teaches and gives understanding of them. In the end, God interpreted Pharaoh's dream through Joseph, who was imprisoned. The same was true of the vision given to Nebuchadnezzar. God had prepared in advance before the ages and taught through Daniel, the young man of Judah who had been brought as the king's captive.

The fact that we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and receive forgiveness of sins through faith is not by human will, but by the revelation and understanding that comes down from heaven (John 1:12; Matt. 16:17). God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his love (Eph. 1:4). When God's time fully came, we entered into the glorious salvation of believing in Jesus Christ. And he continues to lead us to understand and grow in the knowledge and secrets of God.

The Secret Revealed to Daniel

14 When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. 17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king." 24 Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him." (Dan. 2:14–24)

When Daniel heard the news of death from Arioch the commander of the guard, he went to the king in faith without delay and said that if given time he would make known the interpretation. Then he went before God in faith and prayed together with his friends. He asked that God would have mercy and reveal his mystery so that Daniel and his friends would not be put to death along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

God has made those who believe in the Lord to be the salt and light of this world (Matt. 5:13). This world is fundamentally immoral and corrupt and is headed for destruction. Yet God desires that no one perish but that all receive salvation. So he has left believers in this world to reflect the light of his love and truth. Daniel, though a captive, was in reality placed there by God as an instrument to testify of God's saving love and mercy to Gentile people.

God is pleased to reveal his deep and secret things (Prov. 25:2). God has hidden and concealed the secrets of his kingdom so that they are invisible to the eye, yet he is pleased to teach them. To whom does he reveal them? To everyone. God revealed his deep and secret things to Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, who were Gentile kings. Yet they needed the knowledge of what these things meant, and God is also pleased to give that knowledge. It was for this purpose that God prepared Joseph and Daniel before the ages.

Both Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar were so troubled by not understanding what their visions meant that they could not sleep, longing to know. People are fundamentally thirsting after the eternal kingdom of God. For the things of this world will be here for a little while and then disappear. So they desire to know that secret. The problem is that a teacher is needed. The Ethiopian eunuch had visited Jerusalem and was reading Isaiah in his chariot on his way home. God sent Philip to him, and when Philip asked whether he understood what he was reading, the eunuch replied, "How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?" (Acts 8:26–40).

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Rom. 11:33)

Daniel Interprets the Dream

25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, "I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means." 26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?" 27 Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: 29 As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind." (Dan. 2:25–30)

Daniel went before the king and introduced the Almighty Lord God. He said that this God had shown the king a vision, and that this was a showing in advance of what would take place in the future. God is not only pleased to reveal great and secret things — things that will be accomplished in the future — but he also sends a person who can interpret them.

The purpose is not to exalt Daniel or the king or any person, but because God desires that the invisible Almighty God be believed. God exists from everlasting to everlasting; his wisdom and power are beyond all measure; he establishes and deposes nations and kings and governs all things according to his will and purpose. God's will and purpose is to save people who have fallen into sin and give them eternal life. We each give the gift we have received according to our gift for building up the church, which is the body of Christ.

The Large Statue

31 "Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue — an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.

37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. 39 After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron — for iron breaks and smashes everything — and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others to pieces. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

44 In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands — a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy." (Dan. 2:31–45)

God establishes nations and deposes them, and he raises up kings and deposes them. The vision God showed to Nebuchadnezzar reveals the secret of how God establishes and deposes the kingdoms of this world. The four kingdoms refer to the Babylonian Empire, the Medo-Persian Empire, Greece, and Rome — the great empires that dominated the world centered on the Mediterranean Sea in those days.

The empire depicted in the vision as a mixture of iron and clay is the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was broadly divided into the Western and Eastern Roman Empires, and it was not so long ago that the age of emperors came to an end. The Western Roman Empire fell in AD 476 due to Germanic invasions and fiscal collapse, and the Eastern Roman Empire, centered on Constantinople, continued until 1453 when it was destroyed by the Ottoman Empire. The form of the imperial age carried on through the Holy Roman Empire and the Russian tsars. The era of the Russian tsars, however, came to an end in March 1917, during the First World War. Yet in the book of Revelation we see Rome, which appeared to have received a fatal wound and disappeared for a time, making its appearance again (Dan. 8:22; Rev. 13:3).

The kingdoms of this world are here for a little while and then they are gone. But in the vision shown to Nebuchadnezzar there appears an eternal kingdom that does not decline and is never destroyed — and that kingdom is the eternal kingdom of God. This world is heading toward that very end. After Christ returns to this earth and the heavens are shaken and disturbed, God will establish a new heaven and a new earth.

The King Honors Daniel

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery." 48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 49 Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court. (Dan. 2:46–49)

Daniel's status was that of the king's captive, yet God set him up as the chief of the wise men whom the king trusted. God humbles and exalts — and this is in order to accomplish his will. His will is to set people free from darkness and ignorance and lead them into the salvation of life. It is to reveal the Almighty God to kings and peoples who have no faith, and to turn their hearts away from idols and back to the Lord. To Daniel and the people of Israel who were in the midst of suffering, God teaches that he is still alive and the sovereign who governs all of heaven and earth, and he continues to lead them to believe in the faithful God and to fear and worship him alone.

Amen!

October 11, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.