Chapter 3: The Sovereign God who Delivers (from Men and Fire)
What: Public Defiance Story
Historical Narrative told in the 3 rd Person which may or may not have typological prophetic elements.
Where and When:
Babylon and the plains of Dura in the province of Babylon (2) some time after the dream, at least enough time to craft a huge golden image, but possibly even more time.
Who:
- Nebuchadnezzar the King who had the image of gold made and commanded the leaders to bow down before it (1, 5) as a symbol of his authority and rule (14)
- The Satraps, prefects, judges, counselors, treasurers, magistrates and all the rulers (collective) all called to the dedication of the statue (2)
- The Chaldeans who brought the charge before the king that the Jewish leaders didn?t bow down (8-12)
- Meschach, Shadrach, Abed-Nego who refused to bow down and were subsequently cast into the furnace (16-18)
- Valiant Wariors (20) who cast the Jews into the furnace (20) and were killed by the flames (22)
- One who looks like the son of the gods (25) who protected the boys and walked in the midst of the fire (24,25)
- The Most High God (26)
Why Written:
Confrontation:
Nebuchadnezzar versus God and Children of God versus Idolatry
Nebuchadnezzar makes an image of gold (1)
- Which was 60 cubits high and six cubits wide
- Set in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar sends a calling for all of the leaders of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image (2) and they all came (3)
The herald shouts that when the music starts, you leaders bow down to the image (4,5) or suffer the consequences of the furnace (6) so when the music started they fell down (7)
The Chaldeans bring the charge against the Jews (8) and in flowery terms (9) state the facts of the proclamation (10,11) and the fact of the disobedient Jews who were appointed and yet show no respect to their king (12)
Nebuchadnezzar was enraged (13) and questioned the men himself (14) offering them a way out if they would bow down before him and his gods or he will cast them into the fire and what god is there who can deliver them?(15)
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego don?t want to argue since the King is made up and so are they (16) pointing out that their God is able to deliver out of the fire and out of the king?s hand (17) but even if he decides not to deliver, they would not serve his gods or worship the image (18)
Nebuchadnezzar flips out and commands the fire to be heated up 7 times (19 so hot that the valiant warriors who cast the 3 men into the fire (20,21) died from the fire ?s heat (22)
The men were thrown in (21) tied up in their pants, coats, caps and other clothes
Result: Personal Intervention in Protection, Praise and Prosperity
but they fell into the fire, not burned up (23)
Nebuchadnezzar shoots up double checking that only 3 men were cast into the fire (24)
He saw 4 men walking in the fire, untied and one looked like the son of gods (25)
Nebuchadnezzar comes near the furnace door and calls the three men to come out of the fire (26).
The leaders note that the men don?t even have the smell of smoke on them (27)
Nebuchadnezzar blesses the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego who delivered his servents (28)
Nebuchadnezzar makes a decree that none are to speak anything offensive against that God because no other God delivers like this (29)
Nebuchadnezzar makes Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.
Application:
Firstly, we see God?s awesome deliverance of His people from the hands of the enemy. The man stood tall challenging God as if Man was the ultimate authority and made a decision in such a positional state casting the people of God and the very respect that God is due into the flames. God overturned the arrogant man?s decision and rescued the men from the clutches of death by sending one who appears like the son of God to personally protect them.
Man took such action against the Sent one of God, the Messiah Jesus Christ who came into the world and preached the Kingdom of God and the people rejected Him, convicted Him as a worthless sinner and blasphemer, sent Him away to the cross and pinned Him to the disgraceful tree for all to see. They scorned Him as they walked before the cross and as He was sent away to be buried they went home and rejoiced remembering the Passover of the Lord.
But God overturned their decision and raised the Son up on the 3 rd day, removing the sting of death and the grave?s victory. He rose up in power and glory, bearing the torrent of God?s judgment and being found the only one who is not-guilty, He did it for our sakes.
Secondly we see that God can decide to intervene whenever He wishes and also not to intervene. God let Nebuchadnezzar sack Jerusalem and yet, didn?t let Him kill these 3 men. God is sovereign in His dealings and actions and moves as He wills?we are to trust in Him as these men who facing persecution and subsequently death, stood tall and made no false claims as if they could force God?s hands. Indeed, they acknowledge that God is sovereign and resolved themselves to what He wanted to do. If they had fought or ran to another country only God knows what could?ve happened.
But these men stayed and in the midst of the most heinous persecution and arrogance, unbelieving pagans saw the Angel of the Lord, God?s arm revealed and their eyes went from their own victory to the one who conquered. We may live in a world where we have very great positions of power and stature, where much is required of us but we answer to a Higher Power than our boss, teacher, supervisor or CEO. We aren?t to revolt against the powers and cause mutiny, but rather take the accepted punishment and point out that God is the one who we are accountable to. Perhaps those in our modern world can get a glimpse of God?s glory in our own persecution.
Thirdly we see that the enemies of the people of God are seeking for an opportunity to trap us and they will take the chance if it is offered.
Fourthly we may see some typological elements of a future day when there is a king who will cause men to bow down to an image and worship and that any who do not do such a thing will suffer death at his hands. This religion that is set up is not an old religion but a new unifying religion which unifies politically through the object of worship and adoration. Those who served would recognize the king?s political and religious authority.
Fifthly, we may note that Nebuchadnezzar elevated the one part of the dream that pertained to him (the golden head) by making an image that was completely gold and tall. 60 cubits by 6 cubits is very narrow so obviously it had to be held up somehow.
-r-