YAHWEH, THE MOST HIGH GOD, RESCUES HIS PEOPLE!
Daniel 3:1-30
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. Nebuchadnezzar has a huge golden image made for the purpose of the Babylonian Empire’s worship (Daniel 3:1-7).
A. This image was 90 feet tall=2 0and 9 feet wide and covered in gold. It was more than likely an image of Nebuchadnezzar himself or of the Babylonian god Nebo (Nabu) from where his name was derived. (Nebuchadnezzar means, “Nebo, protect my boundary.”)
B. Dura (which means “any place enclosed by a mountain or a wall”) was most likely located six miles south of the city of Babylon . In this location, there has been a 45 foot square, 20 foot high platform discovered from archeological digs which probably served as its platform.
C. In conservative, supernatural loving scholarship, there are three possible dates for this occurrence.
1. The Greek Septuagent starts Daniel 3 off with, “In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign,” which would have been 588-587 B.C. This would have been about one year before Jerusalem ’s final fall in 586 B.C.
2. Jeremiah 51:59 says that King Zedekiah and his staff officer Seraiah were summoned to Babylon for a meeting between 594-593 B.C. When they arrived at Babylon , Seriah was supposed to deliver Jeremiah’s prophecy. This could have been that meeting.
3. This might have been early on in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, maybe 602-600 B.C., to establish his ultimate rule over his Babylonian kingdom.
D. All the government officials of Babylon were supposed to come to the dedication of this image and after a proclamation and song were commanded to bow down and worship it (verses 2-7).
E. During the seven-year tribulation period, before Christ’s Kingdom is fully realized on this earth, there will be another image that will be set up to be worshipped (2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:11-18, 14:9-11).
Thought: What are the “gods” of this world which believers need to avoid worshipping?
II. Three Jewish believers refuse to worship the image and are miraculously saved by Yahweh’s messenger (Dan. 3:8-27).
A. Nebuchadnezzar reacts with furious rage and arrogant blasphemy against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (and their God Yahweh) at their refusal to worship the image (verses 8-15).
1. Another contest between the Babylonian gods and Yahweh has been set up by the words of Nebuchadnezzar (verse 15).
2. Daniel was not with these three at this time. He could have either been out of the area on business for the Babylonian kingdom or “untouchable” due to his recently elevated status.
B. Great bravery, faith, and resolve were demonstrated by these Jewish believers (verses 16-18).
1. They knew the Torah (Scriptures) of Yahweh. Some of the verses that they may have meditated on were the Shema (Deut. 6:4,5), the Ten Commandments (Ex.20; Deut. 5), and Isaiah (43:1,2; 46:1-5).
2. They answered the king in a courteous and respectful manner (verse 16; I Peter 3:15 ,16).
3. They did not know the exact will of Yahweh for the moment (for this life) but they proclaimed their uncompromising faith in Yahweh’s ability to rescue them (as His believers) and glorify Himself as an eternal principal (verses 17,18). The Apostle Paul also showed this attitude (Acts 20:24 ).
C. The three Jewish believers were bound and thrown into a large furnace (verses 19-24) and rescued by a Yahweh sent messenger (verses 19-27).
1. There have been some large brick-kiln type furnaces archeologically excavated in the Middle East and Babylonian area the size of 10 feet by 8 feet rooms.
2. They were not burnt in any way, did not smell of smoke, and a fourth person was seen with them.
a. The idea of a triune God called Yahweh who was the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit was progressively being revealed in the Old Testament.
b. An appearance of Christ, the Son, in the Old Testament, before being incarnated as Jesus the Christ, is called a Theophany (“God manifestation”). Even though Jewish scholars usually assign this person to be the angel Gabriel, this fourth person walking in the furnace seems to be one of these theophanies of Christ (also see Gen. 16:7-13; 18:1-15; Ex. 3; 14:19-24; 33:11; Josh. 5:13–6:2; I Cor. 10:1-6).
Thought: In the midst of your situations right now, are you believing that your God Yahweh is with you in it through Jesus Christ? Are you believing that He is ultimately going to re scue you and therefore you can live in His peace now? (Heb. 13:5-8; Rom. 8:37,28; I Thes. 1:10).
III. There were three main outcomes from the Biblical account of the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:28 -30).
A. The God of Israel (Yahweh) is praised by the mouth of the heathen King Nebuchadnezzar.
B. All Jewish exiles will now receive a certain amount of political protection and religious freedom in Babylon .
C. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego receive another promotion.
Thought: Trusting God in the midst of life’s struggles brings God praise and brings His Kingdom into a visible and tangible form here now on earth.
