SHADRACH MESHACH AND ABED-NEGO

Daniel 8:13-25

King James Version (KJV)

Daniel’s Friends Refuse to Worship

8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Daniel’s Friends Trust God

 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Daniel’s Friends Are Protected in the Furnace

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

GUIDELINES FOR GROWING IN GODLINESS

 Godly living requires that we exhibit faith during times of adversity and want, as well as during times of prosperity and peace.  Compromising our faith when threatened with persecution forfeits the most powerful opportunities for God to manifest His glory.

• Reject compromise of your godly convictions, and refuse to "run with multitude" to do evil and worship false gods.

• Believe that God is able to deliver you from the most difficult circumstances.  Be willing to endure death rather than deny your faith in God’s power to deliver you.

3:18, 18 The absolute refusal of the Hebrews to bow to the image offers an inspiring illustration for believers. Satan, as the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4), forms many images by which he seeks to intimidate and seduce into bowing to the spirit of the world.  Jesus Christ stands as the consummate example of uncompromising commitment in resisting this tactic of the Adversary (Matt. 4:1-11).

3:19-25 This is a dramatic illustration of the personal presence and protection of the Lord with His people who suffer for their testimony.  The fourth man is a Christophany (preincarnate appearance of the Messiah) whom even Nebuchadnezzar recognized to be like the Son of God.

3:26-28 Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that the deliverance was of God. 

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas

Founder/President/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre 

info@biblestoriestheatre.org

www.biblestoriestheatre.org