Daniel 8:13-25
King James Version (KJV)
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 of
Fine & Performing Arts
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