Year 2, Week 23, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 23, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Daniel 3.

Today’s reading continues in the Book of Daniel. Daniel and some of his friends, and many others from Judah were taken into Babylonian captivity during the first wave of deportations somewhere around 605 BC. This was a wave of deportation that was about eight years before Nebuchadnezzar deported Ezekiel and the second wave of deportees in about 597 BC. Daniel’s prophetic ministry continued for about seventy years as his last known prophecy was given in about 536 BC (see Daniel 10:1). The episodes of Daniel and his friends fill Daniel 1-6. Daniel 7-12 are primarily visions that the LORD granted to Daniel in exile, visions that had both imminent and distant fulfillments. Daniel 3 highlights the character of Daniel’s three friends who are threatened with destruction by fire if they do not bow before an idol: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). The outcome was miraculous: “the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them” (Daniel 3:27b).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was how the responses and actions of Daniel’s three friends served as a powerful testimony (just as we saw this same pattern in yesterday’s reading on Daniel). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are also very clear concerning their testimony about the LORD. As Nebuchadnezzar required all to bow before a statue of himself, word got back to the king that some were not complying with this statute: “There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:12). The king demanded that Daniel’s three friends comply: “Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought…Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?…But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:13-14,15b). As Daniel’s friends were cast into the hot fire, they remained unharmed by the very presence of the LORD who was with them. As Nebuchadnezzar had them come out of the fire, he addressed them as, “servants of the Most High God” (Daniel 3:26).

And after they came out unharmed, their testimony of faithfulness led to the king’s confession: “Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God” (Daniel 3:28). Nebuchadnezzar discovered who the God was who would deliver them: "Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way” (Daniel 3:29). Just as it was observed in yesterday’s reading, the failed calling for Israel to live faithfully to the LORD and therefore be a witness, was displayed by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Through the faithful life and testimony of Daniel’s three friends, Nebuchadnezzar understands something about the greatness of the LORD. Even though Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are in exile, they did what the entire nation should have. Not even exile will prevent the LORD from being seen as a great God.

Just like with Daniel, the faithfulness of Daniel’s three friends did not go unnoticed by the LORD. Like the start of the account of Daniel in yesterday’s reading, the very lives of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were at risk: “And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace” (Daniel 3:6). However, today’s reading, like yesterday’s, ends in an opposite direction. Like Daniel, his three friends were not only spared; they received a promotion: “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon” (Daniel 3:30). The LORD honored the faithfulness of Daniel’s three friends, just as He would have honored the faithfulness of Israel—had they been faithful.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe