Faith in the Fire
Daniel 3:1-30
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Go with me, 2600 years ago, to the plain of Dura near Babylon, where King Nebuchadnezzar had summoned every leader – the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces – from his far-flung empire. Imagine the sight – multitudes of people from various nations, speaking many languages. And they all had gathered for one purpose – to honor King Nebuchadnezzar and his gods!
Ever since Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream for him, the king could not stop thinking of himself as that head of gold. I’m sure it must have bothered him greatly to think that his great kingdom would be left to others inferior to himself. The king was attempting to consolidate his power and test the loyalty of his subjects. Could Nebuchadnezzar reverse the scattering of the nations and the confusion of the languages that happened so long ago in Babel? Surely he could unite all these diverse people, nations and languages and ensure that his kingdom would never fail.
So Nebuchadnezzar had erected a huge, golden image ninety feet tall. And now these leaders, having made their way to the great plain of Dura, were compelled to bow in worship as soon as the royal orchestra began playing. It was that or death!
But three Hebrew men – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – refused to bow. More →