Worship VIII Day 10 Christ Be Magnified: Digging Deeper

1) What prompted Nebuchadnezzar’s rage? (verse 13)
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, regarded in historical records as a ruthless and arrogant king, seized Jerusalem and took the Jews captive. The Bible tells us it was God who allowed this as a consequence to His people for their continuous rebellion against Him. (Daniel 1:1-2) After their capture, some of the finest Israelite men from royal descent were ordered to enroll in a three year training program preparing them to serve the king in his palace. Among these were four young men from Judah: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (1:1-7) Through a series of events, it became evident that these four were the cream of the crop. Chapter 2 records Daniel’s appointment as one of Nebuchadnezzar’s top advisers following his correct interpretation of the king’s dream which no one else could explain. It appeared the king himself had come to believe Israel’s God was worthy of worship, and he appointed the other three men as administrators in Babylon. (verses 46-49) It’s uncertain how much time passed between their appointments and the events recorded in chapter 3, but we learn that sadly the king’s heart had not fully grasped the unique nature of Yahweh. (Why it Matters that God is Yahweh) Though it’s not clear from the biblical text, many leaders in church history believe the gold statue Nebuchadnezzar erected was actually of himself.  (biblehub.com) Whether or not it was a replica of himself, the people knew they were to worship the statue. So, they all began to bow. Except for those three young men. It was the same Jewish all-stars Nebuchadnezzar had appointed as managers who refused to bow. (verses 10-12) After the news reached him, the king’s rage ensued. Though he controlled himself enough to reiterate the consequences of their obvious insubordination and offer them a chance to comply, they courageously declined.

2) What did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego communicate by refusing to answer the king’s question? (verse 16)
Although the king’s rage was evident, he paused to make sure the accusation was true because it seemed so absurd. His first question was about the allegation and his second was about their God. This scene is like two other events in Scripture which expose the schemes of our enemy who is behind every one of these situations. The devil came to Eve in Genesis 3:1-4 and came to Jesus in Matthew 4:8-11. “Did God say?” is Satan’s favorite question. He overtly said it to Eve, and he implied it when he tempted Jesus. His goal is always to redirect our worship. Sadly, Eve responded incorrectly. Thankfully, these three young men responded in humble obedience. Their answer communicated a bold declaration, We have a God and it’s not you! They had a clear opportunity to recant and be offered life. The king reiterated in verse 15 the consequences of the wrong choice, yet there they stood, unflinching, proclaiming their allegiance to God alone. In 1:17-19, He had blessed “their obedience, which gave them the courage to obey now, when the stakes were much higher.” (enduringword.com) Their answer demonstrated they had complete trust in their God despite the outcome. They chose to declare their commitment to God based on His character and not the circumstances. (verses 17-18)  It was as if they were saying to Nebuchadnezzar “we know what our God can do even when we do not know what He will do. We serve Him because He’s God. We will not bow to you or any other false god.”

3) What is the significance of the change in Nebuchadnezzar’s expression in verse 19 from his initial rage in verse 13?
The king was angry at the news of the young men’s refusal to bow. Until now, his rage was somewhat controlled, and his inquiry indicated he hoped they had not understood the decree. Restraining himself while he called for them, he likely had pondered the situation and considered this was not deliberate disobedience. After giving them an opportunity to reconsider their decision, they would certainly agree to bow. However, verse 18 evidences how their actions were indeed intentional. Once he established their firm and well-informed refusal to obey, Nebuchadnezzar was immediately overcome with rage. While he had previously reserved the full weight of his wrath, instead offering them an opportunity to rectify the situation, he now stood facing the three men who knowingly refused his order and even now continued rejecting him. This was so astonishing and disturbing that he was instantly out of control. In the Hebrew (Aramaic), verse 19 is translated “the appearance of his face was altered”. (I picture Marvel’s fictional character the Hulk.) The rage so affected him that his actions took a swift and brutal turn. His urgent order was given to the strongest soldiers and the three men were bound in their full attire and thrown into the hottest fire. Their bold devotion to God roused Nebuchadnezzar’s fierce desire for power, even to the point of causing death, but to the shock of everyone, including that arrogant king, death didn’t come to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. (verse 22) We read later in the chapter that God spared these three courageous, faithful men, and the king recognized their delivery as from a mighty God. (verses 27-29)