These were Jewish men, taken into captivity, to serve in the midst of Babylon when the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.”
Daniel 1:1 & 2
Part of their training in that land, was to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans. Those things both spoken and written by them, so that they might serve before the king.
“Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.”
Daniel 1:3-5
What we Speak Matters to Jesus
King Nebuchadnezzar himself, put these three men, previously named Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; along with Daniel the prophet, re-named Belteshazzar; into positions of great authority within the Babylonian kingdom (see also Daniel 2:1-47). Unbeknown to king Nebuchadnezzar, they were there to be God’s mouth-pieces.
“Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.”
Daniel 1:6 & 7
“Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”
Daniel 2:48 & 49
In time, certain of the Chaldeans complained to Nebuchadnezzar, regarding Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, saying,
“There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Daniel 3:12
- Note that it was Nebuchadnezzar’s gold image that he had set up, not the Lord’s.
These men, although taken captive to Babylon against their will and taught the way of the Chaldeans, were still noted for continuing to serve the One True God. The God of their fore-fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This, despite the strength of the opposition they were facing.
Who or What we Worship Matters
- Do not put yourself in a place of confusion – worship the Lord.
King Nebuchadnezzar, in great rage and anger, then enquired of them,
“Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?”
Daniel 3:14
They were given a way of escape, should they choose to take it, but the three stood firm. King Nebuchadnezzar warned them,
“Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
Daniel 3:15
King Nebuchadnezzar was not challenging them, he was challenging their God and the consequences would be immediate.
He was With Them in the Fiery Furnace
- The God Nebuchadnezzar did not know, became known to Him as the Most High God – A Mighty Deliverer – Not just to him alone, but to all the people of that land.
“And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counsellors, ‘Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?’ They answered and said to the king, ‘True, O king.’ ‘Look!’ he answered, ‘I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.’ Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.’ Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counsellors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!’”
Daniel 3:23 - 28
- What became a threat to the kingdom of man, served a purpose to promote the Kingdom of God.
King Nebuchadnezzar continued,
“’Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.’ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.”
Daniel 3:29 - 30
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who causes us to do valiantly! Amen.
