DANIEL — LESSON 4

Scriptures for Lesson 4 are taken from Daniel 3.

In Lesson 3, Daniel gave Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation of his dream about the giant statue made of gold, silver, copper, iron and iron and clay mixed. Nebuchadnezzar then changed his mind about having all the wise men killed and he made Daniel the number two ruler over Babylon and gave the other three Hebrew boys important positions.

In Lesson 4, Nebuchadnezzar is going to react to this dream and the following incidents will bring about a great miracle.

[Daniel 3:1-3] (1) King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. (2) He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. (3) So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

A cubit is measured from the tip of the fingers to the back of the elbow. For most men this is about 18 inches so this is the standard for changing cubits to feet and inches. Therefore, this statue was ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and it was made of gold. The Babylonians were very religious and had many gods, the most powerful being Marduk. In the city of Babylon according to historical records there were 55 chapels of Marduk, 300 chapels for the gods of the earth, 600 for the sky gods, and 180 altars for the goddess Ishtar.

Why do you think Nebuchadnezzar would build this giant statue made of gold? It does not tell us why he did it, but it seems pretty obvious to me. Daniel had told him that God’s message to Nebuchadnezzar was that he-Babylon was the gold head on the statue in his dream. Babylon was going to be taken by another nation represented by the silver chest and arms. I think that Nebuchadnezzar built this all golden statue so high to show the Hebrew god and any nation that might want to come against him, that he was all powerful and his nation was going to last forever, therefore, the full statue made of gold. Poor Nebuchadnezzar, he was the ruler of the most powerful kingdom on the earth and he was going to go against the King of Heaven and Earth. Nebuchadnezzar was going to learn a few things.

When the statue was finished Nebuchadnezzar ordered all of his government officials, the governors over all his extended provinces and all the important people in his kingdom to come to the dedication of the great golden statue.

[Daniel 3:4-7] (4) Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: (5) As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. (6) Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” (7) Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Whether this giant golden statue represented Nebuchadnezzar himself or he was creating a new Babylonian god, I don’t know. Whatever the case, all the people in the kingdom were required to bow down and worship this statue when the musical instruments were sounded. Failure to bow down and worship the statue was punishable by being placed in a hot brick kiln.

[Daniel 3:8-15] (8) At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. (9) They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! (10) Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, (11) and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. (12) But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon — Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego — who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” (13) Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, (14) and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? (15) Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Nebuchadnezzar was a great builder. The famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

Babylon was a great and beautiful city with many of its buildings made of brick.

The magnificent Ishtar gate was built with blue and gold glazed bricks. These bricks were made in large brick kilns with heat 1200-1300 degrees or more.

[Daniel 3:16-18] (16) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. (17) If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. (18) But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stand up to the mighty Babylonian king and say that they will not worship his golden statue. If he throws them into the fiery furnace then their God is able to save them from harm. If God chooses not to save them, then that is all right too, but they will not worship his statue. This is a big test of the Hebrew young men’s faith and they passed big time. They believe that they can survive being inside that furnace that is so very hot and come out alive and well. Would you be willing to walk into that furnace?

[Daniel 3:19-25] (19) Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual (20) and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. (21) So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. (22) The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, (23) and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar was so angry that these young men had the audacity to stand up against him that he had the furnace heated up seven times hotter than it needed to be to cure the bricks and commanded that they be tied up and thrown into the furnace. The fire was so hot that the soldiers who threw them in were killed. When they looked into the furnace the three Hebews were unbound, walking around inside unharmed and there was another man in there with them. Who was he. Some say an angel, some say it was Gabriel or Michael and some say Jesus. Whoever it was, he was sent by God to deliver Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

[Daniel 3:24-30] (24) Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” (25) He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” (26) Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, (27) and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. (28) Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (29) Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” (30) Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

What a witness these young Hebrew men have been. God used their faith and his saving power to prove to this powerful earthly king, the He is God. Does Nebuchadnezzar believe that He is the only god. No, but he certainly believes that He is the most powerful god. He made a decree that would be spread all over his kingdom that no one say anything against the Hebrew God. Did he love God? No, but he certainly feared Him. And the Hebrews were promoted to a higher position in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.

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