Text: Daniel 3:1-25

Dear Brethren,

HUMAN ARROGANCE
How quickly King Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten his dream and the interpretation that Daniel had given to him. Daniel told him that his kingdom would not last. One day another kingdom will replace his. The greatest kingdom of all however was that which God was going to create. This was going to be a special spiritual kingdom, represented by "the stone that was cut out of the mountain without hands" (Daniel 2:45).

The King had prostrated himself before Daniel. He had proclaimed that Daniel's god was "the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a Revealer of secrets" (Daniel 2:47). The king did everything he could for Daniel to honour him.

However, not too long after, the king seems to have forgotten all that he had said. Instead of continuing to find out more about the God of Daniel, he began to promote himself as a deity (that is, "God").

He erected a statue of himself 30 meters high and 3 meters wide, and then made it compulsory for everyone to worship his image - on pain of death!

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ENEMIES TO ATTACK BELIEVERS
From the earliest times, there were people who had "anti-Semitic feelings". This term simply means that they hate the Jews. Of course we know that in the 2nd World War, Hitler sought to exterminate the Jews. In many parts of the world, anti-Semitism is a major problem.

This was the case in the days of Nebuchadnezzar. There were people who had it in for Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego (Daniel 3:12). Their hatred for the Jews was also partly due to the fact that they were jealous that the Jews had been promoted together with Daniel.

These enemies plotted to put these three friends into serious trouble, if not to death! They reported to the King that "certain Jews" (note the typical anti-Semitic slur) had not "paid due regard" to him. They knew just how to speak to the king in such a way that he flew into a "rage and fury" (Daniel 3:13).

EXAMINED BY THE KING
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were hauled up to appear before King Nebuchadnezzar. They were given a second chance.

If they were to bow down to the image of Nebuchadnezzar, when the orchestra struck, they would be let off. If however, they were to refuse to worship the golden image, then they would be put to death!

Haughtily, the king added,

"And who is the god who will deliver you
from my hands?" Daniel 3:15

How would you have responded if you were in such a situation?

Prayerfully,                                                                             

Pastor Charlie

First released 22nd April 2001, © Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore