Burning Fiery Furnace
Daniel 3
Eight times in Daniel three the phrase “burning fiery furnace” is mentioned in the New King James Version (Daniel 3:6,11,15,17,20,21,23,26). The Bible event is depicted in the catacombs by early Christians who were being persecuted by the Romans. Perhaps it was an inspiration to them in their time of oppression. For the past twenty-six hundred years the story of Daniel’s three friends have been an motivation for faith in God and trustworthiness before Him.
God had sent the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel into Assyrian captivity in 722 BC. Judah did not heed the warnings and continued worshipping idols. God sent Judah into Babylonian captivity. Daniel and his three friends were part of the first group. The Jews could stay faithful to God in the promise land or even when they had Solomon’s Temple. Daniel and company had already demonstrated the ability to stay faithful in a foreign land surrounded by pagans.
The Test: Nebuchadnezzar’s Image
▸ The Project
King Nebuchadnezzar was the king of kings of his day. He had built a world empire. He felt he needed a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide.
▸ The Politicians
All the rulers of Nebuchadnezzar’s great kingdom were called together for the dedication of the great image.
▸ The Proclamation
The royal proclamation demanded all the rulers to fall down and worship the image when the great orchestra began to play. Daniel and his three friends were rulers. Daniel does not appear to be part of this great gathering. Perhaps he had been sent by the King on a mission for him. However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were there and this command to worship an idol would present a problem.
▸ The Penalty
To help motivate all the rulers to obey him, Nebuchadnezzar warned anyone who failed to worship the image would be cast into the “burning fiery furnace.” So when the music began all the rulers bowed down before the image. Well, almost all the rulers.
The Tested: Daniel’s Friends
- Daniel’s Friends Charged With Sedition
Rulers came from all over the Babylonian Empire. They knew Daniel’s three friends were Jews. Even though they all bowed down to the image somehow they were able to notice these Jews were not obeying the king’s command and worshiping the image. They pointed out the these same Jews do not worship the same gods as they do.
- Daniel’s Friends Reject Second Chance to Worship the Image
Instead of just accepting the accusations made against Daniel’s three friends, Nebuchadnezzar asked them if the accusation was true. He gives them a second chance to obey him. If they don’t than no more chances will be given. They will immediately be cast into the “burning fiery furnace.” Nebuchadnezzar acts as if they will not have a chance to survive due to the fact there is not god who can deliver them from such a fate.
The Jews did would not give the king the answer he wanted. Instead they were not going to bow down no matter how many times he asked they would never worship the image. They believed God was able to save them, but if not they were willing to go to the “burning fiery furnace.”
- Daniel’s Friends Cast Into Burning Fiery Furnace
The Jew’s response to Nebuchadnezzar made him fiery mad. He had the furnace heated seven times hotter. The three were tied up in their clothing and cast into the fire. The men who cast them in were killed by the intense heat of the furnace.
- Daniel’s Friends Delivered
Nebuchadnezzar noticed something odd in the furnace. He has if three men were not cast in the furnace, when he saw four men waling around unharmed in there. Then the king asked the three men to come out of the furnace. These Jews were not only unharmed from the fire, their clothing was not even singed or had the smell of smoke upon them.
Tested Faith
Warren Weirsbe wrote, “a faith that cannot be test cannot be trusted.” False faith dies in face of opposition and trial. True faith thrives in times of trials and temptation Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego’s faith could be trusted because when God tested it, they remained faithful.
It is by the testing of faith it is strengthened. Peter wrote, “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). True faith must be tested in order to grow.
Daniel’s three friends refused to worship the image. True faith only worships God. `You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve”’ (Matt. 4:10).
Although all the other rulers obeyed the King’s command and bowed down to the image, the three Jews did not give into the pressure of following the majority. True faith does not follow the crowd. Jesus said, “enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13,14). When the faith of Job was tested he did not give into the suffering. “So Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life”’ (Job 2:4). The Devil’s assumption was that men will do anything to save their lives. Job and these three friends of Daniel proved him wrong. True faith clings to God more then to life. Jesus said, “if anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26).
Before the Jews went into Babylonian captivity God promised, “but now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isaiah 43:1,2). These three Jews put the trust in God to save them. True faith trusts in God’s promises.
True faith obeys regardless of the consequences. Daniel’s three friends were willing to give their lives for their belief and trust in God.
“By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace” (Heb. 11:31). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were depended upon God for their deliverance. True faith trusts God for deliverance.
When the faith of the weak is being tested they will come upon with many excuses: “everybody is doing it;” “our boss demands that we obey;” “we will bow our knees, but we will not bow in our hearts;” “God will understand” or “just once will not hurt us.” The Jews did not make any of these excuses. True faith does not compromise.
Seeing his three rulers unharmed by the burning fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar believed they were saved by the true God. His belief was based upon the facts, not a blind acceptance. Instead of being killed, the soldiers died. Instead of bound, they were loosed. Instead of lying down, they were walking about. Instead of burned, they were unharmed. Instead of three, there were four. Instead of the fourth being like a man, he was like a the Son of God. Instead trusting his own eyes, he called for eyewitnesses. True faith comes from evidence. They had no mark on their bodies, no smell of smoke on their clothing, no singeing of their hair, and no burning of their clothes. Clarence Mcartney wrote, “our acceptance of miracles depends on whether he spells his god with a capital ‘G.’”
– by Daniel R. Vess
News & Notes
- Morning’s Lesson: Let the Revival Begin with Me
- Contribution Scripture: Luke 21:1-4
- Tonight is our quarterly Prayer Meeting. Those men who wish to participate need to see Dan Vess.
- Our Gospel Meeting starts this Thursday at 7:30 pm. The theme: The Amazing Grace of God.
- Thanks to all those who came out for Workday on Saturday, October 15th.
- A man cannot touch his neighbor’s heart with anything less than his own.
- When Christian are on fire, believers are warmed and sinners are attracted to the light.
- No one knows the exact age of the human race, but it is surely old enough to know how to love better.