Daniel 3:1-30

Nobody Likes Seeing Their Idols Exposed

A sermon by Pastor Joe Haynes

Preached on January 29, 2017 at Beacon Church

We've seen in chapter 1 and 2 how God positioned Daniel in the royal court of Babylon so that he could have a prophetic ministry even to the King himself. God was up to something here. So instead of being a story about how 4 boys from Judah—Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—endured their exile, this is a story about how God raise up witnesses in the heart of the great Babylonian Empire. When Jesus visited the Temple in Jerusalem in Mark 11, He taught that part of the failure of the Jewish people was that whereas they had been meant to shine the light of the Gospel to the nations, they had kept it to themselves (Mark 11:17). Like the prophet Jonah whom God sent to preach the Gospel in Assyria but who ran away from his mission, the nation of Israel had a mission they ran from. At the heart of Israel's missionary message was news about the grace of God for all the people of the world. It's a mistake to read the Daniel and not take notice that same message of grace is at the heart of this book as well.

Theologians have a word for God's missionary plan to spread the Gospel around the world: the missio Dei. I'm suggesting that the Missio Dei runs right through this book. Which is one reason Daniel switches from Hebrew, to Aramaic, and back to Hebrew again. (Not because of who he's writing to, but as a signal to the reader what he is writing about!) We need to remember, as one Cambridge scholar observed, that since Daniel is here writing in Aramaic and not Hebrew, he is focused here not on "the fortunes of the Jewish people" but on "the course of Gentile dominion".[i] As Paul asks in Romans 3, "Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also," (Rom. 3:29 ESV). So these times of the Gentile empires, the whole 25 centuries of Gentile rule predicted in the prophecy of Daniel 2, is the background to how God fulfills His plan to proclaim the Gospel "to all nations" (Mark 13:10). And not just through famous prophets like Jonah and Daniel either! Also through ordinary believers… like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. This is the story of how God used those three young men to be His witnesses to all of Babylon. So this story should not leave us with the thought, "that's how I can get through my own time of testing!" but rather, "maybe God can use my own trials as a way to share Good News with someone in my life?"

We shouldn't be too surprised, then, to realize that the main character is the king: [vv1-2]. A quick little exercise can show that Nebuchadnezzar is the focus of this story so far in Daniel: in chapter 2, it's his dream that occupies the whole chapter; in chapter 3 he builds this image and makes people worship it; in chapter 4 we have the letter King Nebuchadnezzar sent to all of Babylon. Chapters 2, 3, and 4, are about this king. So in chapter 3, instead of focussing on how the faith of these 3 Jewish boys got them through the fire, I believe we should look at this chapter from Nebuchadnezzar's point of view. How did God confront the King's sinful heart? 1. God revealed his heart problem [vv1-7]. 2. God raised up 3 witnesses [vv8-18]. 3. God confronted his idols [vv19-23]. 4. God revealed His salvation [vv24-30].

God revealed his heart-problem [vv1-7]

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.  2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  3 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,  5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.  6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace."  7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  (Dan. 3:1-7 ESV)

As we saw last week, at first it looked like when Daniel did the impossible and told the king what he had dreamed and what it meant, that King Nebuchadnezzar learned his lesson and believed in God. But a second look at the wording at the end of chapter 2 shows that Nebuchadnezzar was impressed by God, but not really changed. He didn’t become a believer; so now, in chapter 3 when he builds a massive idol, he’s not backsliding. The King didn't flip-flop; his misplaced faith was fired-up! He was acting in a way consistent with the deepest beliefs and values of his heart. Various scholars offer opinions about the exact nature of Nebuchadnezzar’s idolatry: the worship of military strength, of power, of wealth, of the false gods Bel, or Nebo. But I think Nebuchadnezzar’s real motives are very ordinary. Like many religious people—even many Christians—if you ask why we do something we might say it’s to honour God in some way, but there’s often some self-serving motivation there as well, right? As Calvin said about superstitious people who give lots of money to build temples and cathedrals, they say they just want to serve God, but, “At the same time they are all promoting their own fame and reputation.”[ii] Archaeologists have found inscriptions from Nebuchadnezzar commanding people to honour his statue and respect his name, and even for future kings to enforce his commands.[iii] When Daniel told him, “You are the head of gold” (ch. 2), maybe it went to the king’s head? Maybe after he got over his fear, he wanted the whole statue to be about him? That would explain why the “head of gold” of the image in chapter 2 gets upstaged by a whole “image of gold” in chapter 3: it’s about him.

The ”golden Buddha” statue in Thailand is 9.8’ tall and weighs 5.5 tonnes.[iv] Math is not my thing, but I imagine that since Nebuchadnezzar’s statue was ten times that height, it would also be at least 10 times heavier. That’s 55 tonnes. Which leads me to suspect that when the king ordered this statue to be built, they didn’t move it very far. So the fiery furnace in verse 6 is probably the same furnace they used to melt the gold for this statue. Which must have seemed to Nebuchadnezzar like poetic justice: whoever refused to bow to his statue would die in the furnace from which it came.  The image was tall, but his ego was taller.

God raised up 3 witnesses [vv8-18]

8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.  9 They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!  10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.  11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.  12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."  13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.  14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?  15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?"  16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (Dan. 3:8-18 ESV)

We’ve seen this plot before haven’t we? Government officials and leaders so jealous of someone else that they plot their deaths? That word, “maliciously” in verse 8 shows the murder in their hearts. And they played to his ego, “O king live forever!” May your commands be obeyed by everyone! But wait! There are three Jews whom you made governors in Babylon who don’t respect you or your command! Now I noticed that the command in verses 2-3 mention officials in “the provinces”, but these schemers point out that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are governors in the province of Babylon itself. Perhaps the original decree did not include the capital, but only the rest of the empire? Maybe that’s why Daniel isn’t mentioned here? Because he worked in the palace itself, maybe he was exempt from the king’s order? And maybe these guys are too afraid of how much the king valued Daniel to accuse him directly? There are similarities here to the plot of the book of Esther. But again, this chapter isn’t about the fate of these 3 hapless Jews, but about how God used these men to become His witnesses to all of Babylon.

Remembering how they followed Daniel’s example in chapter 1:8ff, and tried to not be corrupted by Babylonian luxury and culture, we can now see that God was preparing them. If we learn anything from God’s sovereignty on display in Daniel’s prophecies, it is that events don’t just happen for no reason. A hundred years earlier, Isaiah had prophesied about God’s gracious purpose not just to save Israel but to raise up “a light of revelation for the nations (Gentiles), that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth!” (Isa 49:6). 700 years later Jesus’ apostles quoted that verse saying that was why God was sending them to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire—the story of the book of Acts (Acts 13:47). However, what God was doing through Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah anticipated that future missionary calling of Jesus’ apostles. They were being raised up by God to be His witnesses.

And what a testimony they gave that day! The King order them brought before him and he says, “Boys, boys, boys! I can see there must be some misunderstanding. All you have to do is bow down to my image because if you don’t, what god can save you?” (vv 13-15). And how did they respond? No flattery, no pleading and begging. Simple and direct. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we serve a God who can rescue us. And we believe He will. But even if He doesn’t, we will worship Him and Him only” (v17-18). When Daniel’s readers read this, what would they think? They might come up with a moral to inspire hearers to dare to be a Shadrach, or a Meshach, or an Abednego. But unless they notice these boys’ faith, they would be missing the point. Hebrews 11:34 includes this in that “Hall of Faith”. It was not the strength of their faith that made them able to stand firm, it was the power and goodness of the God they trusted. No matter what happened to them.

And that’s the testimony God raised up and brought to stand before Nebuchadnezzar. They served a God who could do far more than threaten people with death. They served a God who saves and gives life to the dead. A God who would not share our worship, who would not share His glory. A God of grace who is able to use even the evil plotting of jealous men to accomplish the Missio Dei.

God rebuked his idol [vv19-23]

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.  20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.  21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.  22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.  (Dan. 3:19-23 ESV)

Nebuchadnezzar did not take this well. Nobody likes seeing their idols exposed. He was all tolerant and kind, giving gifts and promoting people who pleased him, as long as they did what he wanted. Do you know that feeling? I’m amazed how quickly I can go from calm to critical meltdown when my will, my control, my idols get challenged. I’ve had people reveal my pride to me, my arrogance, my selfishness. We cover our sin with lies, and defend our pride with defensiveness. Don’t we all double-down in order to protect the idols in our hearts? Instead of humbling ourselves and repenting? But as God rebukes the king’s pride and false worship through the simple testimony of these three willing martyrs, it becomes clear to everyone that this idolatry brings death. Not even the king’s obedient servants are safe. He was furious in his frustration. He could have ordered his whole army and loyal subjects to bow, but he sought all the high officials throughout his empire. Yet like The Emperor's New Clothes, these three saw that his idol was only his image and continued to trust the only God who can preserve life, even if necessary through death, ultimately to everlasting life in the resurrection (c.f. Dan 12:2).

God revealed His Son [vv24-30]

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."  25 He answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."  26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.  27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.  28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.  29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way."  30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. (Dan. 3:24-30 ESV)

If the king thought killing them in the fire which had produced his statue was poetic justice, it seems like divine justice for God’s witnesses to be untouched by the same fire. That statue would not have survived those flames! There is some debate about who that was in the furnace, but in one way or another, just as Christ’s Kingdom crushed the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Christ Himself came to demolish the worship of his statue.

It bewilders me that one of the most memorable stories in the whole Bible is usually remembered as “the one about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” instead of a story about Jesus. In verse 24, the king describes the Fourth Man as “like a son of the gods”. Now it’s quite possible that this was an angel, but more likely in my opinion, a christophany—a preincarnate appearance of Christ, before He was born as a human. Calvin is right that surely Nebuchadnezzar really thought it was an angel, because there’s no way he could have known about the Son of God.[v] But the Hebrew Scriptures were not silent about Him: The Angel of Yahweh, The Captain of the LORD’s armies, the Anointed One; in Daniel 7, “One Like a Son of Man”, in Daniel 9, the Messiah Prince who is to come, and in Daniel 12, “Who Is Like God”, the only one with all authority on Earth and in Heaven, over the armies of Heaven, charged by His Father with the salvation of His people Israel. Whether we take this to actually be Christ or an angel, the Fourth Man in the fire, the point is that it was God’s own power and not that of any mere angel that performed the miracle, saving them from the flames and heat. John Gill rightly pointed out that God the Son had often appeared in human form with His people in times of great distress and need, Emmanuel, “God with us”. And Isaiah prophesied in words applied to Jesus in the New Testament:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isa. 43:2-3 ESV)

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

 11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

 12 "Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.

 (Isa. 48:10-12 ESV)

If you get anything out of this chapter be sure about this: God did not save Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because of their good lives or merits, it was only because of His grace. That is why verses 17-18 contain nothing more than a testimony of faith—confident reliance on God Himself—and that’s how Nebuchadnezzar understood it too (v28, “trusted). There is no other response to grace than to just trust God and receive. Their salvation was personally and only through the one we know to be Christ Jesus—whether present physically or in power to save.[vi] And as the epilogue to the chapter shows in Nebuchadnezzar’s own words, it is only to the glory of God. That is our Christian faith; that is the Gospel we have received down through the ages; this is our testimony to the nations.