Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. What does King Nebuchadnezzar make (see verse 1 printed below?) What do you think inspired him to do this? Hint: Bear in mind Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the interpretation supplied by Daniel.
Nebuchadnezzar the king made a golden statue, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. (Daniel 3:1)
Nebuchadnezzar the king decided to erect a huge golden statue (ninety feet high and nine feet wide). What motivated Nebuchadnezzar to set up such a statue? Was he inspired by his dream? There is a striking parallel between this statue and the image he saw in his dream (note Daniel 2:31-33). Did his God-given glory and position go to his head and inflate him with pride? Remember Daniel’s testimony to the king as recorded in Daniel 2:37-38, “You, O king, are king of kings, the one on whom the God of heaven has bestowed the dominion, the power, and the strength and the glory. (38) Into your hands he has placed mankind, as well as the beasts of the field and the birds of the air—wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold.”
2. What did Nebuchadnezzar require all his subjects to do? See Daniel 3:4-5 (printed below)
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations, and men of every language: (5) As soon as you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you are to bow down and worship the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king has erected. (Daniel 3:4-5)
As the image was under construction, no doubt the more astute Jews could discern that trouble was just over the horizon. When the statue was completed, Nebuchadnezzar summoned all the officials of the realm to the dedication ceremony. If there had been any doubt before as to what Nebuchadnezzar had in mind when he commissioned the building of the statue, it became clear now what his intention was: “This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations, and men of every language: (5) As soon as you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you are to bow down and worship the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king has erected.” (Daniel 3:4-5)
3. How did all the peoples of the empire respond to Nebuchadnezzar’s command (see verse 7 printed below?) Why did they comply (see verse 6 printed below?)
Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the cornet, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and men of every language bowed down and worshiped the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had erected. (Daniel 3:7)
Whoever does not bow down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. (Daniel 3:6)
According to verse 7, Nebuchadnezzar got universal compliance with his demand. To the pagan people throughout the empire, what was one more idol? All religions or any religion was pretty much the same to them. Yet another reason for the universal compliance with Nebuchadnezzar’s decree is the pragmatic question, What does religion matter when your life is at stake? Faced with the prospect of an awful death, these pagan peoples had no qualms about paying homage to Nebuchadnezzar’s huge statue.
4. When the three Hebrew young men who refused to pay homage to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue are brought before the king, what testimony do they give? See Daniel 3:16-18 (printed below)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego replied to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. (17) If you do throw us into the furnace, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the blazing furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. (18) But if you do not throw us into the furnace, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor will we worship the golden statue that you have erected. (Daniel 3:16-18)
According to verses 16-18, their appearance before the royal court proves to be an occasion for these three young Hebrews to bear witness for Christ. Their refusal to pay religious homage to the statue and the very way they address the king—they address him with the words “O Nebuchadnezzar,” in contrast to the repeatedly used title, “Nebuchadnezzar the king”—confronts him with his blasphemous arrogance (verse 16): they are reminding Nebuchadnezzar that he is under God, he is not equal to God, he does not possess the prerogatives of God. They express their confidence that the God whom they serve is able and willing to deliver them (verse 17). Furthermore, they are resolved that they will not deny the Lord, even if Nebuchadnezzar is willing to extend clemency to them (verse 18).
5. What happens to these three young men because of their faithfulness to the Lord? See Daniel 3:19-20 and 23-27 (printed below)
Then Nebuchadnezzar became filled with fury, and the expression on his face reflected his anger against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. (20) Then he commanded valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego and throw them into the blazing furnace. (Daniel 3:19-20)
So these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, being firmly tied, fell down in the middle of the blazing furnace. (24) Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and leaped to his feet. He said to his advisers, Did we not tie up three men and throw them into the fire? They replied to the king, That is true, O king. (25) He responded, Look! I see four men untied and walking around in the fire, and they are not harmed! And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods! (26) Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the entrance of the blazing furnace and shouted, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, you servants of the Most High God, come out and come here! Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came out of the midst of the fire. (27) The satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed; their trousers were not scorched and there was no smell of fire on them. (Daniel 3:23-27)
These three young men have rebuked Nebuchadnezzar for his pride and self-deification, and they have withstood him despite his threats. Now, all the fury of ungodly men and of the devil himself is unleashed against these three practicing Christians (verses 19-23). But the Lord proved Himself worthy of their trust. He Himself was with them to sustain them in their hour of trial; as Nebuchadnezzar himself observed: “I see four men untied and walking around in the fire, and they are not harmed! And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” (verse 25) Note: The Lord did not spare these three young men from the fiery trial; He allowed them to be subjected to this trial. But, in His covenant faithfulness, the Lord was present with them in the midst of the trial and He brought them safely through it. As a result, the unbelieving king was confronted with the glory of God and made to confess that there is none like the Lord (verses 28-29). Furthermore, the Lord bestowed special honor and reward upon these young men who were faithful to Him (verse 30).
