Daniel 3:1-18
Bow or Burn!
Pray
Intro
√ Timing
There’s a gap of about 10 years between the end of chapter 2 and the beginning of chapter 3…
Dan. 2:1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.
We can cross-reference this with Daniel 1:1, our starting date 605 B.C.
603 B.C. ~ the events of chapter 2
While chapter 3 doesn’t give us a date, it does give us a clue…
Dan. 3:2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
And Jeremiah tells us that Zedekiah went to
Jer. 51:59 The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And Seraiah was the quartermaster.
Which would be 594-593 B.C., about 10 years after Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
Important because it gives us insight into Nebuchadnezzar’s attitude toward God.
Also, reminds us that it’s important to stay current with God lest we forget our place!
√ Types
There are some incredible parallels between Nebuchadnezzar and the future Antichrist…
…compare the events of Daniel chapter 3 with the events described by John in Revelation chapter 13!
Nebuchadnezzar’s ~ 1st world ruler
Antichrist ~ last world ruler
Both rule from
Both build an image and demand that everyone worship the image or suffer death.
Both attempt to unite the world through a political and religious unity around the worship of the image and the king.
Both run into a small group who refuse to participate in the worship and make a stand for God.
So, while it is an historical account there is instruction and encouragement for those who will live under the rule of the future Antichrist.
Ap. Do and don’t
The testimony of our friends Hanniah, Mishael, and Azaariah is an encouragement to trust the Lord…
…the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar is that we must keep our pride in check lest we build ourselves an image that God must destroy.
The golden image (vs. 1-7)
Dan. 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar
the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six
cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the
Dan. 3:2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Dan. 3:3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Dan. 3:4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
Dan. 3:5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;
Dan. 3:6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
Dan. 3:7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
√ The golden image
We’re told that Nebuchadnezzar had an image built of solid gold that was 60 cubits tall, and 6 cubits wide…
90 feet tall and 9 feet wide
While we’re not specifically told that it was in the shape of a human, we believe it is because it fits the context of chapter 2 and the archeological record of the ancient Babylonians.
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was of a human shaped image.
Babylonian statues often distorted the human form when creating objects of worship.
Regardless the point we don’t want to miss is that he had made of solid gold!
Remember that in his dream only the head of the image was made of gold!
Daniel told him that the gold head represented Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom and that inferior kingdoms would follow his (silver, bronze, iron, etc.)
So, it would seem then that Nebuchadnezzar’s new statue was meant to communicate that his plan was for his kingdom to never end!
In essence challenging the prophetic plan of God!
That is, in his pride he determined that he would see to it that God’s plan to replace his kingdom would not come to pass.
Bad idea.
√ Purpose of the image
We’re told that the image was set up on the “plain of Dura”.
The remains of a large base made of brick have been found 6
miles southeast of
Could have been the base of the image!
Historically one can imagine how impressive this thing would have been!
An image the height of a 9 story building standing on a large base in the center of a empty plain.
Sun reflecting off of the golden surface.
Everyone would be able to see if for miles around!
An awesome sight!
The purpose we’re told is that the image was to be the object of worship for everyone in the kingdom…
That is, it was to be the unifying center of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
The fact that all the leaders of his kingdom were required to fall down before the image, and worship it…
…indicates that the image had both religious and political significance.
Their bowing and worship was meant to be a public declaration of their submission to Nebuchadnezzar’s absolute authority in their lives!
Plus! The fact that
none of the traditional gods of
…centered around the worship of this image ~ of himself!
√ Bow or burn
Note the great freedom of religion tolerated by Nebuchadnezzar in vs. 6…
“and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
…you could fill a building with that kind of evangelistic message!
Seriously, you get an idea of what kind of power this man held over much of the ancient world!
Some scholars believe that these events followed a failed rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar.
After purging the perpetrators from his immediate staff he
sought to determine whether or not the rebellion had spread beyond
That’s why all the civic and military leaders from all 127
provinces of his kingdom (
So, each person has a choice to make…
…to bow or to burn!
Ap. The Antichrist & the Image of the Beast
The Antichrist
Dan. 11:36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
Dan. 11:37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.
And…
2Th. 2:4 who
opposes and exalts himself above all
that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the
The image of the Antichrist
Rev. 13:14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
Rev. 13:15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
So, we see how the historical events surrounding Nebuchadnezzar and his image are a foreshadowing of the Antichrist and his image in the Last Days.
Provides us a picture of how the events of Rev. 13 will transpire.
That is, just as the people in Nebuchadnezzar’s day were presented a choice, bow or burn…
…so the people in the Tribulation will have a choice to worship the Antichrist and his image, or to reject him.
The point is that no one will accidentally take the mark of the beast!
So rest easy, your SSI number, or your credit card is not the mark of the Beast.
The image police (vs. 8-12)
Dan. 3:8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
Dan. 3:9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!
Dan. 3:10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image;
Dan. 3:11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Dan. 3:12 There
are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the
√ The image police
Apparently not everyone chose to bow before Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image!
We’re told that our friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego didn’t bow when the music played.
How do we know?
Because the “image police” snitched on them!
We’re told in vs. 8 that some of the Chaldeans, officers of the king’s court…
…made it their business to tell Nebuchadnezzar that our friends didn’t bow to the golden image.
Why would they do that? In a word, envy.
Look at vs. 12…
“There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of
the
You’ll remember that before Nebuchadnezzar had his dream that it was the Chaldeans who held the highest honor in the king’s court (Dan. 2:1-13).
But, because they were not able to tell him his dream and it’s interpretation the king had decreed that all the wise men should die.
When Daniel and his friends succeed where the Chaldeans failed the king promoted them ahead of the Chaldeans.
So, they saw this as an opportunity to regain the king’s favor and get their old jobs back!
√ Where’s Daniel?
Another interesting observation is that even though the king’s command was for all the civil and military leaders in his entire kingdom to come to the dedication of the golden image (vs. 2)…
…Daniel is missing!
He surely would not have bowed to the golden image.
So why wasn’t he accused along with his friends?
Bible students have suggested that maybe…
He was held in such high esteem by Nebuchadnezzar that the Chaldeans were afraid to bring an accusation against him.
Or, that he was away on official business representing the king’s interest.
Others have suggested that Daniel is a foreshadow of the Church that is delivered from the fires of the Tribulation…
…while Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are a type of Remnant of Israel who will be delivered through the Tribulation.
A second chance (vs. 13-18)
Dan. 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. So they brought these men before the king.
Dan. 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
Dan. 3:15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
√ A second chance
In spite of the king’s great anger, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are given a second chance to bow before they’re committed to the furnace.
Testimony that they were still held in high esteem by the king!
So, he gives them the opportunity to show their support for his new religious system and save their lives from the furnace, but if they chose not to bow then he challenges…
“And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” ~ vs. 15
That is, Nebuchadnezzar considered himself above every other god…
…a perfect opportunity for God to show up!
Ap. God’s looking for a challenge!
All through history we find examples like this where some arrogant fool challenges God to show up!
Pharaoh ~ Exodus 5:2
“Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let
Sennacherib ~ 2 Kings 18:35
“Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their
countries from my hand, that the LORD should deliver
And we find that God is just aching for such a challenge so that He has an opportunity to show His strength on behalf of those who love and trust Him.
He’s just waiting for a fool’s challenge and a saint to take a stand!
Ap. We’ll all have an opportunity
During the course of our sojourn here we will all have opportunities to make a stand for the Lord.
May not be as dramatic as our friends here in
Be careful though that you don’t let the opportunity pass as king Asa did…
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” ~ 2 Chr. 16:9
Well, what did our Three Amigo’s chose…
…they chose to give God an opportunity to show up!
√ No compromise
Dan. 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Dan. 3:17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
Dan. 3:18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
These are three of the most awesome verses in the Bible! Without a moment’s hesitation they tell the king that they rather burn than bow!
That is, they would rather die than disobey God!
That’s because they had an eternal perspective!
That is, from where they were standing they recognized that God was more powerful than Nebuchadnezzar…
…and that pleasing God was more important than pleasing a man!
They were convinced that what they did here on earth carried on into eternity.
So, as they looked at the choice between bowing to a stupid golden image so that they could save their necks…
…verses honoring God with their lives if that’s what He required.
The choice was easy, God’s benefit package lasts longer!
Ap. No compromise
Christians today need a new attitude in life! Too many are focused on what this present world has to offer rather than the eternal treasures that God has promised.
I’m afraid that Christians who have spent their entire Christian experience serving God to get something…
…aren’t going to be able to stand for Jesus if they’re asked to give up everything to serve Him.
Remember, just because we’re not destined to go through the Great Tribulation doesn’t mean that we won’t have our faith tested!
Close
√ Do you want to see God’s power?
Then don’t compromise! Not in any area of your life!
Praying for God’s direction? Then wait for it!
Promised a miracle? Then don’t try to help God!
Called to step out in faith? Then start walking!