I came across the song: But If Not, written by a church, on holy defiance. In this article, I will share more on Daniel 3, and the narrative leading up to the climax of holy defiance.

Background:

As we have previously seen in Dan 1 article, Daniel was given the ability to interpret all the visions and dreams which king Nebuchadnezzar had, and also his own dreams.

In Dan 2, Daniel had just interpreted king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream on the various kingdoms rise and fall, and God’s eternal kingdom finally ruling over all the earth (Dan 2:36-45).

v1:

Subsequently in Dan 3, we see Nebuchadnezzar building a golden statue similar to what was seen in the dream.

He was in awe of the power, strength, and glory of his kingdom: Babylon, which God said He had accorded to him.

But instead of attributing what he had to God, he wanted to lift himself high.

In our lives and serving in ministries / church, we may have this struggle whether to lift God high, or lift ourselves higher. And whether we are doing what we are doing for God, or more for ourselves.

Please refer to 1 John 2:16-17 article, for a recap of pride as one of the common struggles.

However, we should yield to God, because He has the best plans for us.

Please refer to Psa 73 article, Ezek 3:4 article, A Fresh Encounter with God article, and Key Truths to Unlocking the Five-Fold Ministries article, for being submitted to God’s will, calling and purposes for us.

The statue was about thirteen storeys high. And it should be a prominent figure easily spotted from afar, especially in those days where there were no high-rise urban buildings.

Also, the entire statue was made of gold. You could imagine how much money was spent on it, and thus how much king Nebuchadnezzar prides himself: his arrogance.

v2-3:

And he held a dedication ceremony, inviting all the rulers / governors, from various states / provinces within the kingdom of Babylon, to come and take a look at the statue he created.

The king wanted recognition, and a title for himself.

But serving in God’s kingdom, we don’t seek a title or recognition. As we are all considered servants of God, regardless of rank / role in the church.

Please refer to Key Truths to Unlocking the Five-Fold Ministries article.

It could also be seen that he acted on impulse, and his hearing to God’s word was selective.

Upon hearing God’s praise that he was the king of kings, and how God had given him this kingdom of Babylon, he felt privileged and a sense of entitlement.

He didn’t listen to the rest of the dream interpretation that his kingdom will fall, and God’s eternal kingdom will eventually reign over all.

Immediately after hearing the dream interpretation, he built the statue and asked everyone to come and see it.

Is our hearing to God’s word selective too?

God is love yes, but He is also a righteous God.

He metes out judgment to uphold righteousness, and one day all unaddressed injustice would be punished.

For Israel’s (both northern and southern) and the other nations judgment, please refer to Isa 41 article, Joel 2:31 article, Hos 6:2 article, and Amos 9:11-12 article.

For the world’s judgment on Christ second return, please refer to Pretribulation article, and Joel 2:31 article.

Also sometimes, we read God’s word. Or hear / receive a prophetic word from God (please refer to Prophetic series).

But we discard parts that don’t fit our hearing, or attune / twist it to fit our hearing better instead (please refer to Imparting the Word, Impacting the World article).

v4-5:

Nebuchadnezzar also gave an order to everyone in the kingdom of Babylon (including the exiled Jews), to bow down and worship the statue when they heard the music played.

v6:

Whoever did not bow down and worship the statue would be cast into the burning furnace.

We can see the king’s pride / arrogance and ruthlessness here. He is contend to throw anyone into the furnace to be destroyed, once they did not obey his orders.

This is unlike our King who is abounding in compassion, grace, and mercy.

Please refer to Joel 2:25 article, for God’s compassion on those who repents.

v7-12:

The Chaldeans / Babylonians, were always trying to find an opportunity to setup the Jews in trouble.

This is similar to how the Pharisees were always trying to find fault with Jesus, and trap Him.

For instance, they held a strict interpretation of the Sabbath laws, and accused Jesus’ disciples for plucking corns to eat as they were hungry.

Please refer to Matt 11:28-30 article.

In both these cases, we can see the enmity towards people who love God.

And thus Jesus told us to expect persecution as we walk in our faith.

Please refer to Trusting God in Turbulence article.

And thus the Babylonians probably sneaked up on them, for not bowing down when the music was played.

And they reported to the king that Sadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego had defied his order.

Daniel’s three friends had refused to bow down and worship the statue.

And defying the king’s order, was equivalent to not paying homage and tribute to the king, who deserves the honour (v12).

Indeed our devotion to God is exclusive, and that like a marriage covenant (Rev 19:7-8, Rev 21).

We cannot serve two gods at the same time, and have to choose one (Matt 6:24-26).

Daniel’s three friends didn’t fall into idolatry / syncretism as most of Israel did, but they only worshipped Yahweh.

Please refer to 1 Sam 1:5 article, for Israel’s history of flirtation with idolatry / syncretism.

However, we should also honour the authorities which God has placed over us, if their orders do not come contrary to disobeying God.

v13:

Nebuchadnezzar was very angry, and ordered these three men be brought before him.

v14-15:

He gave them a chance to vindicate themselves, if they had actually bowed down but have been accused.

And reiterated his commands to bow down and worship the golden statue, when the music was played.

And threatened to throw them in fire to be burnt, doubting that any god would be able to save them.

v16-18:

Sadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, made no attempt to defend themselves against the accusations made by the Chaldeans, for they were unwilling to worship the idol.

Instead they defiantly asserted that they would not bow down to the statue, and would rather be thrown into the burning furnace.

Because their God would be able to deliver them out of king Nebuchadnezzar’s hand.

But even if He doesn’t deliver them, they would also not worship his gods or the idol he had setup.

Here we see the holy defiance of Daniel’s three friends, that they will still serve God even if he does not deliver them from their troubles.

Indeed we do trust God to be our faithful deliverer, especially in our storms.

But even if He does not deliver us as we have expected Him too, He is still our God we worship and serve.

And He will continue to be our God, through all eternity.

Daniel’s three friends had that eternal perspective, and were hence not afraid to lose their lives (please refer to Psa 73 article).

Also, we admire their boldness even in front of the king as seen here.

They are not ashamed to confess they worship God, even everyone else in the nation weren’t. In other words, they didn’t buckle under social pressure (please refer to 1 Sam 1:5 article).

And we see their increasing boldness, previously in Dan 1 article, we see it was Daniel who represented them in front of the ruler.

Now, they stood up themselves in front of the king, and confronted him.

Indeed, we can learn here that faith is progressive. We grow from faith to faith, in our faith journey (Rom 1:17). And strength to strength (Psa 84:7). And glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18)!

v19:

Nebuchadnezzar after hearing these, was full of anger now, and his face was even distorted with anger.

He commanded that the furnace should be heated seven more times than usual.

Note that in many part of the Bible, the number seven represents perfection: means to be complete (Gen 2:14, Exo 20:8-11, Psa 119:164).

Perhaps here the number seven also represents something: that Nebuchadnezzar wanted to completely destroy Daniel’s three friends.

v20-22:

The king commanded his most mighty men from the army to tie Daniel’s three friends up, and throw them into the oven.

His choice of the most mighty men were probably due with the exceedingly hot oven, and their strength needed to securely bind Daniel’s three friends up so they can’t escape the furnace.

Some of them died from the heat while throwing Daniel’s friends in, and also they fumbled to do it quickly due to the king’s urgent command.

You can imagine the fiery furnace now, how the flames and heat waves were permeating the atmosphere and all those mighty men around.

That even those men outside the oven died due to the heat.

v23:

Finally, Daniel’s three friends were cast into the burning oven.

v24-25:

King Nebuchadnezzar was sitting in front of the oven and watching them.

Immediately he was astonished and stood up, seeing a fourth men in the oven.

And they were loose from the ropes tied around them, as they were thrown in.

The fourth man looked like the Son of God: probably Jesus, or an angel sent to reduce them.

And the four men were walking in the midst of the fire, completely unharmed.

v26:

Nebuchadnezzar was filled with respect and reverence for the most High God, who delivered them.

Indeed our God is not only higher than other gods, but the highest / most High compared to them all.

And He’s the only true and living God, that sees and hears, unlike the pagan gods that have eyes and do not see, ears and do not hear (Isa 6:9).

And the king commanded them to come forth from the fire, and they walked out of the oven.

v27:

As the king’s men examined Daniel’s three friends, they found no burnt marks on their bodies / clothes, and their hair was not charred. Also, there was no smell of fire on them.

v28:

Nebuchadnezzar admires Daniel’s three friends trust and dedication in their God, even defying the king’s orders, and giving up their lives.

We should feel challenged to have this kind of commitment to our great God.

v29:

He gave them public reconition in the kingdom, and ordered anyone who spoke against Daniel’s three friends’ God to be punished.

Again, He was impressed on the kind of deliverance God is able to bring.

Indeed, our God is a God of impossibility.

We see so many deliverances and healing Jesus performed in his ministry, healing the lame, blind, and sick (Matt 15:30).

Where he can reverse irreversible illnesses / sickness. Even raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:32-46).

We can thus know that nothing is impossible for God.

v30:

Sadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, subsequently received a promotion.

We see that when we put God first in our lives to do His will and purposes, He prospers us.

Bonus:

The main theme of Dan 3 is holy defiance of Daniel’s three friends.

This song by Heart of God church spells it well:

Here’s the song story of how and why the song was composed: