Read Daniel
3-4 & 1
John 3
To discover:
As you read consider what
we are learning about God.
To ponder:
We immediately see
Nebuchadnezzar’s affirmation of faith (2v47) is hardly sincere. He creates a
massive gold idol and summons the officials from throughout the empire to come
to its dedication. As the officials stood before it, a herald proclaimed that
when they hear music (presumably whilst at the dedication) whatever nations the
officials belong to, they are to fall down and worship the image, or else be
thrown into a furnace (3v1-6). No doubt it was meant to be a way of them
showing their allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom and god. Like some
governments today, he therefore acknowledged the true God whilst requiring
people to deny him.
When the music began it seems all
peoples did as commanded except the Jews – ie. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Some astrologers denounced them to Nebuchadnezzar, saying they pay no attention
to him or his gods, nor worship the image (3v7-12). It’s unclear why Daniel is
not included. But in the light of 1v8 it is unthinkable he compromised. Perhaps
the astrologers were too fearful of his position to denounce him too. Whatever
the case, Daniel’s friends give a second example of the limits to what a
believer should do in a pagan culture – refusing to dishonour God by honouring
false gods, even though they do not personally believe in them.
Nebuchadnezzar is furious, summoning
the men, and asking them if what he has heard is true. He adds that if they now
do as he asked, that will be good, but if not, they will be thrown into the
furnace – asking “what god” will be able to rescue them from his hand
(3v13-15). The pressure to compromise at this point must have been huge, and
has no doubt encouraged Christians as they have faced threats ever since. Yet
they courageously reply that they don’t need to defend themselves as the God
they serve “is” able to save them from the fire and so rescue them from the
king’s hand. Yet, acknowledging God’s sovereignty to do as he pleases, they add
that if he doesn’t, they still won’t do as Nebuachadnezzar asks – choosing to
honour God even if it means death. This lays down the gauntlet as to who is
more powerful, the great king or God (3v16-18).
Just as his anger intensified, so
Nebuchadnezzar responded by intensifying the heat of the furnace (7 times
hotter implies it was as hot as possible). He then commanded his strongest
soldiers to bind the men and throw them in (3v19-23). These details are to
stress there is no human explanation for them being able to survive. Indeed,
the furnace was so hot that it killed the soldiers when they brought the
prisoners close! Nebuchadnezzar then leapt up in amazement, clarified those
thrown in were the three men, and then described how he saw four men unbound
and unharmed, with the fourth looking like “a son of the gods.” The contextual
stress that it is God who saves the men gives weight to this being the angel of
the LORD or even the pre-incarnate Son. In response, the king calls the men to
come out, describing them as “servants of the Most High God.” This is the
issue. The LORD alone is the true God who is well able to save his servants.
This is stressed by the officials examining the men only to find that they are
not even singed, nor have the smell of fire on them. The lesson to the exiles
is that God can deliver them from the fire of Babylon ,
and for us, from the fires of judgement (3v24-27).
Nebuchadnezzar’s song of praise
affirms God’s rescue and the friends’ trust in being willing to defy him and
lose their lives rather than serve or worship a false god. Again, this would
remind the exiles to do likewise. And we should note Ezekiel has taught us of
the idolatry many in Jerusalem
would be committing before being taken to Babylon
in coming years. Nebuchadnezzar then decrees that those who speak against God
should be killed and their homes destroyed, as no god can save like him. He
also promotes his victims. We should be encouraged our confidence in God for
salvation is well placed (3v28-30).
Chapter 4 includes another of
Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, that is introduced with his declaration to all peoples
of the eternal nature of God’s kingdom or reign, born testimony to by the
miracles and wonders he is about to relate (4v1-3). He then describes how he
was content and prosperous at home, when he had a disturbing dream that only
Daniel could interpret – described as one in whom is the spirit of the gods.
The dream was of a huge and abundant tree, at which beasts and birds found
shelter, but that “a holy one” from heaven then commanded be felled, stripped,
leaving only the stump remaining, bound in iron and bronze. The change to “he”
in 4v15 implies this tree is a man, who is then to be drenched with dew, and
because of some form of insanity, live like an animal for 7 times (ie. the
complete time allotted for him). We are told this is announced so the living know
the Most High is sovereign, giving kingdoms to whomever he pleases (4v4-18).
The king is clearly terrified
(4v19). And rightly so. Daniel explains that Nebuchadnezzar is the tree, being
great and strong, with his dominion stretching over the earth – and so peoples
sheltering under his rule. Yet he will be driven from his people and become
like a beast until he makes the acknowledgement of 4v17. Daniel states that the
stump signifies that his kingdom will then be restored, and ends by urging the
king to renounce his sin and do right, particularly in being kind to the
oppressed, suggesting his prosperity might continue. This shows
Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation is a judgement on him (4v20-27). The sense is that
whereas righteous man is created to rule over the beasts, the penalty for
unrighteousness is to lose that privilege and become dehumanized or beast-like,
just as occurs in those who give themselves to sin.
We then read that 12 months later
the king boasts that he built Babylon
and his palace by his power and for his glory, only to hear an immediate
pronouncement that his authority had been removed and he would suffer just as
Daniel said. And so he did, growing hair and nails in such a way that he even
resembled a bird. It was only at the end of that time that he looked to heaven
(presumably in repentance) and had his sanity, honour and throne restored –
becoming even greater than before. He then praised God as the everlasting God
whose kingdom endures and who does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and
peoples of the earth, which none can resist or question, but that is
nevertheless right and just (4v28-37). This would urge the exiles, humbled in
their captivity, to repentance, whilst giving them confidence that God could
bring down even the mighty Babylon .
It also reminds all God’s people that when they experience trouble, they must
still submit to his sovereign right to do as he wisely and rightly determines.
And he will humble the proud, whether in bringing them to faith now, or
bringing them low at the judgement. And those who do humble themselves in
repentance now, will be exalted to reign with Christ over the creation to come.
Praying
it home:
Praise God that even
human rulers are subject to his will. Pray he would establish more just governments,
and bring to high position those who humbly honour him for any achievements.
Thinking
further:
None
today.
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