Daniel 3: The Image, the Furnace & the 4th Man

Bible Study Series: Daniel, Babylon and the End Times

Daniel Chapter 3 Lesson: The Image, the Furnace & the 4th Man

by I Gordon

Daniel chapter 3 is a well known and well loved chapter in the Bible. It contains things we all like in a story... a 90 foot idol, a furious king, a fiery furnace, people getting thrown alive into the fiery furnace by the furious king... that sort of thing. Just your basic everyday life down in Babylon 2600 years ago! When we left our friends at the end of chapter two everything was going along very nicely thank you very much, with Daniel and his three amigos Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, exalted to a position of privilege and power in Babylon. But unfortunately things have a habit of changing in this life and so they will for our friends stranded in Babylon. You see, king Nebuchadnezzar has set up a golden image that is ninety foot high and nine foot wide! And what's worse, everyone is commanded to bow down and worship this image! Hmmm... oh great! Now we can take a passage like this both personally and prophetically and while we'll do both, I'll focus more on the former. But there are some really interesting prophetic implications in this chapter that will definitely be noted! So we'll explore the following:

• The image: What prompted the king to make a golden image that had to be worshipped and how is this a prophetic pointer to the last days?
• The furnace: As we live in changing times, how do we respond when under fire and what gave our three amigos such tremendous courage to defy the king?
• The 4th Man: Who is this One that was seen in the furnace and what does it point to both personally and prophetically? 
• The outcome: What impact did this event have on the king and what can the world learn when it sees believers respond to trials?

A defiant image from a defiant king

Dan 3:1-7 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. (2) He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. (3) So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. (4) 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 horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. (6) Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." (7) Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

So king Nebuchadnezzar makes an image of gold and it is no small undertaking - this image is 30m high! So the first question is where do you think he got this idea from? While the Bible doesn't say exactly what the image was of, most commentators believe that the king was inspired by the vision that he had in chapter 2 and created an image of a man. It could even have been in his own image. The Bible also states it was all in gold and you may remember from chapter 2 that in the dream of the statue, he was the head of gold but he also learned that this head of gold would come to an end. It is therefore likely that king Nebuchadnezzar had this image set entirely in gold to indicate that his Babylonian empire would never perish or be conquered. While we don't know for sure, knowing the pride of Nebuchadnezzar, it's quite likely! So the king gathers all his leaders in preparation for some grand dedication. Seems like something big is on the way!

'The times, they are a changin'

What was coming is an event that will change the lives of all Jews exiled in Babylon. They had faced indoctrination before but not outright persecution for their religious beliefs. Yet this governmental decree would put their faith in the true God directly in the cross-hairs of a king demanding worship. We should also note the extent of this decree - whatever is happening here with the proclamation and decree is going to affect all peoples and men of every nation and language. Everyone is going to be put on the spot. So what do you do in such a situation? Do you obey the king? Do you go with these new laws of the land? What about if bowing down and worshiping this image is a violation of your faith?¹ And what of the alternative? What was it the king said again...? Oh yeah - 'Whoever does not fall down and worship will be immediately thrown into a blazing fire'. It is fair to say that these were challenging days!

Now Christians in persecuted countries have faced these questions since the time of Christ. In the West however it is a fairly recent development where the laws of the land come into conflict with the laws of God.² When I first wrote my study on Daniel, around 2009, things were beginning to change for Christians in certain areas of employment, such as those associated with marriage (ie florists, cake makers, signing marriage licenses or officiating in the ceremony) where they had to decide whether they would participate in LGBT marriages or not. At the time many declined and were heavily fined and faced public persecution and ridicule for not doing so. Some lost their business. Since then things have changed a lot in the West... and not for the better. Today our leaders are passing so-called 'hate speech' laws. The Bible has been called hate speech. We now live in an age where the terms 'mother' and 'father' are even getting banned in some circles and most of our leaders struggle to define what a woman is.

When the world puts you on the spot!

Dan 3:8-15 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. (9) They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! (10) You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, (11) and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. (12) But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up." (13) Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, (14) and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? (15) Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

So what do you do? You've been led into captivity to a foreign country and suddenly the king, whose favorite saying is that he will 'tear you limb from limb and turn your house into rubble', is commanding that you fall down and worship this golden oversized monstrosity. You know that to do so will break God's law to not have any other 'gods' or idols. There are times when Christians have to disobey the law of the land when it goes against what is being commanded by God. There are times, in the words of the apostle Peter, that 'we must obey God and not men' (see Acts 4:18-20, 5:27-29). You will also note how quickly this change came. One minute our three friends were working as administrators over Babylonian provinces and the next their lives are on the line. This should be a warning to not ever be too comfortable!

So we've left our three friends with quite a decision to make. The horns of a dilemma you might say. The king, without a hint of a smile on his face, has just challenged them with 'if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?' It seems that the king has already forgotten about the God of Daniel and his friends that he was introduced to in chapter 2. So here is the moment of choice for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. How will they respond?

But even if he does not... True faith in the face of the fire

Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. (17) If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. (18) But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Wow! Talk about coming out swinging! They start by telling the king that they don't even need to answer him. I'm not sure that is found in the 'how to win kings and influence monarchs' manual and I doubt that the king has heard, or was even ready, for such a reply! He is used to the normal pleading, groveling and begging but this is something totally different. This is faith. It is clear that having committed themselves to the God of Israel, God now commits Himself to them and supplies the boldness and strength to stand boldly before, and even defy, the king!

Highlighting Commitment

Commitment is becoming a rare quality in this age (in the west at least). Especially this type of commitment that places no conditions on God whatsoever. We tend to give in and give up. This happens in jobs, marriages, faith and even our lives. Even Christians can sometimes believe that God primarily exists for their benefit... that He exists to bless them. Nope. We exist for His pleasure. Our three friends placed no such conditions on God - deliverance or not, God is good and worth obeying! And God honored that and gave them what they needed at the right time. I have probably told this story before but I like it. When Corrie Ten Boom was afraid as a small girl that she would never have the courage to put her faith on the line for Jesus, her godly father simply said to her 'Corrie, when we take the train to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks early? No. I won't give you the money until we approach the ticket office. So it is with God. He provides the strength we need at the time we need it.' That's how it was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were committed to the God of Israel no matter what and were given what was needed, when it was needed.

And what an amazing testimony they gave. You would think that they would fall somewhat silent as they contemplated how to respond to such a threat but they spoke immediately, crystal clear in their firm resolve and faith. It is one thing to 'think' that we will be strong in such a time but another to actually do it. Peter told Jesus that even if all deserted Him, he never would. Such a great speech! Yet at the moment of testing, he even had to lie to a small girl saying he didn't know Jesus! (Matt 26:69) The moral of this story is that we should never have such great pride and confidence in ourselves but rely on God to give what is needed in such times. That is the answer to the confidence that our three amigos exhibited. 

But if not...

Notice also that they weren't afraid to say that 'God can deliver... but if not that is fine also and doesn't change our stance. We won't bow down.' Some today think this is not faith. They think that faith is declaring what is going to happen always in the positive. That is the false word of faith movement. That is psychology's positive thinking, not Biblical faith. Biblical faith believes and trusts in the goodness of God no matter what the outcome and always leaves room for His will. The 'but if not' was exactly what Jesus expressed, in His time of extreme difficulty, when He said “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). Our Daily Bread gives the following illustration and application:

When Polycarp (AD 69-155), who was bishop of the church at Smyrna, was asked by Roman authorities to curse Christ if he wanted to be released, he said, “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” The Roman officer threatened, “If you do not change your mind, I will have you consumed with fire.” Polycarp remained undaunted. Because he would not curse Christ, he was burned at the stake. Centuries earlier, when three young men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego faced a similar threat, they answered, “O Nebuchadnezzar, . . . 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. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods” (Dan. 3:16-18). A similar experience but two different outcomes. Polycarp was burned alive, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego left the furnace unsinged. Two different results but the same display of faith. These men showed us that faith in God is not simply faith in what God can do. But it’s the belief that God is God whether He delivers us or not. He has the final say. And it’s our decision to choose to follow Him through it all."
Our Daily Bread

So how do you think the king would respond? What's going to happen to these three little worms that won't go along and bow down to this new one world religion? 

A furious fuehrer and a fierce flaming fire

Dan 3:19-23 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual (20) and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. (21) So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. (22) The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, (23) and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

How would Nebuchadnezzar respond? Well, not well. He was not used to open disobedience and responded by first getting seven times hotter himself, before heating the furnace up by the same amount and throwing our three friends in alive. Did I say he didn't respond well? It is about now that we should be reminded that God's ways are not our ways! You can probably imagine the prayer groups leaping into action as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are before the king. If you were a fly on the wall it might have gone something like this:

So God didn't take the fire away. He can, and sometimes does, but in my experience he usually has a purpose in letting people go through the fire³. So let's look at that very purpose.  How did things end? Well, I think you know but let's pretend you don't!

The 4th Man

Dan 3:24-25 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers,  'Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?' They replied, 'Certainly, O king.' (25) He said, 'Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.' 

What a result! In direct fulfilment of Isaiah 43:2 the flames didn't even touch them! The prophet Isaiah has said:

Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

The book of Hebrews picks up on this story speaking of those “who through faith … shut the mouths of lions and quenched the fury of the flames.” (Heb. 11:33-34). This is speaking of this event and also Daniel's sleepover with the lions later in chapter 6. The only thing burnt by the flames were the soldiers who threw these Jewish boys in and the ropes that the king had used to bind our three friends! That is God for ya! He often uses a nasty trial to free us from the things that would seek to bind us. But not a hair on the head of our boys was singed! And notice why they were able to come through this fiery trial intact - because one said to be like 'a son of the gods' was with them. 'Yes Nebuchadnezzar, He is the actual Son of God! He is Jesus, who is with His people through their trials and that is the only reason the flames didn't burn these Jewish men.' It is truly an amazing scene. So given that God allowed them to go into the furnace, what was His purpose for the flames?

Dan 3:26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, 'Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!' "But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego yelled back saying "Na, na, nana-na! How about you come in where we are!' 

Ok, so that's not their real response and that's not the real verse... but it would have been a good one! Here is the real response.

Conclusion - One amazed king and three thankful believers

Dan 3:26-30 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, (27) and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. (28) Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (29) Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." (30) Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar was obviously, and rightfully, blown away! Probably couldn't believe his eyes but one thing he knew for sure is that the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was unlike any other 'god' he had come across before! First this 'Jewish God' had been able to declare and interpret his dream without him saying it. Now He is able to cause the fire to not singe a hair on their head! So the king correctly declares that 'no other god can save in this way!' So as we conclude, what have we seen? We've seen that the chapter is all about the image, the furnace and the 4th man. 

• The Image - We've seen that the king set up this 30m golden image and commanded every nation to come and bow before it. We saw that things can change quickly in this world and sometimes these changes put the Christian in conflict with the rules of the land. It is also a prophetic pointer to what will happen in the last days, during the Tribulation period, when a world ruler will set up another image and demand worship as god. 
• The furnace - We've seen that though the consequences for disobeying the king were losing your life, these three Jewish boys were resolved and wouldn't go against their faith. Thus they were able to stand firm against the king, knowing that God could deliver them if He willed. But, and always remember this but... 'but if not' they would still not compromise their faith. They would place the situation in God's hands and trust the outcome to His knowledge and care. And we can all learn from that in any fiery encounter we may have!
• The 4th Man - We've seen that there was One with these boys through their trial. One like 'the Son of the Gods'. Yeah - Jesus! He was with them, protecting them, ensuring they were not harmed.⁴ And both the boys and all looking on were able to learn a lot through this experience. This was the reason that God allowed the furnace and the flames as He can in our lives. But always so that good will eventuate.

And so, we leave our three friends having received a job promotion. From zero to hero you might say. Straight from the depths of the fire and into a new role ruling over the provinces of Babylon! Not bad. But would this last? Unfortunately, as we shall see in the next chapter, the king still isn't as impressed with the God of Israel as he is with the king of Babylon. Yeah, himself! Oh mankind... When will you ever learn? Well, that is for the next study. The king will have to learn... and not the easy way!

God Bless!

FOOTNOTES