Daniel 3 - Bible Study, Explanation, and Application

Daniel 3 Bible Study

TIMELINE:

• The Book of Daniel opens in the 3rd year of the reign of King Jehoiakim, 606 BC. Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel in Babylon. Daniel was taken to Babylon about 14 years before Ezekiel was called by God to be a prophet (Ezekiel 1-2).

• Daniel 1:21 informs us Daniel was in the palace of Babylon until the first year of King Cyrus (539 BC).

• Below is a useful list of kings of Judah and dates for their reign:

  • Amon (642-640 BC)

  • Josiah (640-609 BC)

  • Jehoahaz (also known as Shallum, 609 BC)

  • Jehoiakim (initially known as Eliakim, 609-598 BC)

  • Jehoiachin (also known as Jeconiah or Coniah, 598-597 BC)

  • Zedekiah (His reign ended when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, (597-586 BC)

OUTLINE:

• NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S IMAGE OF GOLD (3:1-7):

  • Nebuchadnezzar decided one day to make a huge image of gold. It was 60 cubits tall and 6 cubits wide (90 ft x 9 ft, 27.5 m x 2.75 m).

  • All the officials of Babylon gathered for the dedication of the image.

  • Everyone present was instructed to worship the gold image.

  • Anyone who refused was to be thrown into the “burning fiery furnace” (3:6).

  • When the musicians started playing, all the people bowed down and worshipped… except for a few.

• SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO IN THE FIERY FURNACE (3:8-30):

  • After the events of the dedication, some of the Chaldeans reported to king Nebuchadnezzar that 3 Jews (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), had refused to worship the image.

  • The king was furious and order the 3 men brought to him.

  • He asked the 3 friends if the accusations against them were true and gave them another chance to worship the gold image.

  • He swore that if they refused, they would end up in the fiery furnace, and he mocked the idea that any god could save them from the heat and flames.

  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (3:16-18).

  • Nebuchadnezzar was “filled with fury.” He ordered the furnace to be heated 7 times hotter than usual, and for the 3 Jews to be thrown in.

  • The furnace was so hot that the men who threw the Jews in were killed.

  • But as Nebuchadnezzar looked in to see the fire consume the men he condemned, he saw something strange.

  • He saw the men unharmed, and they appeared to be accompanied by a fourth man, a man with the appearance like a son of the gods (3:25).

  • The king went to the door and ordered the 3 men to come out of the flames. When they did, they showed no signs of burning and their clothes didn’t even smell like smoke.

  • Nebuchadnezzar immediately praised the the God of the Jews, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in Him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God” (3:28).

  • The king threatened anyone who spoke a word against the God of the Jews from that day forward and promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Babylon.

APPLICATION:

• Nebuchadnezzar sets a great example for modern leaders, not in the fact that he built an idol and threatened to kill people over it, but in his willingness to accept facts presented to him and humbly admit wrong when confronted with the truth of God.

• This character trait of Nebuchadnezzar’s is observed several times in the Book of Daniel.

• It is very uncommon for those who have risen to positions of leadership to welcome evidence that contradicts them and immediately acknowledge when they’ve misguided people or gotten something wrong.

• Nebuchadnezzar’s character trait especially needs to be adopted by leaders in Jesus’ Church.

• Some leaders will do almost anything to keep from admitting they were wrong about something, because of their pride, because they think it will make them look untrustworthy, or because they’ve positioned themselves as an authority who has all the doctrinal and Bible questions figured out.

• Leaders need to set those things aside and realize its foolish to be proud, that admitting mistakes makes you look far more trustworthy than making excuses to get you out of admitting wrong, and that any serious believer already knows no single person has all the doctrinal and Bible answers figured out.

• Refusing to admit wrong will not convince discerning people that you weren’t wrong. It will make them question your fitness for leadership.

• Refusing to admit wrong will harm your leadership far more than it will benefit it.