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To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages. That when you hear the sound of the music, fall down and worship the golden image. Those who do not shall the same hour be cast into the burning fiery furnace. So, when the people heard the sound of the music they fell down and worshipped the golden image. At that time, certain Chaldeans (Southern Babylonia native peoples) came and told the king that when the music starts to play there are certain Jews, whom he had set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, who do not fall down to worship your image. Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded them to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to him. Then they brought these men before the king and the king told them that when the music plays if they are ready to fall down and worship the image, all is well, but if not, they would be cast the same hour into the burning fiery furnace. Then answered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If you throw us into the furnace, our God whom we serve will deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if he does not save us, we cannot serve thy gods or worship your golden image." The king was full of fury and he commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual. And he commanded that the most mighty that were in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these three men were bound in their coats and other garments and were cast into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king's commandment was so urgent and the furnace was so hot, the soldiers that threw them in were killed. Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and said unto his counsellors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said, "True, O king." The king said. "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." Nebuchadnezzar went to the mouth of the furnace and called to them, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come forth and come hither." When they came out of the fire, everyone saw the bodies that the fire had no power on, nor was any hair on their head singed. Their clothes were not burnt, and there was no smell of fire on them. Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him and were willing to die that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make a decree that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort." Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. During those times in life when you feel like you're walking through a fiery furnace, always remember: JESUS IS THERE WITH YOU! Illustration by: Nino Musio |
Nebuchadnezzar the king
made an image of gold that was very very tall.
He set it up in the plain
of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then the king sent to gather all the
officials and the people. Once all were gathered together unto the
dedication of the image, the announcement was made.