THEY WOULDN

THEY WOULDN'T BOW, BEND, OR BURN
Daniel 3:1-30

I read about one country preacher that was using the story of the three Hebrew children as an illustration in his sermon. He was having trouble remembering the names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, so he wrote the names down on a card and stuck it in his coat pocket. As he was preaching he said, “Now you all remember the story of the three Hebrew children, ” and pulling open his coat he continued, “Hart, Shaffner & Marx!”

Most of us have no problems remembering the names of the three Hebrew children. They are some of the most familiar characters in the Bible and the scene in Hebrews 3 is one of the most familiar stories in all the Bible. It is one of those stories that makes you want to jump up and shout. Both the faith and stand of the three Hebrew children and the faithfulness and sufficiency of God blesses and stirs the heart.

Let’s look at this familiar story by using the simple outline, they wouldn’t bow, bend, or burn. First, we see:

1. THEY WOULDN’T BOW

We read in verse 1, “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.” It was not unusual for kings of ancient times to construct statues and monuments such as the one Nebuchadnezzar built. For example, there is the Great Sphinx in Egypt with its lion body and human head that was constructed about 2500 B.C. There was also the Colossus of Rhodes that was built around 300 B.C. and the statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece.

In our last study we considered the dream of Nebuchadnezzar in which he had seen an image that was made of gold, silver, brass, iron and clay. It is very possible that the image or statue that Nebuchadnezzar built was inspired by the image he had seen in his dream. Whereas, only the head of the image in his dream was made of gold, this statue was completely gold or overlaid with gold. Having been told by Daniel that he was the head of gold, and that an inferior nation would one day conquer his kingdom, this image may have been an act of rebellion to that revelation by Nebuchadnezzar to exalt and even deify himself by making the image entirely of gold and promote the perpetuity of his kingdom.

The statue was enormous standing 90 feet tall and expanding to a width of 9 feet. It would have had the appearance of a totem pole standing in the “plain of Dura” which was about 16 miles south of Babylon. Notice with me the events surrounding the construction of this enormous statute. First, think with me of:

A) A Day of Dedication

The day came for the unveiling and dedication of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. We read in verses 2-3, “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”

All the dignitaries and big shots were invited to attend the ceremonies. Royal invitations were sent to all the political, military, judicial, and financial officers of every province in Babylon. It was a grand day with people coming from far and wide to dedicate the statue. The dedication was be accompanied by music and celebration. It was like a presidential inauguration with all its pomp and festivities.

We read in verses 4-6 that at an appointed time a herald cried out, “To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, ⁵ That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: ⁶ And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” The moment the band cut down on All Hail the Chief everyone was to bow and worship the image. However, this act of worship was mandatory. The penalty for not bowing was being thrown in a fiery furnace.

The moment came, the band struck up the music and all bowed down as commanded. We read in verse 7, “ Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” Everyone bowed except three—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

In these three Hebrew children we see:

B) A Display of Dedication

In Edinburgh, Scotland there is Greyfriars Kirk (Church). On the grounds of the Church many of the Scottish Covenanters were imprisoned and just outside it walls, in the Grassmarket Square, many were martyred for their faith in Christ. There is a large memorial there to these martyrs that testify of their commitment and unwillingness to bow to the edict of their day.

The first time I visited there, I had asked the owner of a little bookstore that I had gone to how to get there. He gave me directions and then said something that I at first did not understand. He said, “Forget the little dog; forget the little dog.” I had the faintest idea of what he was talking about, but when I got there it didn’t take me long to realize what he was talking about.

Just outside the entrance was a bronze statute of a Skye Terrier dog. Inside I learned the story of the memorialized dog known as Greyfriars Bobby. He was the dog of John Gray, and when Gray died, every day for 14 years the little dog would come to his master’s grave, even in the most dismal weather, and lay at his grave. There was a shelter eventually built for him and when he died he was buried in the Greyfriars Kirk cemetery.

Inside the Church there were all kinds of materials on the dog, but very little about the Scottish Covenanters. It seemed that all people were interested in was the story of Greyfriars Bobby, not the Scottish Covenanters. Everyone was getting their picture made by the grave or statue of the dog, not the memorials of those who paid the ultimate price for their faith. Now, I confess that the story of the little dog is a wonderful story of faithfulness, but the real story of commitment and faithfulness is that of those who were imprisoned and died there for their faith.

The story of the three Hebrew children is one of commitment and dedication. When everyone bowed to worship the image, they refused to bow, even when they knew the consequences of not doing so. We read in verses 8-12, “⁸ Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. ⁹ They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. ¹⁰ Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: ¹¹ And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. ¹² There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

There is always a tattletale in the bunch, and the Chaldeans, no doubt out of jealously for the positions that had been give the Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, went straight to Nebuchadnezzar to tell him of their disobedience to his command. God had said, “⁴ Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: ⁵ Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…” (Exo 20:4-5). To bow down the image of Nebuchadnezzar would have been a violation of God’s command. Their dedication to God would not allow them to bow, even if it meant the fiery furnace.

Their dedication reminds me of the story I read about a young Korean Christian who was taken by the communists. Determining to make him a public example, the soldiers commanded the entire village to appear in the town square. A communist soldier led the young Christian to the center of the crown, put a pistol to his head and shouted, “Denounce Jesus Christ and embrace Communism, or die!” The young man looked around at the crowd and then raised his head toward heaven and shouted, “I believe in Jesus Christ! I believe . . .” Crack! He was dead.

He wouldn’t bow! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they wouldn’t bow! I wonder what we would we do in a similar situation?

Secondly, we not only see that they wouldn’t bow, but also that:

2. THEY WOULDN’T BEND

When Nebuchadnezzar heard of their defiance, we read in verses 13-14, “¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?” You talk about someone being mad, Nebuchadnezzar was boiling mad. “Is it true what I have been told, that you do not serve my gods, and that you did not worship the image that I set up as I commanded?”

However, it would seem that he had great respect for these Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for he offered them a second chance. We read in verse 15, “Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” He was giving them a chance to reconsider what they had done, but I want you to look at their response.

First notice that:

A) Their Commitment Was Unmovable

They answered Nebuchadnezzar in verse 16: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.” The words “we are not careful” simply mean “it is not necessary.” In other words, they said, “King, there is no need to even ask such a thing, for you know what our decision will be.” Honoring and obeying God was not an issue on the table for these boys. It was not a matter for consideration or reconsideration. Their commitment was unmovable.

Secondly, you see that:

B) Their Confidence Was Unshakable

They said in verse 17, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.” Throw them in a fiery furnace, they were not afraid, for they believed that God could deliver them. The fires of Nebuchadnezzar did not rattle their faith. Their confidence in the ability of God was unshakeable.

Thirdly, we see:

C) Their Convictions Were Unwavering

They finished their answer in verse 18 by saying, “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” They believed that God could deliver them, if it be His will, but if not, they still would not bow and worship the golden image. Their convictions were non-negotiable. These were boys that would neither bow nor bend. Their dedication to God was more than lip-service. It was the real deal. They would rather burn than turn.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego exemplify what real dedication is in the Christian life. It is more than something expressed by the lips. It is something exemplified in the life. Dedication is an absolute commitment to obeying the commands of God no matter what and no matter where.

Dedication is the submission of life to God’s commands, making them the authority and guide of all decisions. God's commands are the rule that determines who we are and what we do.

Dedication is accepting the commands of God and following the commands of God even when we are in the minority.

Dedication knows no compromise or concession. God’s commands are firm and final.

Although many profess to be Christians, this level of commitment is not demonstrated. Our dedication is usually at a level where we obey only if there are no costs or personal sacrifices. Our level of dedication is often something we fit into our plans and schedules rather than it shaping our plans and schedules. How easily we bend.

Lastly, notice how:

3. THEY WOULDN’T BURN

God always honors the faith of those who are totally committed to Him and obedient to His commands. These Hebrews would bend nor bow, and God saw to it they did not burn. What an exciting example of commitment and obedience we see in these Hebrews boys, but what an even more exciting and soul stirring example we have of God's intervention in their life.

First, notice with me:

A) Their Protection

We read in verse 19, "Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:" You talk about someone boiling mad, Nebuchadnezzar was furious. As we would say, he blew his stack. It doesn't appear that anger management classes were common in Babylon. He was so mad that he "spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated." Albert Barnes says, "What was with them fixed 'principle,' he probably regarded as mere obstinacy, and he determined to punish them accordingly." As God smiled, Nebuchadnezzar simmered.

We read in verse 20, "And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace." I am not sure whether Nebuchadnezzar thought they would fight or resist, but he called for the strongest men he had to cast them into the furnace.

These strong men grabbed the three Hebrews boys and we read in verse 21, "Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace." It would appear that they took them at the moment the command was issued and where they stood and threw them into the fire. In verse 19 we saw that the furnace was heated seven times hotter than normal and in verse 22 we get an idea how hot the furnace actually was: "Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego." The furnace was so hot that the men who threw the three Hebrews boys in the furnace were overcome by the heat and died. I can almost hear God say, "Heat it up all you want. All it is going to do is reveal my protecting power even more.

Whereas the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace were overcome by the heat, we read in verse 23, "And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace." St. Jerome and other early Church fathers insert here verses from the apocryphal what has been called the Song of the Three Children, which begins, "They walked in the midst of the flame, praising God, and blessing the Lord." The Scripture does not say such but I wouldn't doubt that once they hit the furnace floor, they jumped up and start singing Victory in Jesus.

We read in verse 24, "Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied." The word "astonied" is another form for "astonished." He looked around and saw the dead bodies of his strongest men, but when he looked in the furnace he saw the three Hebrew boys walking around. They probably had both hands in the air praising God. That certainly astonished him, but there was something else that no doubt caused even greater astonishment. He "spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and 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." What was even more amazing is that they were not only walking around loose, but they seemed to have picked up a visitor. This visitor was one "like the Son of God."

Theologians say that the words "like the Son of God" mean "like a son of the gods." That is no doubt what the pagan Nebuchadnezzar meant but we know that the Son of God joined them in the furnace. All the saints of all ages can testify that in the fiery trials of their faith, the Lord is always present. Did He not promise, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). He never breaks His promises and when we find ourselves in the fiery furnaces of life, He will always show up.

We read in verses 26-27, "Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them." They needed no Solarcaine, neither was there any singed eyebrows. There was not even the smell of smoke was on their clothing. They had declared that God was able and He certainly proved His ability.

It has been often noted that only three came out of the furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and that the fourth man--the Lord Jesus--is still in the furnace. Glory! When we find ourselves in the fiery trials, He will be there with us just as He was with these three Hebrew boys. He is able to deliver us just as He delivered them!

Lastly, we see:

B) Their Promotion

We read in verses 28-30, "Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, 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 any thing 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."

Their faith was a powerful testimony to the ability of their God. Nebuchadnezzar could not deny what he had seen and what had occurred. He had seen a great example of commitment and an even greater example of the God of Israel's power. Therefore, he issued the decree that all in his kingdom were not to say one thing against the Hebrew's God. If they did, they would be as surely destroyed as the three Hebrews boys had been delivered.

The result of all that happened was that these fellows were promoted to positions of power and prominence in the Babylonian kingdom. Even greater was their heavenly promotion, for God always honors those who honor Him. They wouldn't bend, they wouldn't bow, and God saw to it they wouldn't burn. The best way to be fireproof Christians is to honor and obey God.