But Even If God Doesn't...

Obedience to God 

• in the pressures and stresses of day-by-day living 
• and trust in God’s ways in the large sweep of history are always at risk, 
• but especially in times of suffering and persecution. 
• Obedience to God is difficult when we are bullied into compliance to the God-ignoring culture out of sheer survival. 
• Trust in God is likewise at risk of being abandoned in favor of the glamorous seductions of might and size.

Very few of us 

• live in settings congenial to God-loyalty and among people who affirm a costly discipleship. 
• Hardly a day goes by that we do not have to choose between compliance to what is expedient and loyalty to our Lord.  
• The story here in Daniel 3 can keep us alert to what is at stake day by day, hour by hour.

King Nebuchadnezzar built a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet thick. 

• He set it up on the Dura plain in the province of Babylon. 
• He then ordered all the important leaders in the province, everybody who was anybody, to the dedication ceremony of the statue. 
• They all came for the dedication, all the important people, and took their places before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected.

A herald then proclaimed in a loud voice: “Attention, everyone! 

• Every race, color, and creed, listen! 
• When you hear the band strike up—all the trumpets and trombones, the tubas and baritones, the drums and cymbals—
• fall to your knees and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 
• Anyone who does not kneel and worship shall be thrown immediately into a roaring furnace.

The band started to play, a huge band equipped with all the musical instruments of Babylon, and everyone—

• every race, color, and creed—
• fell to their knees and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Just then, some Babylonian fortunetellers stepped up and accused the Jews. 

• They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! 
• You gave strict orders, O king, that when the big band started playing, everyone had to fall to their knees and worship the gold statue, 
• and whoever did not go to their knees and worship it had to be pitched into a roaring furnace. 

Well, there are some Jews here—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

• whom you have placed in high positions in the province of Babylon. 
• These men are ignoring you, O king. 
• They don’t respect your gods and they won’t worship the gold statue you set up.”

Furious, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in. 

• When the men were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar asked, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t respect my gods and refuse to worship the gold statue that I have set up? 
• I’m giving you a second chance—but from now on, when the big band strikes up you must go to your knees and worship the statue I have made. 
• If you don’t worship it, you will be pitched into a roaring furnace, no questions asked. 
• Who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “Your threat means nothing to us. 

• If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king.
• But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. 
• We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

Adapted Excerpt From

The Message

Eugene H. Peterson