DANIEL
REQUEST
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plane of Dura, in the province of Babylon. (3:1)
Keywords in Daniel 3
-Image – 11x in 10v
-Set up – 11x in 8v
-Fall down (fell down) – 6x in 6v
-Worship (worshiped) – 10x in 11v
-Serve – 5x in 5v
-Horns, etc. (“Music”) – 4x in 4v
REQUEST
Then a harold cried aloud: “To you, it is commanded, O peoples, nations and languages, that at the time you hear the sound… music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; (3:4-5)
REQUEST
Then a harold cried aloud: “ To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound… music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; (3:4-5)
REFUSAL
There are certain Jews, whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: … these men, O King, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” (3:12)
SERVE = WORSHIP
RAGE
Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So, they brought these men before the king. (3:13)
The English poet, William Congreave, wrote that “ music has charms to soothe a savage beast, but music also has power to release the Savage, in the beast.”
REPLY
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego answered and said to the King, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
REPLY
If that is the case, 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.
REPLY
But if not, let it be known to you, O King, that we do not serve your god’s, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (3:16-18)
Allegiance >Obedience
RESCUE
“Look!” he answered, “ I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
RESCUE
“O King, we’re watching; and behold a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.” (2:31)
REMOVAL
They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beast of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. (4:25)
REMOVAL
They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he chooses. (4:25)
REMOVAL
At the end of the twelve months, he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” (4:29-30)
REMOVAL
While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!” (4:31)
“A man becomes a beast when he pursues his own glory and not God’s. In fact, he will even do things that a beast will not.” – Preach