Daniel 3 - The Golden Statue

 Chapter 3 - The Golden Statue

v1-12: Faithfulness Challenged

Nebuchadnezzar ordered the construction of a large golden statue.  It was sixty cubits high (around 27 metres) equivalent to 9 story building. Some scholars speculate that the statue was likely made of a less valuable metal, such as bronze or iron, and then overlaid with gold to give it a more impressive appearance. This was a common practice in ancient times, where valuable metals were used as a coating or plating for less valuable metals or other materials.

The statue was likely a representation of the Babylonian god Marduk (or Bel in Akkadian language), who was considered the patron deity of the city of Babylon. In Babylonian mythology, Marduk was considered the son of the god Ea and the goddess Damkina. He was depicted as a powerful warrior god who defeated the forces of chaos and created the world out of the body of the slain goddess Tiamat. As a result, Marduk was considered the most powerful of the Babylonian gods, and his cult became the dominant religion in the region during the time of the Babylonian Empire.

The statue was built just southeast of Babylon, in Dura, which was an important region in ancient Mesopotamia, which is located in what is now modern-day Iraq. Dura was also strategically important because it was located near important trade routes that linked Mesopotamia with other regions in the Near East. It was positioned there not only for all traders to see it, but it was also in the midst of the Jewish population. 

The various officials invited to the dedication of the statue would have represented the highest levels of Babylonian government and society and would have come from all parts of the Babylonian Empire to attend the dedication ceremony. This was a way for King Nebuchadnezzar to demonstrate his power, his authority and prestige to his subjects.

During the dedication, it was announced that at the sound of music, like an orchestra with carious instruments, everyone must fall down and worship the statue. Otherwise, they will be thrown into a fiery furnace. By requiring all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, to worship the statue, Nebuchadnezzar was trying to assimilate the diverse peoples of the empire into the Babylonian's culture and religion. As the Borgs said in Star Trek: "you will be assimilated; rejection is futile."

There are two potential symbolism in these verses. Music was an important part of ancient Near Eastern religious practices, and it was often used in ceremonies and rituals as a way to connect with the divine. Fire was seen as a symbol of the divine, and the god Marduk was often depicted as holding a fiery weapon. By threatening to throw disobedient officials and subjects into a furnace of blazing fire, Nebuchadnezzar was essentially invoking the power of Marduk and using the threat of divine punishment to enforce his authority.

When the music was heard, " ... all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up." (v7) These includes the Jewish exiles as well, for they fear the punishment. 

The Chaldeans told the king that were three administrators of Babylon who had disobeyed him, and would not "serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (v12) These three were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were Daniel's friends. Despite the threat of death, they refuse to worship any god other than the God of Israel.

Questions:

1. In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar fell down after hearing Daniel's interpretation of his dream and praised God. Was that a sign of repentance? Why or why not?  

"Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man." (John 2:23-25)

2. What was the motivation for Nebu to build this golden statue? How is this statue different from the statue that he dreamt about?  What characters did this show about Nebu?

It seems that Nebuchadnezzar deliberately made an entire statue of gold, to say that the day of his reign and authority would never end – in contradiction to God’s declared plan. This reveals his pride against the people and God. 

Pride against God will eventually end in calamity to the sinner, just as it did for the Pharaoh. Pharaoh arrogantly replied, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go” (Ex. 5:2).

3. Why did Nebu want everyone to worship it? What did it meant to him? 

He wants everyone to submit to him in fear of him.

Self-application:

1. What does the "forcing to worship of the statue" means to us today? 

For God’s people, there will be pressure from the world to compromise, to follow conformity and to worship what they worship, and to accept their values that deviate from biblical teachings. 

2. Do we build our own golden statue? A trophy we are proud off and wants to show off? Why do we do it? Give examples.  Was it really so valuable? 

Like Nebu, our gold statue is only on the outside. It is a façade, while the inside has no value at all. 

v13-18:  Faithfulness Declared 

Upon hearing this the king flew into furious rage and asked them to be brought to him. These three people were not just normal Jews, but they were the ones who had been treated differently, receiving free education, and promoted to be officers of the court. They are the influential people whom the exiled Jews will follow. By refusing to obey the king, they were essentially traitors to Babylon. 

Therefore, it would have been embarrassing for the king to punish them for their rebellion. The king gives them one last chance to worship his statue or face certain death in the fiery furnace. The king even told them no one can rescue them, including their God. "And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” (v15)  

How quickly did the king forgot about the God whom he praised after Daniel interpreted his dreams. He forgot that he said: "“Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings!" (Dan 1:47). He went back to his old ways and to his own gods. 

They answered 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.”  (v16-18)

They told the kings 3 things:

Firstly, they do not need to defend themselves for not worshipping the statue. In NIV, they said "we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter."  This was what Jesus did. He never defend himself when we was brought to Pilate. "Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!"  But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled."  Mark 15:3-5 (NKJ) 

Not only they would not defend themselves, they also don't need to give lame excuses or apologize for what they have done, like most of us may do.  They know that in God's eyes, they have done what was right. They do not need to answer to anyone but to God only. The king may have an angry face, but they only look to the smiling face of God. They have always served the king faithfully and with integrity. If that wasn't enough for the king, and still wants to punish them, then so be it. This shows they know their identify in God and won't be wavered even when threatened for their lives.  

Secondly, they answered the king's hypothetical question - who can save them? It is their God whom they serve, who can deliver them from the fire furnace, and to save them from the king. Instead of looking it as a threat, they looked it as an opportunity to show the king who God really is. This shows their confidence and complete trust in God. 

Thirdly, even if God chose not to save them, they will never serve the false gods and worship the golden statue. They remembered the commandments in Exodus 20:3-5*. They will not compromise with the king and make excuses to God. This shows their faithfulness and total submission to God's sovereignty, that they are even willing to die to it. 

While Nebu wants others to submit to him in fear, we submit to God in his love. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15).

Questions

1. Someone is missing in this chapter. Why was Daniel not accused for disobeying the king? 

It is possible that Daniel was not present at the time of the incident, or that he may have been assigned to a different duty by the king. Another possibility is that the Chaldeans may have specifically targeted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because they were officials in the province of Babylon, and their refusal to worship the golden image was seen as an act of rebellion against the king's authority.

2. Why was the king so angry that he flew into furious rage, when he heard that these 3 men refuse to bow down to the statue? 

3.  What would we do if we are in the shoes of those men?  Will we bow or will we burn? For example, if we were not allowed to go to church at the cost of imprisonment, what would we do?

 “I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies,

of the son of man who is made like grass,  and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker,

who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth,

and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor,

when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor?" Isaiah 51:12-13

4. What have the three responses from Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego indicate their character and relationship with God? 

a) “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 

b) "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."

c) 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.”

"Do not judge the situation by the king’s threat and by the heat of the burning fiery furnace, but by the everlasting God and the eternal life which awaits you. Let not flute, harp, and sackbut (trombone) fascinate you, but hearken to the music of the glorified. Men frown at you, but you can see God smiling on you, and so you are not moved.” (Spurgeon)

v19-25: Faithfulness tested by Fire

The king became even more furious after listening to their reply, until the point he ordered that the furnace is heated up seven times as usual. Even then, the three of them remained calm. 

As Spurgeon said: "“Remember also that by yielding to the fear of man you are demeaning yourself. There shall come a day when the man that was ashamed of Christ will himself be ashamed: he will wonder where he can hide his guilty head. Look at him! There he is! The traitor who denied his Lord! The Christ was spat upon and nailed to the cross, and this man was afraid to own him."

They took them bounded in the their clothes and hurl them into the furnace. However those who hurled them in died due to the heat from the surface. The next thing the king saw was amazing and horrifying at the same time. He saw that there were 4 persons inside the furnace, and they were unbound and walking around. And the fourth person looks like a "son of the gods". 

Nebuchadnezzar was wrong, he wasn't the son of the gods. He is in fact the Son of God! He is the pre-incarnate of Jesus before he was born to this world. Jesus is with us from ancient of days, and is with us now and in future even though we may not see him. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 "I Will Be with You Always Even Unto the End of the World."

The King shouted to the them and ask them to come out of the furnace. When they came out, the king and all the officials saw that the fire had no effect on them - their hair and clothes were not burnt and neither was there any smell of the fire.

God can deliver us from a trial, or He can miraculously sustain and strengthen us in a trial. 

Trapp quotes an English martyr who said this as he was burnt at the stake: “O ye Papists, behold ye look for miracles; here now you may see a miracle; for in this fire I feel no more pain than as if I were in a bed of down; but it is to me as a bed of roses.”

Jesus is with us even through the fire. 

v27-30 Faithfulness Rewarded 

Nebuchadnezzar learned another lesson about God, that not only he have wisdom to Daniel, but can even protect His people from physical harm from fire. He blessed God by 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. (v28) 

The King made a decree to prevent anyone in all nations from speaking against God, for there are no other God's who can save in this way. 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declared their faithfullness to God in front of the king, but speaking of our faithfulness is not enough. Our faithfulness has to be tested through fire to ensure they are real. 

When tested to be real, their faithfulness was rewarded. Not only they became an evidence of who God is and what God can do, but they themselves were promoted by the king. 

"Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns." (1 Peter 1:7 CEV)

Ref

1. Exodus 20:3-5: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Annex

1. Satrap is a Persian loaned word that means protector of the realm. It refers to a specific category of public officials.

2. The use of the Aramaic words for lyre, psaltery and symphony has led some critics to say that the Book of Daniel was written hundreds of years after the time of Daniel. They say this because these particular words are Aramaic words borrowed from Greek words and supposedly Daniel did not have these words at his disposal in the sixth century B.C., and they supposedly did not come into the Hebrew vocabulary until the third century B.C. Nevertheless, ancient records tell us there were Greeks in the region of Assyria, Babylon, and Persia as far back as the eighth century B.C. Archaeology also proves beyond a doubt that Greek mercenaries fought and made military settlements in and around Judea before the time of Daniel.