Fiery Faithfulness
Daniel 3:1-30
In summary of a theological theme of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s, biographer, Eric Metaxas states, “Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”[1] Not only does this sum up Bonhoeffer’s theological stance, it also serves as a great definition for faithfulness. In addition, even though Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could not be Christians due to their lives being lived before the Christ event, they certainly show they are about courageously and actively doing God’s will.
King Nebuchadnezzar chooses to build a giant golden statue, commanding nations and people of every language to bow down to it. Obviously, in making this command, Nebuchadnezzar does not follow the true God, even after his confession to Daniel following the latter’s successful interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in the previous narrative. Images, such as the one built here by King Nebuchadnezzar, were frequently found in the Ancient Near East.[2] This statue could have been a representation of Nebuchadnezzar himself. More likely the statue has the form of a god since it was uncommon for the cultures of this part of the world to view their kings as divine. [3] Whether the statue is of the king or a god, the king demands that all people join in the celebration of bowing down to the statue. Those who do not bow down will be thrown into a fiery furnace. This fiery furnace was likely the same heat source used to create the statue as no other furnace would be large enough for throwing people into.[4]
The Hebrew exiles refuse to bow down. This gets them in trouble when some astrologers (other court wise men), out of jealousy for the Hebrews’ elevated positions, point out their indiscretion to the king. So Nebuchadnezzar confronts them and demands they bow down. They again refuse saying, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from your majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, your majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” This statement shows much quality regarding these young men. This statement directs all those who seek to serve God in how to live.
These Hebrew men represent those who are faithfully courageous and actively doing God’s will. God’s will is that they do not bow down to other gods and worship only the true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They will not bow down. They show courage in that they faithfully stand up for their relationship with God even without firm knowledge of their deliverance. God might deliver them from the flames or God might not deliver them. Either way, they courageously do not bow down. God chooses to deliver them in the end, but as they stand before the king, declaring their commitment to God, they do not know of this outcome.
As deliverance does indeed arrive, God faithfully provides His presence to the faithful young men. As King Nebuchadnezzar stares into the fire, he sees four men and one looks like a son of the gods. This fourth person could be God Himself, incarnate in the midst of the fire. This fourth person could be the angel of the Lord. Either way, God provides comfort and blessing in the midst of the fire to these courageous young men. This miracle prompts the king to release them from the furnace and declare praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In acts of deliverance, God draws praise even from those who worship or declare worship of other gods.
What happens though when those acts of deliverance do not come? What happens when followers of God face death, become outcasts, or continually live in exile not knowing that deliverance comes? The faithful, the courageous, the person actively doing God’s will still praises God and follows God alone.
Too often the temptation is to bow down to the false gods of our culture so that we will not be alienated by those who follow those gods. Too often we do not have the courage to stand against the gods of materialism or the gods of economic success or the gods of self-centered pleasure. Too often we bow. Our faithfulness cannot be rewarded because we are faithless. Be faithful to God, even when you do not know the outcome of your situation! Be faithful to God because ultimately, whatever the outcome, God has been and will continue to be faithful to you!
Prayer: Faithful Lord, you prove yourself over and over as our great Lover, as the God who keeps promises and protects us in the midst of life and death. We pray Lord, that we might learn this faithfulness, loving you as you first love us. Help us to only bow before you and cease bowing before the other gods of this world. Guide us in courageously and actively living out your will! In Christ’s holy name, Amen!
[1] Eric
Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson, 2011), 486.
[2] D.
S. Russell, Daniel. (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1981), 58.
[3]
Tremper Longman III, The NIV Application Commentary: Daniel. (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 98.
[4]
Ibid., 102.
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