Men Who Dared to Stand for God

GOLDEN TEXT: “Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”—Daniel 3:18

DANIEL 3:4-7—Nebuchadnezzar was a dictator and the form of government by which he ruled the empire was totalitarian. He attempted to rule over the people in both their civil and religious affairs. His demand that all his subjects worship the image which he had erected represented particularly his bid to subject their worship to state control. Totalitarianism is not a modern innovation in government. It was the ideology of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Throughout all the centuries of history, democracy has been the exception rather than the rule.

As is usually the case where a dictator rules, the affairs of government were well controlled, and apparently they had their gestapo agents back there even as similarly constituted governments use them today, for objectors to the king’s edicts were soon discovered. And then, also, even as now, there were those who were jealous of the authority of others, and willing, in order to promote their own selfish interests, to seek the downfall of any seemingly standing in the way of their advancement.

At the request of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar had “set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon.” (Dan. 2:49) They were without doubt honest and capable in the discharge of their responsibilities, so their political enemies would find it difficult to prejudice the king against them. But they were being watched, and when it was discovered that they did not participate in the worship of the great image which had been set up, this gave their enemies the opportunity for which they were looking, and their “disloyalty” was quickly reported.

DANIEL 3:13-18—When Nebuchadnezzar received this report he was furious. Had not Daniel told him that the God of heaven had made him a universal ruler? His mistake was in supposing that the dominion which God had given him included authority to demand the worship of the people. He commanded that the three “traitors” be brought before him. Had they been ordinary citizens he probably would have allowed some of his subordinates to deal with them, but they were officials in his government, so he handled their case personally.

He gave them an opportunity to explain their failure to bow down before the great image. “Is it true?” he asked, or, according to the margin, Is it “of purpose,” or by design, that ye do not “serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?” After putting this question to them, Nebuchadnezzar asked if they were now ready to obey him when the signal was given, threatening that if they did not worship the golden image they would be cast into the fiery furnace.

Their answer was considered and straightforward. They affirmed their confidence in their God, that he would deliver them if it was his will. But they told the king, nevertheless, that even though their God should permit them to die in the fiery furnace, they would not serve his gods, nor worship his golden image. It required courage to take this stand—courage that was based on a firm faith in their God and in the wisdom and righteousness of his will. Their faith was vindicated. God permitted them to be cast into the fiery furnace, but protected them from the destroying power of the flames. One “like the Son of God” joined them in the furnace, and they were delivered. It is often thus with the Lord’s people today. Many times they discovered that it is in their severest trials that the Lord is nearest to them.

DANIEL 6:10—When Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, Darius, king of the conquering empire, exalted Daniel to be the first of three presidents, who in turn were to rule over the empire through a hundred and twenty princes; and the king was considering giving him even more authority. The presidents and princes under Daniel deliberately plotted against his life by inducing the king to issue a decree forbidding anyone in the realm to “ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee.” They felt reasonably sure that Daniel would refuse to obey this decree, hence would suffer the penalty of being cast into a den of lions.

And they were right. Daniel made no pretense of complying, but openly prayed to his God “three times a day.” The story of the king’s chagrin when he learned the tragic consequences of his decree is well known. Daniel was delivered from the lions, even as the three Hebrews were delivered from the flames. Each one of us must “dare to be a Daniel” if we are to hear the Lord’s, “Well done.” As followers of Christ, who have entered into a “covenant by sacrifice,” our real deliverance will come only after we have been faithful unto death.—Rev. 2:10

QUESTIONS:

Expressed in modern language, what form of government existed in ancient Babylon?

What exception should every servant of God make in the matter of obedience to human governments?

Should Christians expect to be delivered from fiery trials?

In what sense was Daniel’s trial similar to that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |