The Exiles in Babylon

GOLDEN TEXT: “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, 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 3:17,18

PSALM 137:1-6; DANIEL 3:13-18

PSALM 137 describes the feelings of the Israelites when the tragedy of their captivity in Babylon, and the reason for it, became more real to them. While the nation had sinned and brought this calamity upon all, there were noble individual exceptions, as indicated by the attitude of young Daniel and his three companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—renamed by Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Daniel was renamed Belteshazzar.—Dan. 1:6-8

The first shock of the destruction of Jerusalem and their being taken captive to Babylon over, no doubt the Israelites as a whole began to some extent to piece together the meaning of what had befallen them, and it would seem that as time went on the hearts of many of the exiles turned to the Lord, so that, as the psalm states, they wept when they remembered Zion. They had no heart to sing the songs of Zion under such circumstances.

Nebuchadnezzar had some talent as empire builder. Instead of subjecting the Hebrew captives to slavery he endeavored to absorb them as citizens of Babylon, and showed a willingness even to use them in high places in his government. He gave instructions to Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he was to seek out from the Israelites likely young men with the view of training them for use in the government, and Daniel and his three friends were chosen.

Daniel soon came into prominence before the king as a result of the Lord’s blessing upon him in connection with the relating and interpreting of the king’s dream, as recorded in chapter 2 of the book, verses 14-45. Nebuchadnezzar was greatly impressed, and expressed himself as convinced that Daniel’s God was a “God of gods, and a Lord of kings.”—ch. 2:47

Then the king exalted Daniel to be “ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.” (ch. 2:48) Daniel then remembered his three fellow captives and friends, spoke to the king about them, and they also were given prominent positions.

But seemingly Nebuchadnezzar’s conviction concerning the greatness of Daniel’s God was not lasting, for he set about to have an image erected which would represent his supreme authority in the land, and directed that all should bow down and worship the image which he had set up. The penalty for not bowing down when the proper signal was given was death.—ch. 3:1-7

But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, remained loyal to their God, the God of Israel, and refused to bow down to the golden image. Certain Chaldeans, the elite and learned citizens of Babylon, noticed that these three Hebrews did not bow down to the image and, probably glad for an opportunity of accusing them in the hope perhaps of securing their position, they reported them to Nebuchadnezzar.

The king was furious, and commanded that the three young men be brought before him. He asked them if the report he had heard was true. He did not, however, wait for an answer. Rather than to have them confess and thus incriminate themselves, he gave them another opportunity, hoping, perhaps, that they would reconsider. However, our Golden Text reveals the first stand they took. They were willing to die, rather than to worship anything or anyone other than the true God of Israel.

Receiving this reply, Nebuchadnezzar was “full of fury.” He commanded that the strongest men in his army bind the three Hebrews and cast them into the fiery furnace, which, also by the king’s command, was heated seven times, hotter than ordinarily.

But apparently the king was somewhat worried over the turn of events. Perhaps he thought of how marvelously Daniel’s God had, through Daniel, interpreted his dream. The witness given him by the three Hebrews, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us,” took a deeper hold upon him than he was at first willing to admit. In any event, after the flames died down somewhat, he peered into the furnace and to his great astonishment saw four persons instead of three, the fourth being “like the Son of God.”—ch. 3:20-25

The Lord, of course, had “sent his angel,” and delivered the three Hebrews. Again the king was impressed, ordered the three Hebrews to be especially protected, and promoted them to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.. Thus the glory of Israel’s God was; manifested in Babylon through the witness given by his faithful servants. Firmness of convictions and courage are also requisite to a victorious Christian life.

QUESTIONS

What indication do we have that at least some of the Hebrews taken captive to Babylon, were loyal to the true God? Is it reasonable to suppose that others turned to him after becoming captives?

Relate the circumstances which brought Daniel and his three friends into prominence in the government of Babylon.

What were the circumstances leading up to the courageous statement of faith found in our Golden Text?

How were the three Hebrews rewarded for their loyalty to God?

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