THE GOLDEN IMAGE OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR
IN THE SECOND CHAPTER of Daniel, as we have already seen, is a record of the metallic image vision which God had shown to Nebuchadnezzar, and which Daniel interpreted for him when the contents of the vision vanished from his mind. Doubtless Nebuchadnezzar had thought much concerning the significance of the revelation which God had made to him--especially so since he was represented as the head of gold. His thoughts and his imagination probably worked overtime. His self-glorification, his colossal conceit and his vain imaginings were running wild and probably were the occasion and cause of his erecting a golden image, which he set up in the plain of Dura of the Province of Babylon.
I. Nebuchadnezzar's Image
"Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon" (Dan. 3:1).
From this verse we learn that Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and set it up in the plain of Dura.
Someone has suggested that possibly Nebuchadnezzar was led to make this colossal image because on his invasion of Egypt he saw the mighty and impressive statue of Ramses the Great. Some of the Assyrian kings erected statues of themselves and set them up in conquered territories--symbols of their conquests. This supposition must be interpreted in the light of verse 14: "Nebuchadnezzar answered and said unto them, Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that ye serve not my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? It is quite possible that this statue was set up in honor of the Babylonian gods. The archeologists have not as yet located the plain of Dura. One may, be certain that it was somewhere not far distant from the great city of Babylon.
The image was made of gold and was sixty cubits high and six cubits broad (90 feet high and 12 feet broad). Was the image made of solid gold, or was it made of some other metal and overlaid with gold? One can never be able to answer that question.
We are told that history repeats itself. Recognizing this principle, one is reminded of the image of the Antichrist which will be dedicated in the ceremony of the Jewish Temple at Jerusalem in the middle of the Tribulation (Revelation, chapter 13).
II. The Royal Proclamation
"Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up" (Dan. 3:2,3).
Nebuchadnezzar sent out a proclamation to the various officials of the government to attend a special dedicatory service of the image. This affair was of special national importance--probably unifying and strengthening the government in its various phases.
III. The Call to Worship
"Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up; 6 and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up" (Dan. 3:4-7).
At the proper time the herald sounded forth the call to worship. The response was all but unanimous. All the peoples, the nations, and the languages were united in their worship of the image. They were all of one mind and purpose.
IV. Denunciation
"Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews. 9 They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, live for ever. 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; 11 and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up" (Dan. 3:8-12).
Certain Chaldeans--the priestly group--brought accusation against the Jews, Note the reading; They "brought accusation against the Jews." From this circumstance we see that anti-Semitism was active and aggressive. In the customary manner these Chaldeans addressed Nebuchadnezzar, saying "O King, live forever." They recalled that the king had issued a proclamation that every man at the proper time in the ceremony should fall down and worship the golden image which he had "set up," and that everyone who might not obey should be cast into the fiery furnace. Then, as proof of their allegation, they named the three Hebrews--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego--as being guilty of violating the king's orders, calling attention to the fact that "they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."
V. An Offer of Clemency
"Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said unto them, Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that ye serve not my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands?" (Dan: 3:13-15).
The fact that these three Hebrews had violated the positive decree of Nebuchadnezzar caused him to fly into a rage. The king interpreted their refusal to worship as a personal affront to himself. Somehow or other he was able to get possession of himself, became more considerate, and gave them another chance. He asked Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego if their refusal to worship was of purpose. Therefore, he was willing to allow them another opportunity to comply with the decree.
VI. Unswerving Confidence in God
"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter. 17 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 thy hand, O king. 18 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" (Dan. 3:16-18).
These Hebrews knew that it was useless to argue with this enraged monarch, and therefore they said, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter. 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 thy 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." The immortal words of this quotation should encourage all believers to take a positive stand against evil and oppression. These men knew that the God who created the universe is able to solve every situation and to deliver His faithful servants who trust Him--if it be according to His will for them.
When King Herod put forth his hand against the Apostle James, he slew him. At the same time he purposed to slay the Apostle Peter, who was in prison and who was scheduled to die the next day; but the Lord sent His angel who opened the doors of the prison and delivered him. It was not the will of God to deliver the Apostle James because his work on earth, was done. But it was His will to deliver Peter for further service. God works all things together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).
VII. The Enraged Monarch
"Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their hosen, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace" (Dan. 3:19-23).
When these Hebrews took a bold stand for God, saying the Almighty was able to deliver them out of Nebuchadnezzar's hand, the king's rage and fury knew no bounds. He therefore ordered that the fiery furnace be made seven times hotter than usual. Moreover, he commanded that these Hebrews should be bound hand and foot and be thrown into the fiery furnace. The mighty men who put them into the furnace were overcome with heat and killed.
VIII. Four in Fiery Furnace
"Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods" (Dan. 3:24,25).
When Nebuchadnezzar saw that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not harmed by the roaring flames, he was astounded. Then he arose in haste to consult with his counsellors, asking them if they had not thrown three men into the fire. They replied in the affirmative. Then Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods."
IX. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Unharmed
"Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their hosen changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them " (Dan. 3:26,27).
Nebuchadnezzar came near the mouth of the furnace and spoke to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, "Ye servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come hither." When they came forth, all the officers noted the fact that these three men were unharmed, there being no visible sign of their having been near the fire.
X. An Unexpected Decree
"Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other god that is able to deliver after this sort. 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon" (Dan. 3:28-30).
The Lord God Almighty who created the entire universe, and in whom we live and move and have our continual being, on this occasion demonstrated that He was, He is, and He shall continue to be the unquestioned Sovereign of the universe. He is able to solve all problems of His children who trust Him. If necessary, He will perform a miracle in behalf of His faithful servants.
The Scriptures teach that in the last days perilous times will come. If persecution should come upon any of us, let us take our stand definitely as did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, being convinced that "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy 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."
