Not Going to Bow to Your Idol

Daniel 3:1-18 

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."

7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up."

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon made an image of gold and set it in a prominent place with a command that all must worship that work of men’s hands in direct defiance of the first commandment (Exodus 20:3-5) of the living God.  This towering and overbearing idol was dedicated in front of all the leaders of the country with the command to bow and worship when certain music was played by that pied piper, leading the rats away from God.  Those who refused to bow down and worship that idol were promised to be cast into a burning fiery furnace at once.  There are even those today as in North Korea who must bow to idols of dead rulers or face similarly harsh punishment.  The enemy is insistent on leading people away from worship of the one true and living God by substituting dead images towering over them with threats to comply or die, if not just being ostracized or jailed.  The certain Jews, Daniel's and his friends, disobeyed the King and were reported by “certain Chaldeans,” (who also called them out as those in high positions in the government) most likely citizens who hated God and His people and who sought favor with the king or even positions in his government when the troublemakers were gone.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were accused of not paying due regard to the king because they did not serve his gods or worship the gold idol (Revelation 9:20) which the king personally had set up.  Such is the ongoing atheist’s attack on government officials who worship God to bring them down to stop God’s word and witness which is evident more each day.  The trio of God worshippers were brought before the king to be questioned if they really refused to worship his dead gods or the lifeless idol he erected.  They answered with no need to defend their actions because they trusted God who was able to deliver them from the burning fire of his judgment.  But they also told him plainly that even if they were not delivered (Job 13:15) they would still trust Him to the death and not bow to his idol in defiance of God’s word.  They did not serve his gods nor worship the gold idol setup to lead others astray.  God meant more than life itself and He alone deserves all glory, honor, and praise.  They would worship nothing and no one else.  That was their firm and valiant stand for the truth.  Are we willing to stand against idols of this world and risk the burning consequences that we might likewise worship God without compromise?  The alternative for these deceivers is to face the flames of the lake of fire in God’s judgment or find deliverance through Jesus Christ to worship God alone.  This account is a testimony to God’s grace to deliver and our resolve to put Him above all others.  We then choose to say that we are not going to bow to the idols of the world.