1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up.

3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”

7 Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 At this time some astrologers came forward and maliciously accused the Jews, 9 saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever! 10 You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. 12 But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Everett

Nebuchadnezzar has a short memory. Yesterday, he declared that Daniel’s God was, “truly the God of gods and Lord of kings.” (2:47). But in our passage today, Nebuchadnezzar sets up a golden statue for people to worship. And he really does want everyone to worship it – from the satraps to the magistrates, people from every nation and language. His command is clear: worship, or burn. And sure enough, everyone bows down in verse 7.

Well, everyone except Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Even when threatened with death, they won’t bow down to this idol. We’ll see why in tomorrow’s passage. 

But what stood out to me in this passage was the way Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego weren’t swayed by what everyone else was doing. Everyone else caved to Nebuchadnezzar’s pressure; everyone else worshipped the statue. But these three men went against the grain to stay faithful to God. 

I find it hard not to follow what everyone else is doing. I see everyone constantly scrolling, and streaming on their phones. And I start to think it’s fine for me to spend hours on my phone because that’s what everyone is doing. I hear complaining and gossip constantly, and I start to think it’s fine for me to speak like that because everyone does it. Even in the car, its easy to think it’s fine to do 5km over the limit because everyone does it. Do you justify any of your actions based on what everyone else is doing? 

 

This passage helped me realise I’ve been doing that, and I need to repent.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego weren’t concerned with pleasing Nebuchadnezzar, or going along with what everyone else was doing. They were concerned with pleasing the God of gods and Lord of kings. How much more should we aim to please the one who redeemed us with his own blood! 

Why not take some time now to see if you need to repent too. And pray that as a church, we would be offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, not conforming to the pattern of this world (Rom 12:1-2).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is one of our Student Ministers.