Daniel 3: This has always been one of my favorite passages in scripture. Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar), and his three friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were serving in the King's palace. Nebuchadnezzar was king at the time. You can read the first three chapters of Daniel if you want more of the setting. Nebuchadnezzar decided to make a very large gold image. He required ALL to come to the dedication of the image. A herald commanded everyone that "at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery you will fall down and worship the image", "whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace". Some Chaldeans came and reported to the king that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego would not bow and worship the gold image. Of course, the king in a rage, ordered the men to be thrown into the furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were not real concerned. They were sure that their God was able to deliver them even from the furnace. This made the king even angrier. He ordered that the furnace be turned up 7 times hotter than usual! There are lots of things to learn from this entire passage, but this is the point I am sharing. In verse 20 he commanded his men to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego and cast them into the fire. verse 21 "then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace". Even the men that threw them into the furnace were killed because the fire was so hot! Verse 23 confirms that the three fell down BOUND into the midst of the furnace. The next thing we read, the king is astonished because he looks into the furnace and sees not three, but four men walking in the midst of the fire. Verse 25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men LOOSE, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." Again, there are so many things that can be learned from this passage but these are some things that speak to me. The men were bound when they were thrown into the furnace. The fire did not touch them. Now I don't know about you, but I don't particularly like to go through "fiery" trials in my life. They are "hot" so to speak. But I take some great comfort from this passage as I apply it practically. Those men were in the furnace, seven times hotter than usual. Jesus was in it with them as He is with me when I am in a trial. The men did not lose their lives, nor even were hurt. Verse 27 "the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them". Wow! They were in a fiery furnace and not even touched. What was taken away by the fiery furnace? Only the things that bound them! Think about it. That brings a whole new perspective to those fiery trials that we face in life! Bless you for visiting and Happy Valentine's Day!
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