Daniel Part III

Chapter 3 The Fiery Furnace

Ch 3:1-7 The king makes an image of gold of himself and calls the whole kingdom to come and worship him.

We can see that power without grace corrupts. King Nebuchadnezzar was taking what God had given him and using it for his own glory. God had a purpose though and that was to bring ultimate glory to Himself.
Proverbs 16:4 The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil. Also see 14:28, 11:20

3:8-15 The king finds out the three men will not bow down and he is furious. He orders them to worship or they will be thrown into the fire.

3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

They gave the king the respect his position required and they gave the Lord the honor that is due him.

3:19-27 The furnace experience
vs. 24 Nebuchadnezzar sees four men in the fire and the forth looks like son of God.
vs. 28-29 The king praises the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego and makes a decree that no one shall say anything against God or they will be destroyed.
vs. 30 Then the king caused Shadrach, Mechach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.

Again being faithful in little things leads to greater things. Interestingly there is no mention of Daniel in this chapter.