Shadrach, Meshach, And Abednego Series

Fire Part 3, Fiery Furnace by Pastor Rob Ketterling.

All right, today we continue our fire series with a classic; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace. And earlier this week on Twitter I called it The Three Amigos and the Fuego Furnace. But you, know, hey, just having a little fun. This is a great story. If you did not grow up in Sunday School, this is one that you're going to love to hear about. And those of you that grew up in Sunday School and you know this story, this is just a classic. There's so much good here, and I want to point out some things. And we are going to read the whole chapter of Daniel Chapter 3. So if you have your Bibles, you can turn there. And I thought about it. It's a lot of scripture, but it tells the whole story, and I just want you to hear the whole thing and to be able to settle in and grab ahold of it.

I'll give you a little history of what's going on. God's people, the Israelites, okay, just so you know, God chose the Israelites, the Jewish people, so that he could bring Jesus to forgive us of our sins. So he was protecting this people group all throughout history so they could get to the moment that they would bring forth Jesus. We find the Israelite people, the Jewish people, they are in captivity. God does not want them to be in captivity, but that's where they are, and they are in that Babylonian empire. And as they're there, we see these three people, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, have a moment where they have to stand up for God. That's what we are going to look at here.

But we also see that there were other people that were taken as slaves to serve in the Babylonian empire. You may know of Daniel; Daniel and the lion's den. So these people are serving in the courts of the king in Babylon, and they are not supposed to be slaves. God wants to set them free eventually, but he's still very much involved in their everyday life. And that's where we pick up the story here. King Nebuchadnezzar is the king, and listen to what it says in chapter 3, verse 1.

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”