| There was an opportunity to show not only King | | | | you do not fall down and worship the image when |
| Nebuchadnezzar, but all the people, that the idols | | | | you hear the music, that same hour you will be |
| had no power at all, but the God of Daniel and his | | | | cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, and |
| friends had all power. Even though the king had | | | | who is that God that will deliver you out of my |
| admitted that Daniel's God was the great God | | | | hand?" |
| who could reveal secrets, he thought that He was | | | | The young men stood very straight before the |
| only one of many gods but a powerful one. | | | | king as they answered, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we |
| Nebuchadnezzar was a very powerful king, feared | | | | are not afraid to answer you. Our God is able to |
| by everyone. One day he had a very large image | | | | deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and |
| of his god made of gold. It was ninety feet high | | | | from your hand. But even if He does not deliver |
| and nine feet wide. He had it set up on a plain so | | | | us from the furnace, we must tell you that we |
| that it could be seen for many miles. It glittered | | | | will not serve your gods, nor worship your image." |
| and sparkled in the sunlight. When it was | | | | The king was so angry that his face twisted in |
| completed, Nebuchadnezzar sent an order for all | | | | rage. He commanded his servants to heat the |
| the princes and rulers from every part of the | | | | furnace seven times hotter than it had ever been |
| kingdom to come to the dedication of his image. | | | | heated before. This was an open furnace which |
| There were many captives from many lands | | | | had been built so that the king could watch as |
| living there, even as the Jewish people were. Each | | | | prisoners were thrown into it. He called the |
| one worshipped a different god. King | | | | strongest men in his army to bind the three |
| Nebuchadnezzar commanded them all to worship | | | | young men and throw them into the furnace. |
| his god; the one whom he thought had helped him | | | | The flames were so hot that the soldiers who |
| conquer the world. When they all came together | | | | threw them into the furnace were burned to |
| and stood before this great image m a herald | | | | death from the heat. Shadrach, Meshach, and |
| stood up and cried out in a loud voice, "You are | | | | Abednego fell down on their knees bound in the |
| commanded every one, when you hear the | | | | fire. Then suddenly the king rose in astonishment |
| musical instruments playing, to fall down and | | | | and said to his counsellors, "Did we not throw |
| worship the golden image which King | | | | three men bound into the fire? I see four men, |
| Nebuchadnezzar has set up. If you do not do this | | | | loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they |
| you will be thrown into a burning fiery furnace." | | | | are not hurt; and the form of the fourth man is |
| Everyone knew that the king would do as he said. | | | | like the Son of God." The king came closer to the |
| Soon the sound of the music was heard, and the | | | | furnace and called out, "Ye servants of the most |
| people fell to their knees before the image. | | | | high God, come here." The three men came |
| Three men stood straight and tall as the music | | | | walking out of the fiery furnace. Not only the king, |
| played. They were Daniel's three friends. Near | | | | but all the people saw them. They saw that they |
| them were some of the wise men of Babylon. | | | | were not burned, and there was no smell of fire |
| They hurried to the king and said, "O King, live | | | | about their clothing. |
| forever. You have made a decree that if anyone | | | | The only thing the fire had done was to loose the |
| should not fall down and worship the golden | | | | bonds which bound them. Then the king issued |
| image, he should be cast into the burning fiery | | | | another decree, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, |
| furnace. There are three Jews here who have | | | | Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent His angel, |
| paid no attention to your decree. They do not | | | | and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. I |
| serve your gods, and they have not worshiped | | | | make a decree that no one is to speak a word |
| your image." | | | | against their God, or they shall be punished. There |
| The king was very angry. He commanded that | | | | is no other God that can deliver in this way." Then |
| Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought to | | | | the king promoted the three men and gave them |
| him. When they stood before him, he said, "Is it | | | | better positions in the kingdom. God had |
| true, that you do not serve my gods, nor | | | | protected His servants because they were true |
| worship the golden image that I have set up?" | | | | to Him. |
| We will give you one more chance. This time, if | | | | |