Daniel 3. 1-30 In the Furnace
DANIEL. 3. 1-30 - In the Furnace
14 May – written by Malcolm Raby
FOR STARTERS: Have you ever visited somewhere for the first time and been totally stunned by the experience? Can you describe to the rest of the group how you felt?
Q. How do you think the Jews who had been taken into exile felt when they first saw Babylon?
READ verses 1-6
Q. Why do you think it was difficult being a Jew in Babylon?
Q. Are there any particular difficulties for being a Christian in our society today? (What about being a Christian in the workplace?)
READ verses 7-12
Q. Why was this report designed to anger N? Are there any views held by Christians today that might cause offence? (Consider, for example, John 14.6)
READ verses 13-18
All the Jews in exile knew perfectly well why they were in such a situation. It was because?
Consider:
Q. Are there things that, as a Christian, you would die for? (That is, things you would stand up for, regardless of the cost)
Q. Are there things you would fight for, but would not be prepared to die for?
Q. Are there things that you believe but, if challenged, would give up without too much fuss?
READ verses 19-30.
Reflect on the way the focus of these verses switches from (a) N, (b) SMA and (c) God himself
The great challenge behind this chapter is the potential COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. If you have not already considered this in earlier discussions, talk about the areas where as a Christian you are most exposed to the danger of compromising your faith. In what areas are you most vulnerable?
PRAYER
Spend time praying for Christians who are in prominent positions of authority, either in society or in the church. Are any of them known to you personally?
Pray for Christians throughout the world for whom the choice facing SMA is one that they are faced with on a regular basis.
Optional - The following notes are primarily for housegroup leaders but are available to all
Q. How do you think the Jews who had been taken into exile felt when they first saw Babylon?
As they were dragged in chains through the huge Ishtar Gate in a spectacular victory parade they could not have failed to be impressed – it is believed the Processional Way was paved with coloured stones from Babylon, red breccia, and limestone. 900 metres of walls lined the roadway with their enamelled bricks depicting dragons and bulls (= local deities).
And yet the honour given to pagan gods would have caused great inner offence. The god Marduk was seen as the one who had give the Babylonians victory, so where was Yahweh, the God of Israel?
And also a sense of shame. They had rejected Yahweh’s promises; they had turned to idols and were being duly punished. They were captives of a pagan king; their nation and the temple had been destroyed; Yahweh’s name was being ridiculed ‘where is your god now?’
And they would also have been fearful of the future. What was going to happen to them? As it turned out although they were not totally free they were allowed to build houses, engage in agriculture and earn a living in any way they could (cf Ezekiel 8.1; 14.1; 33.30ff; Jeremiah 29.4-7).
READ verses 1-6
Q. Why so you think it was difficult being a Jew in Babylon?
It seems that life in exile was not as bad as expected, but it was still a challenge, especially for those who held any positions of authority. N’s statue was huge and fitted the grandeur of his position. But it was there as a challenge to all other gods, and for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (SMA) it was clear that they could not obey the king’s command – it would have been an acceptance of the king and his gods.
READ verses 7-12
Q. Why was this report designed to anger N?
The use of YOU and YOUR made it clear the revolt was not against the decree itself but against the king. Because Jews refused to accept other gods along with their own God of Israel they were often seen as “odd” for holding such beliefs. Most Babylonians would have had no problem worshipping an image of a god set up by the king – but not the Jews. Because SMA held positions of authority this made them visible and therefore vulnerable. There would have been many Babylonians who were jealous of them and who were looking for any way of discrediting them before the king.
READ verses 13-18
Q. All the Jews in exile knew perfectly well why they were in such a situation. It was because …. ?
The first 2 Commandments (Deuteronomy 5.8). These commandments formed the core of their faith as well as the core of their sin and subsequent judgement. For SMA there was no choice – they vowed to be loyal to God’s commandments and not to repeat the sins of their ancestors, whatever the cost.
There is some uncertainty as to the Hebrew meaning of verses 17 and 18. One translation puts it in these words: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to make any response regarding this. If our God, whom we honour, exists, he is able to rescue us from the red hot blazing furnace, and he will rescue us from your power, your majesty. Even if he should not, your majesty may be assured that we are not going to honour your gods or bow down to the gold statue which you have set up.”
N had in effect challenged the God of Israel and SMA were confident that God would rescue them. But God could act in any way he wanted so SMA accepted that on this occasion he might not save them
READ verses 19-30
Q. Reflect on the way the focus of these verses switches from (a) N, (b) SMA and (c) God himself.
The chapter begins with an earthly king asserting his power, and ends with the same king praising the power of a greater king. Even so, N still seeks to control the situation and to force religious attitudes on his subjects.
THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced a choice in Babylon: compromise by letting go of the God of Israel and become Babylonians, or hold on to their God and risk their lives and success. “The fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God’ (Psalm 14.1).
Paul the Apostle knew the cost of following Jesus, and he made it clear to Timothy too (2 Timothy 3.12). If we will stand with God, he will stand with us – though not always in the way we want or expect! God does not always come to the rescue of his people in the way he did with SMA. But he does promise to be with us in such situations.
“On all counts, Christians are odd people, somehow out of place in the modern world. They are people that threaten their world by their beliefs and practices and who, by their words and actions, call their world and the people in it to stop rebelling and change direction.” (Andrew Reid)
Reflect on this comment …