Do You Stand for God When No One Else Does? (Daniel 1-4)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

When was the last time you had to make a stand for God at the expense of your own security?

This was a choice the prophet Daniel had to make repeatedly throughout his life. The main theme of the Book of Daniel is God's sovereignty over human history and the ultimate triumph of his kingdom. Daniel 1-4 narrates the experiences of Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in Babylonian exile, and we see this series of ups and downs. First, Daniel and his friends are in crisis because they refuse to defile themselves with the king's food. But this choice results in receiving the king’s favor. Then, his life is in jeopardy again when he interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great statue, revealing the succession of empires and God's ultimate kingdom.

Thus, by the time we get to Chapter 3 and the famous fiery furnace narrative, we are not surprised that Daniel and his friends are in crisis once again. Verse 1 says, “King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.” From there, a herald proclaims: ⁴  “People of every nation and language, you are commanded: ⁵ When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, you are to fall facedown and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. ⁶ But whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.”

As John Goldingay notes, “This Nebuchadnezzar is one whom God allowed to devastate and pillage the temple in Jerusalem (cf. OG’s date), which David had enriched with 100,000 talents of gold; he is one who has been characterized in chap. 2 as the gold head of a multi-metaled statue.”^[1] Goldingay continues by saying, “Whatever the nature of the statue, it held religion and state together.”^[2]

This is Nebuchadnezzar’s goal. He wants to intertwine his rulership with worship. It’s not enough for the people to obey his commands; he wants their praise. And for the followers of Yahweh, this is a bridge too far. They were willing to excel and become strong citizens in Nebuchadnezzar’s empire, but they were unwilling to bow their knees to a god made with human hands.

Because of their obedience to God, Nebuchadnezzar has them bound and thrown into a fiery furnace. But it’s here we get one of the most remarkable accounts in all of Scripture. Daniel 3:24-25: ²⁴ “Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, ‘Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?’ ‘Yes, of course, Your Majesty,’ they replied to the king. ²⁵ He exclaimed, ‘Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’”

It should be noted that “the OT often mentions the ‘sons of God,’ which is a reference to the divine council of heavenly beings, or angels.”^[3] Goldingay notes, “The king who thought that no god could save the confessors from his power is the one who now perceives God’s intervention. The three have not been delivered from the fire, but they are delivered in the fire.”^[4]

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | Lord, I praise you for your mighty power and faithfulness in delivering those who trust you, just as you saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. You are the true and living God, above all earthly powers and authorities.

Release | I release my fears and doubts to you, Lord, knowing you are with me in every trial. I let go of any hesitation to stand firm in my faith, trusting that you will protect and guide me through any challenges.

Ask | Lord, I ask for the courage and faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Help me to stand firm in my convictions and to trust in your deliverance, no matter the circumstances. Strengthen my faith so that I may boldly declare your power and love.

Yield | I yield my life to your will, Lord, committing to follow you faithfully even when faced with trials. I surrender my plans and desires to your greater purpose, trusting that you will use every situation for your glory and my good.

A Challenge to Act Like Christ  

Unfortunately, this example of nationalistic idolatry Nebuchadnezzar displayed is one even professing Christians have replicated. For example, German politician Herr Baldur von Schirach declared in 1936, “One cannot be a good German and at the same time deny God, but an arousal of faith in the eternal German is at the same time an arousal of faith in the eternal God. If we act as true Germans we act according to the laws of God. Whoever serves Adolf Hitler, the Führer, serves Germany, and whoever serves Germany serves God.”[5] When this happens, Christians must stand up.

As followers of Jesus, taking a stand doesn’t mean withdrawing from culture and becoming poor citizens of whichever nation we are in. Instead, it’s following the example of Daniel and doing all we can to thrive while we’re in Babylon while not caving to certain Babylonian demands that would compromise our faith in God. Standing for God when everyone else doesn’t isn’t easy. But in the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:28, “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

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^[1] John E. Goldingay, Daniel, vol. 30, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 72.

^[2] John E. Goldingay, Daniel, vol. 30, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 73.

^[3]William B. Nelson, Daniel, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2012), 115.

^[4] John E. Goldingay, Daniel, vol. 30, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 74.

[5] The Times [London], 29 July 1936; cf. Lang, 42–43