DANIEL - PEER PRESSURE - PRESENCE OF ETERNAL SON.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were subjected to intense peer pressure when their godless King Nebuchadnezzar ‘made an image of gold, whose height was 90 feet ( 27 metres ), with a diameter of 9 feet 9 ( 2.7 metres ). It towered over every structure on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. He would have exhausted the reserves of his banks for the 1740 tons of gold. My chemical engineer friend estimated that gold, with a specific gravity of 19.3 would be worth about 25 billion US dollars at the current rate of US $ 400 per ounce. These young men objected to the idol, which could not see, hear, speak, smell, or move its metallic limbs.

Nor did they submit to the pressure of cowtowing in the presence of national leaders. Namely ’Satraps, administrators, governors , counsellors, treasurers judges, magistrates, all officials of the provinces, who had responded to the command to come to ‘the dedication’ ( a false deity ). They recalled that the King had set them in high places in the province of Babylon. (v12) Their promotion could be annulled; hope of later advancement minimized. They would not give way under this promotion scare. Are leadership and promotion issues real to you?

They did not submit to the attractive symphony, where the instruments were genuine and traditional ; namely the horn, flute, harp, lyre and psaltery;. The instruments were repeated in vv 5,7,10,15. So significant they were. This was a cultural stress to being every person to grovel in the dust before this lump of gold. These young men stood firmly. The excellent music aimed to wean the people from devotion and worship of the true and living God.

These young men knew the instruments of Psalm 150, which were used to ‘Praise the Lord; to Praise Him for His mighty acts; and according to His excellent greatness.‘ They could not degrade the music , planned to lift high their Lord. How they stand high in our admiration.

This was multi-cultural and multi-lingual,, possibly unique in the history of those present. ‘To you it is commanded , O people, nations, and languages,‘ (v4) Surely that could be a reasonable excuse for bowing and not being a stumbling block to such a worthy occasion.. In such an hour, they would have cried out to the Lord for wisdom and courage to stand firmly.

My wife and I faced this in South East Asia, when a dance from a neighbouring island welcomed us to the district. We were baffled; until our godly midwife leaned over, assuring us that the event was acceptable, and honouring to the Lord. Oh, how grateful we were. No such cause for the young men: facing plain idolatry..

The proud king challenged them concerning their Lord’s ability, ‘Who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands ‘They answered courteously. ’ If that is the case our GOD whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and HE will deliver us from your hand, O King.’ Their resolute and strong voices continued, ‘ But if not, let it be known to you , O king, that we do not serve your gods ( lower case; inferior to the true GOD ) nor will we worship the golden image which you have set up.’ (17,18 )

2, 400 years later, we honour three young men, who would not bend, budge, buckle up and burn- for their love for the eternal God their Refuge. What role models!

The heathen King Nebuchadnezzar peered into the burning, fiery furnace, and startled, cried ’ I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. ( Daniel 3:25 ) No other explanation could solve the mystery of the three young men preserved so miraculously by the PRESENCE of this eternal Son of God.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego must have staggered to have a visitor from heaven, even the Son of the eternal Father; that is, hundreds of years before HE appeared as the Son of the virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit. How did Christ greet them? Did HE commend them for refusing to buckle under the pressure of a godless ruler? Did He shield them personally so that their clothes, were not affected; their bodies not affected by the blistering heat; that is they suffered no damage, certainly not the expected third degree burns; not a hair of their heads was singed; nor did the smell of fire settle on them.

How did these young rulers greet their heavenly Visitor? How did they express their amazement and gratitude for His glorious Presence? Did they discuss heaven with the Son of God? We do not know. Yet it was one of the most awe-inspiring appearances of the majestic Son in all Scripture. I realised this during a bible study, when I was almost overwhelmed at the astounding wonder of the Lord’s appearance.

The incident bears some likeness to the Transfiguration of Christ during His earthly ministry, when Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, while Peter, James and John were overwhelmed with the dazzling Shekinah or heavenly glory of our Lord. Moses, representing the law of God and Elijah, chosen from the prophets, spoke of our Lord’s decease, which HE should accomplish in Jerusalem. You may recall that Peter wanted to build 3 tents, to delay the return of the heavenly visitors and preserve the eternal glory of their Lord; but this was not acceptable.

A later study will tell how Nebuchadnezzar continued his arrogant life-style , leading the Lord to judge him sternly. He should have learned an enduring lesson from the coming of God’s Son to deliver Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fire. However, our Lord continued to mould him.

‘Be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’

Kindly tell your church secretary of this web site. Please pray for Harrold/Gwenda