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The book of Daniel tells us of
a people who were struggling mightily to maintain their identity and
distinctiveness in a hostile culture. It tells us of certain Jews around
600 B.C. who found themselves in Babylon.
How,”
they asked, “can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?”
(Psalm 137:4).
They discovered several essential qualities for living in a
spiritually dangerous world. Last week we looked at the qualities of
wisdom and community. This week we look at courage.
In the first verses of Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar made a huge
golden statue, 90 feet high and 18 feet wide, probably an obelisk of
some sort. These kinds of statues have been uncovered in archeological
digs. He then called together all the government officials of Babylon-
satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, justices,
magistrates, and other officials--for a dedication of this statue. A command was issued,
“You
are commanded, O peoples, nations, and
languages, that
when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe,
lyre, trigon,
harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you
are to fall
down and worship the golden statue that King
Nebuchadnezzar
has set up.
Whoever does
not fall down and worship shall immediately
be thrown into a furnace of
blazing fire.” (Daniel
3:4-6)
And so all the people fall down
to worship the statue.
Why did Nebuchadnezzar, the
ruler of Babylon, insist that everyone bow down to his statue? This was
a crass way of using religion to unify his power over all the people.
The worship ceremony functions as a kind of loyalty oath to the king. To
refuse to swear loyalty to the king is treason, punishable by death, in
this case by burning in a fiery furnace. It appears that everyone is
falling into line, however, so the furnace is not needed. But all is not
well.
Certain people, jealous no
doubt of the rapid rise to power of Daniel’s friends, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, come to the king to report that these Jews have
committed several offenses. In verse 12, they report,
“They
pay no heed to you, O King. They do not serve your gods.”
And (worst of all)
“they do not
worship the golden statue that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:12)
They portray these three men, who are high-ranking loyal subjects
of the king, as defiant treasonous men.
Nebuchadnezzar is enraged. He has Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego hauled before him. He gives them another chance to mend their
ways and bow down to the golden statue, upon threat of death if they do
not bow down. Here is their response,
“O
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense
to you in this
matter. If our God whom we serve is able
to deliver us
from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your
hand, O King,
let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to
you, O king,
that we will not serve your gods and we will
not worship the
golden statue that you have set up.”
(Daniel 3:16-18)
These three men are in a
culture which is hostile to their most deeply held convictions and they
have determined where they will draw the line. Yes, they will use the
new Babylonian names they have been given in place of their Hebrew
names. Yes, they will serve in the court of this pagan king and do his
work to the best of their ability. Yes, they will show him proper honor
and respect. But, no, they will not violate the first and second
commandments by worshiping another god. They will not do it.
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