Faith That Would Not Burn (Part One)

There are numerous accounts in the Old Testament that are still very useful for our learning today.  After all, Paul made it clear, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).  One of those great accounts is found in what we call Daniel chapter three.  However, before we get to that account, let us be reminded that under his reign, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had taken control of the city of Jerusalem (Dan. 1:1-2).  As a spoil of war, the king wanted certain captives to be brought into his palace and taught the Chaldean language and things that the Babylonians had learned (Dan. 1:3-4).  Out of those captives were four young men named Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Dan. 1:6).  The prince of the eunuchs renamed all four of them with Babylonian names (Dan. 1:7).  Daniel became known as Belteshazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach, and finally, Azariah was renamed Abednego.  As a side note, I find it interesting that most remember Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah by their Babylonian names, but yet Daniel is better known still as Daniel.

The four, along with other captives, were supposed to eat “…a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank:  so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king” (Dan. 1:5).  While we are not given all the specifics of their meals, it can be properly inferred that eating such would have been contrary to the Law of Moses, which the men were to follow to be right with God (Lev. 11; Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35).  The reason for such inference is that “…Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank:  therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Dan. 1:8).  Early on, the faith of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah is shown to be strong (Dan. 1:11-16).  Not only that, but they excelled above other young men in “…knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom…” (Dan. 1:17).  It got to a point where the four youths were even allowed to have company and participation with the king (Dan. 1:18-20).

While things went well for them for a period of time, their faith would soon be tested as never before.  After a while, Nebuchadnezzar, perhaps in his pride, decided that a large image of gold was to be fashioned.  It was so large that it stood threescore cubits (ninety feet) in height, and six cubits (nine feet) in breadth).  On a certain day, the Babylonian king decided to have a “dedication” ceremony for the image.  At that “dedication”, Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed, “…O people, nations, and languages, That at the what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace” (Dan. 3:4-6).  While Daniel and the other three had been able to work around the issue of eating the king’s meat, this presented a problem the like which they had never encountered.  The Law of Moses strictly stated, “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:  for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (Exo. 20:2-6).  If the Hebrew youths obeyed Nebuchadnezzar, then they would be guilty in the sight of God.  If they obeyed God, then they would be guilty in the sight of Nebuchadnezzar.  What would any of us do in such a situation? (to be continued)
~ Corey Barnette