The book of Daniel

Daniel 1

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 3And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 4Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5And the king appointed them 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. 6Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

8But 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. 9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 11Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 16Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19And the king communed w1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

Daniel 1:2 (KJV)

2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

Daniel 1:3 (KJV)

3And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

Daniel 1:4 (KJV)

4Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Daniel 1:5 (KJV)

5And the king appointed them 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.

Daniel 1:6 (KJV)

6Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Daniel 1:7 (KJV)

7Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

 

Daniel 1:8 (KJV)

8But 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.

Daniel 1:9 (KJV)

9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Daniel 1:10 (KJV)

10And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

Daniel 1:11 (KJV)

11Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Daniel 1:12 (KJV)

12Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Daniel 1:13 (KJV)

13Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

Daniel 1:14 (KJV)

14So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

Daniel 1:15 (KJV)

15And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

Daniel 1:16 (KJV)

16Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

 

Daniel 1:17 (KJV)

17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Daniel 1:18 (KJV)

18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 1:19 (KJV)

19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

Daniel 1:2 (KJV)

2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

Daniel 1:3 (KJV)

3And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

Daniel 1:4 (KJV)

4Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Daniel 1:5 (KJV)

5And the king appointed them 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.

Daniel 1:6 (KJV)

6Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Daniel 1:7 (KJV)

7Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

 

Daniel 1:8 (KJV)

8But 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.

Daniel 1:9 (KJV)

9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Daniel 1:10 (KJV)

10And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

Daniel 1:11 (KJV)

11Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Daniel 1:12 (KJV)

12Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Daniel 1:13 (KJV)

13Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

Daniel 1:14 (KJV)

14So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

Daniel 1:15 (KJV)

15And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

Daniel 1:16 (KJV)

16Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

 

Daniel 1:17 (KJV)

17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Daniel 1:18 (KJV)

18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 1:19 (KJV)

19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. Daniel 3:1  Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 

 

1.    They Would Not Bow

 

A. Construction of the image

 

King Nebuchadnezzar has constructed an image 90 feet high by 9 feet wide. This image simply shows the pride that the Babylonian king had in his heart, maybe over the image he had seen before, in his dream. Maybe the king is trying to emphasize to the world just how great and powerful he really was, again showing the pride of his heart.

 

Think for a moment, this image (made to be a god) was made by a man, BUT our God made us. This image was made of gold BUT our God uses gold for the streets of glory. This image was 90 feet high and 9 feet wide BUT our God cannot be measured. 

 

Also please consider that this image was set up by a man. Anything set up or propped up by a man can be pulled down by a man BUT the God that we serve stands by Himself.  In fact the God that we serve was laid in a grave after His death on the cross BUT on the first day of the week Our God stood up all by Himself! Glory!

 

2  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.  3  Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  4  Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,  5  That at 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:  6  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  7  Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down[and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 

 

            B. Command of the king

 

Nebuchadnezzar has commanded all to worship the image at a certain time. This is forced worship or a working towards one world religion. True worship is an expression of the heart and it cannot be forced.

 

The music was appealing to the flesh. It symbolizes worldly music. There is a great difference between worldly music and that which is spiritual. (Eph5:19 & Col 3:16) Worldly music deadens the effect of worship, however spiritual music can lift a worship service.

 

I think of Elisha, II Kings 3:15, needing a word from God in order to advise the king. Elisha called for a minstrel, not a band playing rock music with Jesus lyrics. You may say “what is wrong with the beat of the music if the message or lyrics are right ?” Then I may say “I suppose we will all begin preaching in our bathing suits, after all how can our attire or clothing be wrong if the message about Jesus is right ?” You see my friend, God has a standard we are to live and worship by. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)

 

The king has stated that if you don’t bow down then you will be cast into the fiery furnace. Here the worldly music prepared for the worldly worship.  As the music began, all the people fell face down to the ground. All the people, with the exception of three men.

 

 

8  Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.  9  They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.  10  Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:  11  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  12  There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

 

            C. Contempt for the image

 

Three young men will not bow as everyone else has done. The Bible says that certain Chaldeans accused the Jews. I wonder if these Chaldeans were not the same ones who could not tell the king his dream in Chapter 2. Maybe they saw Daniel tell and interpret the dream and now they are jealous. They should be thankful, he saved their lives, but instead of being thankful they are jealous and want Daniels friends to be killed.  

 

 

13  Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.  14  Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?   15  Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 

 

2.    They Will Not Budge

 

A. The Rage of the king

 

King Nebuchadnezzar can’t believe anybody would refuse to worship his gods and his image. He is furious but is willing to give them another chance after warning them of the penalty should they refuse. 

                                            

 

16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

 

            B. The Resolve of the Three

 

The three Hebrew young men carefully weigh the consequences and are not concerned for their own well-being, but rather want to be obedient to God. I suppose they thought about Ex 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” or maybe they were thinking ahead Acts 5:29 “We ought to obey God rather than men.”  Never should we compromise and yield to the works of the world or the flesh. 

The three Hebrew young men respond by stating that our God is ABLE to deliver us from you and the fiery furnace, if it is His Will. No matter what happens, those three young men are not going to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar or his image. These young men are determined to serve God and God only. 

 

 

19  Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.  20  And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.  21  Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22  Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

 

 

3.    They Will Not Burn

 

A. Persecution

 

The king was “full of fury”, in other words he was beside himself in a fit of anger. The king commanded that the furnace be heated up seven times hotter than usual and these three Hebrew young men, who will not bow, be bound and cast into the flames of the furnace. In fact the kings mighty men, who bound and cast these men into the fire, were killed instantly from the heat of the flames.

 

You see my friend, the world wants to bind God’s people. The world does not want to give saved people the opportunity to stand up and share Bible testimony or doctrine. The world would rather destroy you and the freedom you have to witness than watch you stand for Bible principles. These young men will not compromise and neither should Christians today.

                                                                                                                                                     

 

24  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.  25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.   26  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.   27  And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 28  Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

 

            B. Preservation

 

As these men are cast into the fire, the king is watching and behold, he notices four men loose walking in the fire and they have no hurt. Nebuchadnezzar knew he only cast three into the fire and now he sees four men in the fire. Nebuchadnezzar had no knowledge of God, other than Daniels testimony in chapters 1 & 2, yet the king comments about the fourth man, that he is  “like the Son of God”.

The king called for the three young men to come forth and they did. But where was the fourth man? I believe He (The Lord) is everywhere. He is still with us when we walk thru the fire of a trial.  

 

The flames of that furnace were hot enough to melt iron, but on these men the flame has no power. Isaiah spoke about this in  Isaiah 43:1,2 “1  But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  2  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

 

The hair of those Hebrew young men were not singed. The garments of those young men were not scorched, there was not even the smell of fire upon them. The only thing the fire burnt was the cords that the world used to bind them with.

 

The king said “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego”. King Nebuchadnezzar, moved by these events, forgot his own image and recognized the God of Glory.

           

 

  29  Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 30  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. 

                                                                                                           

            C. Promotion

 

Nebuchadnezzar promotes that the God that delivered these young men was greater than his gods. The king also warned the empire from speaking against this God. Then King Nebuchadnezzar promotes these three young men who stood up instead of bowing down. I wonder what the accusing Chaldeans had to say about that.

 

We have read how on two separate occasions the death sentence was passed upon these Hebrews and both times God miraculously delivered them and then on both occasions they were mysteriously promoted in the kingdom of this world.

 

You and I are living in a world filled with trouble. Some of God’s children do get thrown into a “fiery furnace”, but He is able to keep you safe in the fire and He is able to deliver you from the fire

 

            D. Proclamation Prophetically

 

            When we examine this chapter more closely we see a prophetic picture, of the Great Tribulation:

 

First, the image to which the king tried to force everyone to worship represents the abomination of desolation. The Antichrist will place an image in the new temple and force the world to worship it. (Jesus spoke of this in Mk 13:14) (Rev 13:14,15 also speaks of this image).

 

Secondly, the fiery furnace represents the suffering of the Great Tribulation. It will be the time of Jacobs Trouble (Jer 30:7). The furnace was heated seven times hotter. The Great Tribulation will last for seven years and will be the most horrible time to endure the world has ever seen. 

 

Thirdly, King Nebuchadnezzar, represents the Antichrist and the devil trying to force the world to worship. To produce one world religion.

 

Fourthly, the three Hebrew children represent Israel. There will be the remnant of Jews, (144,000 we are told in Revelation 7) that will not bow and serve the Antichrist. These 144,000 are not harmed by the power of the Antichrist and will go around the world preaching and witnessing of truths exposing the Antichrist for the man of sin that he is.

 

Fifthly, Daniel is not mentioned in this chapter. He is an ambassador of the kingdom, maybe he is away on the kings business. I believe what’s not mentioned is important here. Daniel represents the Redeemed, the ambassadors of Christ, the Church, who are removed or raptured before the Great Tribulation.

 

Sixthly, remember the men that cast the three Hebrew children into the fire ? They could not withstand the heat of the flames and perished. I notice then, that all who serve the Antichrist will persecute the righteous, and will utterly one day be destroyed forever and ever. (Rev 19:21)

 

Seventhly, the fourth man in the furnace represents Jesus. He was there with the Hebrew children in the fire, and He will be with those who will not bow to the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation.  Remember 3 men were called from the fire but the 4th man stayed.  Jn 16:33 says “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”