Daniel 3

The Golden Image

1 King Nebuchadnezzar decided to flex and built a wild statue of gold, 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. He had it set up in the plains of Dura in Babylon.

2 He called all his big shots, officials, governors, judges, and anyone important, to come through and check out the dedication of this statue he set up.

3 So, all the big names in Babylon pulled up for the dedication and stood in front of the massive gold statue Nebuchadnezzar had built.

4 Then a herald stepped up and said, “Aight, listen up, everybody, people of all nations and languages!”

5 “When you hear the sound of the horns, flutes, lyres, and all these instruments, you must bow down and worship this golden statue King Nebuchadnezzar set up.”

6 “Whoever does not bow down is getting thrown straight into a blazing furnace. No cap.”

7 So as soon as the music dropped, everybody, no matter their language or background, hit the ground and worshipped that gold statue.

Faith Under Fire

8 But some shady Chaldeans snitched on the Jews and went to the king.

9 They said, “Listen, King Nebuchadnezzar, may you live forever!”

10 “You put out that rule, saying everyone who hears the music has to bow down and worship the golden statue?”

11 “and if they do not, they get tossed into the furnace, right?”

12 “Well, there are some Jews you appointed to run Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They are not feeling your orders, King. They do not serve your gods or bow to your statue.”

13 Nebuchadnezzar got heated, so he called for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to come through. When they showed up, he was ready to confront them.

14 The king said, “Is it true you all do not serve my gods or worship my gold statue?”

15 “I am going to give you one more chance. When the music drops, if you all bow down and worship, it is all good. But if not, you all are getting tossed into the furnace. Then let us see what god can save you from my hands.”

The Fiery Furnace

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not even shook. They said, “Listen, King, we do not need to defend ourselves on this.”

17 “If our God, who we serve, wants to save us, He can. He will save us from your furnace and your hand, for sure.”

18 “But even if He does not, we want you to know we are not bowing down to your statue or serving your gods. Period.”

19 Nebuchadnezzar was mad tight after hearing that, and his whole face changed. He ordered the furnace to be cranked up seven times hotter than usual.

20 He told his strongest soldiers to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

21 So, they got tied up, still in their clothes, robes, and everything, and were tossed into the furnace.

22 The fire was so hot that it killed the soldiers who tried to throw them in!

23 But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the furnace, still tied up.

God Delivers

24 Suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up, shocked. He asked his people, “Listen, did we not throw three dudes into the fire?”

25 They said, “Yeah, King.” But the king said, “Hold up, I see four men in the fire, walking around, and they are not even tied up! And that fourth one looks like a god or something!”

26 Nebuchadnezzar went up to the door of the furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego! Servants of the Most High God, come out here!” So they came out of the fire.

27 All the officials crowded around, amazed. The fire did not even touch them. Their hair was not singed, their clothes were not burned, and they did not even smell like smoke!

28 Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His angel to save them because they trusted Him. They ignored my orders and were willing to die instead of worshiping any god but their own.”

29 “So now, I am making a new rule: Anybody who disrespects the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is getting torn to pieces, and their house will be trash. Because no other god can save like this.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to higher positions in Babylon.