When we come to chapter three, it is clear that Nebuchadnezzar’s thoughts are on himself. He is seeking his own needs. His emotional experience did not bring him to God. If the dream had any meaning, it did not result in his seeking God. In fact, it appears that he missed the point, thinking he was something special to God. That happens with Christians, too. God does something wonderful through us; we see what God has done, and then we think we are better than others. We forget what we really are - tools!    The king did not set-up a statue to Daniel’s God. We believe that he set-up an image of himself or of a god connected with his reign. He will insist that the people worship it.   Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. (NASB) Daniel 3:1      The Critics. The king gave an order for the image to be built and set-up in the plain of Dura. It appears the plain of Dura is southwest of Babylon. Today there are some ancient ruins along the Dura River where it empties into the Euphrates River. At this location there is an ancient mound of brick 13.7 meters by 13.7 meters and 6 meters high (45 feet by 45 feet and 20 feet high).    Some critics have said the statue is too high at 27.4 meters (90 feet) and would have fallen over. But they ignore the fact that one of the seven wonders of the ancient world was even taller - the Colossus of Rhodes - standing at 32 meters (105 feet). It is not amazing that those who reject God will accept the Colossus of Rhodes and reject the statements of Daniel.         Historically, critics also have rejected the idea that enough gold existed in Babylon to make a gold image that large. But it has now been pointed out that ancient writers such as Herodotus and Diodorus have stated that gold statues were common and have even referred to ones as tall as 18.3 m (60 ft) existing in Babylon (Herodotus 1.183; Diodorus 2.9). Many other references to other gold ornaments and artifacts have been found. A very interesting comment is made by Pliny, who states that an all gold image was looted from Babylon by Antony (Hist. nat. 33.24). Was this Nebuchadnezzar’s gold image? Those who reject God find fault with the book of Daniel.    The Wrong Desire. The people saw the brick foundation for the image being made, and then the image being erected. They would have seen the slave labor and also paid the taxes to finance it. This was not a silly activity. The king was serious and motivated. Once the task was finished, the king commanded everyone to come and worship.     Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the herald loudly proclaimed: “To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language, that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.” Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. (NASB) Daniel 3:2-7         < Back   Next >
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