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 ebuchadnezzar
created an image of gold for his leaders to worship.
It was located south of Babylon along the Dura River. It must
have been awesome - being all gold and standing higher than
a seven floor building. This image of gold was tall and narrow
- maybe as narrow as the shoulders of a statue of a former
king,
Sargon. God had told Nebuchadnezzar, through Daniel, that He
was king of kings and superior to all future kingdoms. After
years of thinking about these “praises,” the king
reacted as many of us do. He confused God’s work with
his own. He took credit for what God had done. It is easy
to believe
we are the cause of success. The statue symbolized Nebuchadnezzar’s
accomplishments. When the statue was finished, he gave an
order
for his leaders to come and worship. He planned the “worship
music” with wonderful instruments and required all to
worship. Refusal was to reject the king!
The “Wise
Men.”
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego did not join in the worship.
Their enemies noticed and did not miss this opportunity to completely
remove them.
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For
this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward
and brought charges against the Jews. (NASB) Dan. 3:8 |
We do not know who their enemies were for they visited
the king secretly and brought charges against the three men,
calling them Jews. It appears they were afraid the king might
reject their plan and then Daniel or his powerful friends might
punish them if they failed. The Hebrew words for “brought
charges” means “to devour in pieces.” It describes
their slanderous passion - their hatred. So they came in secret,
concerned only for themselves. They began by praising the king.
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They
responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “O
king, live forever! (NASB) Dan. 3:9 |
Now for the next phase of the
plan! They needed to remind the king of his decree and see if
he was serious.
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You
yourself, O king, have made a decree that every man who
hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery,
and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, is to fall down and
worship the golden image. But whoever does not fall down
and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace
of blazing fire. (NASB) Dan. 3:10-11 |
At this point the king must have sensed there was a problem.
The trap was set. Now they only needed to inflame the king’s
emotions and let the trap fall.
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There
are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration
of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they
do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which
you have set up.” (NASB) Dan. 3:12 |
Again
we hear the word “Jews.” These are words of hatred
- hatred because these Jewish men had been promoted to high
positions (see Dan. 2:49) over them. Daniel’s friends must
have known of their hatred. Did they hear about their enemies
during the fourteen years since their promotion? Did they hear
it from someone when they had lunch at the ziggurat, near one
of the seven wonders of the ancient world - the Hanging Gardens,
or as they walked along the Processional? We do not know, but
it is hard to believe their enemies’ anger was a secret. |
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