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Their
accusation was simple - they “have disregarded you.” The
Hebrew says they “are ALWAYS ignoring you.” They implied
the three Hebrews had an attitude problem towards the king. This was
the key charge and the proof was that they refused to worship the
statue. They made the insult worse when they added to the king’s
command and said the Jews did not serve his gods. How would you feel
if you had been insulted and rejected?
I
Am Angry. The king’s emotions gripped him and he demanded
to see the three men.
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Then
Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach,
Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the
king. (NASB) Dan. 3:13 |
The Hebrew is vivid saying that he was demanding and demanding that
the three men be brought to him. He was emotional, impatient and insistent.
The wise men had succeeded!
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Nebuchadnezzar
. . . said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden
image that I have set up? (NASB) Dan. 3:14 |
When the men arrived, the king asked the key question. Did they disobey
his decree and were they refusing to serve his gods? This last accusation
was the wise men’s addition.
Emptiness.
Worship and service! Is it not amazing that every religion has these
two things in common - worship and service. It does not matter if
it is Buddhism, Hindusim, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, or some
other religion: worship and service are always there. Some years ago,
a pastor in Texas said that a woman came to him and asked if she could
teach Sunday School. She went on to explain that she was struggling
spiritually and needed to serve in the church to help. The pastor
remarked, “We have really slipped if the qualification for service
is a poor spiritual relationship with God.” Worship and service
- two things most religious people want to do. Nebuchadnezzar did
not ask, “Do you have a personal relationship with God?”
“Do you love God?” That is unique to Christianity. In most
religions, god is impersonal and distant. But Jesus wants a friendship
(John 15:14). Nebuchadnezzar was satisfied with ritual and ceremony!
One can be happy with just ritual and ceremony. Do you see prayer
as speaking to a Friend, reading the Bible as listening to Him, confessing
your sins as making your relationship right, or ask the Holy Spirit
to empower your life? Worship and service were good enough for the
king.
Now You Will
Pay. Now the king’s question.
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Now
if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn,
flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of
music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made,
very well. But if you will not worship, you will immediately
be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what
god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” (NASB)
Dan. 3:15 |
Are you ready to worship? Bow or burn?
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Shadrach,
Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O
Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning
this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver
us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us
out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be
known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods
or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (NASB)
Dan. 3:16-18 |
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