Today’s passage: Daniel 3:1-7
Helpful thoughts:
- This statue was about 90 feet tall.
- The statue/image was set up in the plain of Dura, outside the city. The last chapter ended by telling us that Daniel did not leave the palace, therefore he would not have been present when this false worship was commanded.
- Further proof that Nebuchadnezzar did not convert to worship of the Lord alone…He commanded all of these officials to worship this new image or die. In a way, this was a means for him to assert his authority and culture over all of his subordinate governing authorities.
- Babylon had set up native leaders for each province. This means that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not the only Jewish people at this event.
Questions to consider:
- Why was this command such a big deal? (See Deuteronomy 6:12-14)
- Why did it probably seem like such an easy decision for all the people who did bow down and worship? How would what they already believed and committed to have guided them in this instant of decision?
- How does what we really believe show itself when we have to make choices in the moments of everyday life?
- What kind of faith can a person have if the reason they bow down is just to make sure they don’t get killed?