THE THREE YOUTHS IN THE FIERY FURNACE God talked to Nebuchadnezzar through the language of dreams in which he believes, for his spirit was troubled (Dan 2: 3). Daniel interpreted the dream for him, warning him from pride, for he became like a golden head (Dan 2: 8) to a metal image, which will be destroyed. The king bowed before Daniel and witnessed that God is the God of gods and the King of kings (Dan 2: 46,47). Soon enough, the king forgot all that and erected an image of his person, not only with a golden head, but it was all made of gold, (statue from wood or metal all gold plated). He ordered that everyone in his kingdom should bow down to his statue or else will be thrown into a fiery furnace. (Dan 3: 6). Nebuchadnezzar’s heart was like a thorny ground, for he had heard the interpretation of the dream by Daniel and had glorified God, and had appointed Daniel above all the wise men of Babylon, as well as appointing his three friends over all the affairs of Babylon. But soon, the thorns had choked the word. 1. Building a golden image 1-7 2. Complaint against the three youths. 8-12 3. Debate with Nebuchadnezzar 13-18 4. The three youths in the fiery furnace 19-23 5. Deliverance of the three youths 24-30 6. The praise of the three youths 1. BUILDING A GOLDEN IMAGE “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon” (1). Some think that the act of Nebuchadnezzar is of someone who wanted to outdo the effects of the dream from his people and his kingdom, for he felt that many had glorified the God of Israel. Therefore, he built this image to occupy the minds of the people. Was this image for Nebuchadnezzar himself, or for the god of his kingdom, or for a new god? Daniel did not mention that, but the majority thinks that he wanted to make himself a god. So if he appeared as someone humble before Daniel, it was only for a moment, shortly after he recovered his pride and vainglory. Probably after he had his dream, the king was afraid that the Jews would stir the Gentiles not to worship the gods of the king. Therefore, he built this golden image, as a test for all the people which he had taken as captives. He set it up in the plain of Dura, or in the open city. Because the image was so huge, some thought that this was not a historical story. But to refute this, we say that probably the whole image was not made from pure gold, but maybe it was only gold plated, and the dimension of the image included the big base on which the image was built. 85 “And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then a herald cried aloud: ‘To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.’ So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up” (2-7). The dimensions of the image were an omen of a decline. Number seven refers to perfection, while number eight refers to what is beyond the temporal perfection, for the Lord Jesus rose on the first day of the new week (that is the eighth day). Number six refers to the decline, for the name of the antichrist is 666 (Rev 13: 13-18), which means continuous decline. Here, the image measures 60 feet in height and 6 feet in width (1). Nebuchadnezzar used every possible way to force people to worship the image. He used the army to frighten the public, and used all kinds of music to stir the emotions. Thus, in every generation, Satan uses every possible means to attract us to worship him, or to drive some people away from God toward sin, or to convince some that the holy life is rebellion against the society. All the nations worshiped the image, whether it is god or the king or another god, to obey the king’s command, who threatened to torture them in a fiery furnace. 2. COMPLAINT AGAINST THE THREE YOUTHS The wicked people talked with the king, telling him that the three youths have disobeyed the king and that they have declared that to obey God is better than to obey men. (Acts 5: 29). “Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up” (8-12). It is noted here that they were using some Greek musical instruments, for the Greek culture has influenced this region, through the Greek merchants and some Greek colonies before the establishment of the Greek Empire. It is obvious that the movements of the three youths were under strict supervision, especially after the issuing of the order to worship the image. Probably some of the king’s advisers have notified the king that those strangers did not participate with the rest of the 86 people in the Babylonian religious rites. Some have envied those, whom the king elevated from the slavery to occupy high positions in the country, and accused them of being rebellious and not worshiping the gods. The Chaldeans, whom Daniel and the three youths have rescued from death (Dan. 2:2) complained to the king about those who saved them, and asked that the three youths be cast in the fiery furnace. The Chaldeans gave back hatred instead of love, envy instead of mercy. This is the nature of the sinful who likes to annoy the righteous and persecute them. St. Clement of Rome said: [You cannot find in the church books saints expelling righteous, but we find evil people persecuting righteous, ungodly people arresting good people. The righteous people endured all that with glory. What shall I say? Did men who fear God throw Daniel into the lion’s den? Were Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael thrown in the fiery furnace by righteous peoples whom worshiped God? God forbid! 1] 3. DEBATE WITH NEBUCHADNEZZAR “Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (13-18). Nothing excites those who are in authority except the feeling that someone does not obey them, even if their orders are unjust. He gave them a last chance to rescue their lives, if they worship the image only once. What troubled him was not worshiping the image but rather defying his authority. Tertullian spoke of obedience to kings and rulers (Rom 13: 1; 1 Pet 2: 13) except for matters pertaining to faith -: [The three youths were obedient to Nebuchadnezzar except when he told them to worship the image; they completely refused2.] The three youths could have some excuses to justify worshiping the image: 1. They were young in age and captives. 2. They were under the authority of a brutal king. 3. The king had absolute authority over them, being a captive of war. They were required to worship only once, without forbidding them from worshiping God. 4. They were offered all kinds of music to stir them. 5. The king himself, who gave them to live in the luxury of the palace, threatened them. 1 l Cor. 45:4-7. 2 On Idolatry, 15. 87 6. They were in a strange country, and they could have easily done what the people are doing, as the proverb says, “When in Rome, do as Romans do.” 7. Their predecessors worshipped the idols even in the temple in Jerusalem and in all Judah as was mentioned in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, without any outside pressure, while these strangers insisted that they do not worship the idols even in a strange country. 8. By refusing to worship the idols, they lose every chance to do something to help their people; however, they were confident that God could rescue them. The furnace was made from red bricks, with an opening on the top as a side door, through which the king had seen the three youths and the Son of God. King Nebuchadnezzar defied their King. However, they defied death because of their faith in God. They believed that God could save them even if He does not save them from the temporal fire. They were not afraid of the king’s threatening, for they believed that: A. God can save them, and that He is the Guardian of their lives, and that He does not allow them to die; B. They believed that if God allows them to die, they would accept that courageously, offering their lives as a sacrifice to testify their love to God. The three youths are considered martyrs because they witnessed to the divine truth, offering their lives as a price for their testimony, whether they are killed or whether God delivers them. St. Augustine said that martyrdom is not achieved through only death, but according to the condition of the believer. Martyrdom is based on two principles: first, believing in God who guards and guides our lives to the direction He wants us to follow, and second watching a door opened in heaven where we can see the glory prepared for us, recognizing that we are passing through a transient period. Look at their faith! They say we believe that God can save us, and if our sins hinder us, we believe that He can deliver us from the eternal death. We do not believe in this life only but in the life to come. We do not believe just to escape from the flames, but so that we may not escape crossing this fire to fall in another serious fire. Therefore, do what you want, prepare your furnace, for it is for our purification1.] St. Jerome Maybe some may ask why no one complained that Daniel did not worship the image? The answer is that perhaps Daniel was in a mission outside the region. And second, those who complained against Daniel were afraid that the king might accuse them, for they knew how the king appreciated and highly regarded Daniel, or maybe, they were planning to accuse Daniel after the three youths. Third, probably the king felt that everyone should bow down to Daniel because he is greater than the image or equal to it. 4. THE THREE YOUTHS IN THE FIERY FURNACE “Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king’s command was 1 On Ps. hom. 55. 88 urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrack, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace” (19-23). They were thrown in the furnace from the upper opening. By looking into the eternal fire, they did not fear the temporal fire, or death. (Lk. 12:4,5). What did the fire of persecution do to them? A. The Word of God appeared, the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. He who was inside them protected them and embraced them. B. The flames unbound the ties, however it could not touch their hair, nor their clothes. C. The king confessed to their God that He is the Savior and honored them in the region of Babylon. St. John Cassian wrote that the king of Babylon refers to the devil that stirs inside us the fire of the lust. We subdue the lusts of the flesh by depriving the flesh of the food that stirs lust and pride. Thus, by repentance and the tears of our hearts, we can put off the flame of the fire of lust, which the Babylonian king has inflamed. But through the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we can subdue the carnal lusts1. St. John Cassian 5. DELIVERANCE OF THE THREE YOUTHS “Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” He answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here.” Then, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered servants who trusted in , and they have frustrated king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon” (24-30). There was a side door for the furnace. The king stood by that side door to see them thrown inside the furnace. What did he see? First, the fire had purified them in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the king, so the One like the Son of God appeared to glorify them. 1 Institutes, Book 5:14. 89 Second: The fire had loosened the iron chains, but did not affect their clothes. Third: While some of the soldiers died because of the heat, the three youths were walking in the fiery furnace. Fourth: The fire changed into dew, and probably the king wanted to enjoy what they were enjoying but he couldn’t, so he called them to come out to him. The three youths came out of the furnace, but they were walking inside it until the king ordered that they should come out. They were obedient to the king, in the Lord. The Chaldeans knew the story about throwing the three youths in the fiery furnace. Therefore, they became a living witness in the province of Babylon to God the Savior of His righteous people. But what did the king do about his eternity? Hananiah, Mishael, and Abed-Nego deserved to be protected from the flames by the dew, and to have the mouths of the lions shut, through the prayers of Daniel1. Hananiah and his friends went down to a spiritual pond granted to all the saints, and which Isaac had uttered these words when he told Jacob, “May God give you of the dew of heaven..” (Gen 27: 28). This was much better than the material dew that put off the flames of Nebuchadnezzar2. Nebuchadnezzar uttered the same words which we now utter, for we are crossing to the life to come (Heb 11: 13), yet we experience the heavenly dew which puts off all the flames of lust, and we follow the example of the three youths3. Origen In the Old Testament, prayers were used to deliver from fire (Dan. 3), from animals (Dan. 6), and from famine (1 Kings 18, James 5:17-18). Although this happened before the Lord Jesus had honored prayers, how about now? 4 Tertullian The three youths became an example for all the believers. For they did not fear the words of the king, nor when they saw the flames of the fire, but they considered the entire world as a trash can, keeping only the fear of God before their eyes. Daniel stood away in silence. Nevertheless, he smiled and encouraged them to be steadfast in their faith. Moreover, he was delighted with their testimony and understanding, and for them receiving the crowns of victory over the devil5. The king called the three youths by their names, but he couldn’t find a name for the fourth One, for He was not yet incarnated to be the Christ born from the Virgin6. They were honored not only by God, but by the king too. They taught the Gentiles to worship God7. St. Hippolytus of Rome 1 On Prayer, 16:3. 2 On Prayer, 16:3. 3 Exhortation to Martyrdom 33. 4 On Prayer, 29 5 Scholia on Daniel, 3:16. 6 Scholia on Daniel, 3:39 7 Scholia on Daniel, 3:79. 90 when they were locked inside the furnace, the flames escaped and the Lord was with them, assuring that no power can stand against His confessors and witnesses. No harm can touch those who depend on God, but they are always in a haven from all dangers1. [They added that God is the Almighty who can do everything. They did not say that just for a temporal request, but to enjoy the glory of the eternal freedom and guarantee2. [They say, “If that is the case...” telling the king that they are willing to die for the sake of God whom they worship. This is the courageous power of faith. Believing that God can rise from the dead does not mean fear from death, or escape from it, but through it, faith is strengthened the more3. [The three youths were the same age, steadfast in their faith, persisting in the virtue, and stronger than the flames and the punishments imposed on them. They declared that they obey only God, and know and worship Him only4. St. Cyprian The three youths have manifested themselves above all lusts of the flesh and despised wrath of the king. They were very courageous and did not fear the fire, but proved to all that the golden image is a worthless god5. How did the three youths have victory over the power of fire? By their persistence6 St. Basil the Great The three youths were famous in Babylon because of the fire7. St. Augustine Before those who accused the three youths find anything to justify themselves, the king had issued a decree to abolish anyone who stand against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. However, he did not forsake the pagan worship, and did not ask to be with the God of the three youths and to enjoy His presence. 6. THE PRAISE OF THE THREE YOUTHS The three youths started praising God and glorifying Him in the fiery furnace. The church sings this praise daily. We’ll talk about it later when we talk about the completion of the book of Daniel in the Septuagint. God, who made the fiery furnace in Babylon cold, is in our midst8. St. Basil the Great] said: [The three youths cried to the Lord inside the furnace; and when they praised God, the fire became cold. The flames could not touch them nor harm them, and God delivered them from it1. 1 Epistle, 80:3. 2 Epistle, 80:3. 3 Epistle, 55:5. 4 Treatise, 11:11. 5 On Renunciation of the World. 6 The Long Rules, Q.16. 7 Sermons for Christmas 1:13. 8 On Detatchment. 91 It is obvious that God never forsook the three youths who praised in the furnace, and the flames could not touch them2.] St. Augustine 1 Second Discourse on Ps 33 (34). 2 Third Discourse on Ps 36 (37). 92 FROM THE INSPIRATION OF DANIEL (3) SO THAT I MAY WALK WITH YOU IN THE FURNACE Let the fire be inflamed and the enemy roars, but as long as You are with me, I am not afraid! You change the fire into dew! Instead of groaning, You change my life into praise! May You be transfigured in my depths, and glorified in my weaknesses, You who are the God of the impossible! Grant me the spirit of prayer with praise, so that I may deny all the flames of tribulations and the devil and all his evil deeds! I shall not fear, for You grant me victory over sin!
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