Daniels’s Friends Disobey The King

Daniel 3:8–18
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Some Babylonians used this as a chance to accuse the Jews to King Nebuchadnezzar (v. 8). They said, “ Your Majesty, we hope you live forever (v. 9)! When the three Hebrew youths refused to bow, the Chaldeans, the very people whose lives had been spared because of the prayer meeting of Daniel and these three youths, ran and told the King (vv. 10-12). Probably these men were jealous of Daniel and his friends because of their elevation to a high office that perhaps they had hoped to secure for themselves. Sad to say this sometimes is found all to often today, even among Christians. Are you ready to take a stand for God? If so be ready. It may not always have a happy ending.

The king became very angry as he could not understand how anyone could disobey his commands  so he called for the three Hebrew leaders to be brought to him (v. 13). These three men were given one more chance to bow down before the golden image as the music is played (vv. 14-15). Howevever for them to bow down and worship the image would violate God’s command in Exodus 20:3 “You shall have not other gods before Me.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were pressured to deny God, but they chose to be faithful to Him no matter what happened! They trusted God to deliver them, but they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences (vv. 16-18). We should be faithful to serve God whether He intervenes on our behalf or not. Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure.

Application

I must never allow myself to become jealous of someone who receives recognition and things that I would like to have. It would be so easy for Satan to gain victory in my life in this way.