Song # 1213.1 from Our Gospel In Song Collection by Col Johnston. We read in the Book of Daniel in chapter 3 of the gold image made by king Nebuchadnezzar, and his command by decree for everyone to bow down and worship the image whenever music was played. Failure to do so would result in being thrown into the furnace.
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, 27 metres high and almost 3 metres wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon (Daniel 3:1). He then summoned all the officials to assemble for the dedication of the image, and they stood before it (Daniel 3:2-3). Then the herald loudly proclaimed “This is what you are commanded to do”(Daniel 3:4), “As soon as you hear all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image” (Daniel 3:5). “Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace” (Daniel 3:6). So as soon as the people heard any music they fell down and worshipped the image (Daniel 3:7). At this time some astrologers said to the king “There are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - who pay no attention to you, oh king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:8-12). Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned the three men and asked them if this was true and if it was they would be thrown into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:13-15). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king “We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter” (Daniel 3:16). “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it” (Daniel 3:17). “But even if He does not, we want you to know, oh king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold” (Daniel 3:18). Nebuchadnezzar was furious, and he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual (Daniel 3:19). So the three men, still wearing their clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace, and the flames of the fire were so hot it killed the soldiers who threw the three men, firmly tied, into the furnace (Daniel 3:20-23). Then king Nebuchadnezzar leapt to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied “Certainly, oh king” (Daniel 3:24). He said “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25). The king approached the fire and called for the men to come out (Daniel 3:26). The three men came out in front of the assembled people, who all saw that no harm had come to them (Daniel 3:27). Then Nebuchadnezzar said “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who has sent His Angel and rescued His servants” (Daniel 3:28).
Thought for today: God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people.
Thought for the future: there is no-one more secure than those in God’s hands. Where will you spend your eternity?