June 28 Daily Devotional

Daniel 3

Nebuchadnezzar the king grew in power. Year after year he added new countries to his kingdom, until he became the greatest king at that time. This caused him to become very haughty and proud. Once he made a large image (idol), about ninety feet high, and covered it with gold. It was set up on the plain of Dura, near Babylon. Then a herald proclaimed aloud, “To you it is commanded, O people, nations and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

At that time certain men came near, saying, “Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man shall fall down and worship the golden image.” Now there are certain Jews, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who have not regarded thee: they worship not the golden image. Then the king in his rage commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; and he said, “If ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace: and who is that’ God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” They answered, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us. But if he will not, be it known unto thee, that we will not serve thy gods … nor worship the golden image.”

“Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury … and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated,” and to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and to cast them into the fiery furnace. So these men were bound in their mantles, hats and other garments, and were cast into the burning fiery furnace. And the furnace became so hot, that the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Nebuchadnezzar the king looked into the blaze and saw that the fire did not harm the three men. He said to his counsellors, “Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? … Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said … ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither.” Then they came forth out of the fire. They were unharmed. Not a hair was singed by the flames, and there was no smell of fire to be noticed on their garments. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him.”