BY BRUCE GREEN
OPINION —
The scene shifts in Daniel 3 to the plain of Dura. Nebuchadnezzar has gathered bureaucrats there from all over the kingdom (v. 2). Per Daniel 1, this includes people from “all of the nations and peoples of every language” (v. 7). This gathering is no small thing!
There’s another layer: Nebuchadnezzar is using the occasion to dedicate a 90’ image he made. Whether it’s a replica of the one he dreamed about in chapter two or something else, we’re not told. What is important is that he is using the image and the occasion as a loyalty test. Everyone who bows down to the image is “in,” and everyone who doesn’t is “out.” And by the way, the people who are out will not have to suffer the indignity of having to clean out their desks immediately and be led out by security in the march of shame—they will be thrown into a blazing furnace. So the stakes are high!
The other thing worth mentioning is that Daniel is not there. The text doesn’t explicitly tell us this, but that’s the case. The only other option would be that he is there, he worships the image, and doesn’t come to the defense of his friends — does anyone really believe that’s what happened? That makes no sense. What does make sense is that Daniel is back in Babylon helping run things while Nebuchadnezzar is away. After all, he passed his loyalty test with flying colors in chapter 2.
From the information Daniel gives us concerning Nebuchadnezzar, he seemed to be someone you had to constantly prove yourself to. As we all know, that can be exhausting. When that person is also the king—and an idolater of the highest order—it can be fatal. He was also one of those people who provided you with multiple opportunities to do what was wrong. In fact, he was making it easy to do what was wrong. It’s people like him who inspired the saying, “With friends like that, who needs enemies?”
What will Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do? They are young and away from home. They are away from their friend, Daniel. It would be oh-so-easy for them to entertain the idea of giving in to the king’s demand.
After all, who would know?
Or, they could rationalize their situation in a different direction—a practical one. They could bow down physically just this once—while not bowing down in their hearts. And they’ll only bow down so that God can continue to use them to influence the pagan king. It’s an ends justifies the means argument we can fall into the trap of. I’ll laugh at this crude joke, nod my head at this lie, or compromise in some other way because I want to be “in” with this person or group of people so I can influence them for Christ. How does that work out for us? Has compromising our beliefs ever been a successful form of outreach?
The young men do not use being young, being away from home, or anything else as an excuse to bow down.
Next week we’ll look more closely at what was involved in the decision they made.
You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: a-taste-of-grace-with-bruce-green.com