Daniel
3:1-12 The
Fiery Furnace, Part 1
King
Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue whose height was sixty cubits and whose
width was six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of
Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent for the satraps, the prefects, and the
governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and
all the officials of the provinces, to assemble and come to the dedication of
the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, the prefects,
and the governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the justices, the
magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, assembled for the
dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When they were
standing before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, the herald proclaimed
aloud, ‘You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when
you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire
musical ensemble, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that King
Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship shall
immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.’ Therefore, as soon as
all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum,
and entire musical ensemble, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down
and worshipped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Accordingly,
at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. They said
to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king, live forever! You, O king, have made
a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon,
harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, shall fall down and worship the golden
statue, and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a
furnace of blazing fire. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over
the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These
pay no heed to you, O king. They do not serve your gods and they do not
worship the golden statue that you have set up.’
****
Today’s reading is the beginning of
the story I have always enjoyed reading at the Easter Vigil. In the reading a
picture is created of mass confusion – lots of people, lots of noise. Chaos
reigns. King Nebuchadnezzar sets up his image done in gold in the middle of the
city so that the people could worship him. His astrologists denounced the Jews
and the king made a decree that everyone who did not bow down would be thrown into
a blazing furnace. This reading ends with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago
disobeying the king’s order and being reported to the king by his astrologists.
We are not asked to bow down before the king in our worship. We are asked to
show our respect and love by following the commandments and to love one
another. We are living in a world of chaos and confusion. Belief of and
compassion for others are creating lots of bad things today. Are we in danger
of being thrown into a fiery furnace? We believe Jesus came into the world to
save us from our sins. Is it time for the second coming?
Prayer: Heavenly Father we ask that You be
with us and lead us to the Way, the Truth and the Light of Your son, Jesus
Christ. Make us see the things that we should be doing to praise You and make
things better in this chaotic world. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen
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