“There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:12
The Chaldean accusers now level their specific charge. We don’t know when this happens but based on the phrase “ at that time”
many Bible commentators feel the ceremony is stopped in and the accusation brought directly to the king who was overseeing the “worship service”. Three men are standing instead of bowing and the Chaldeans are enraged – the king must know about this!
There are certain Jews The Chaldeans identify the culprits – the lawbreakers, those who are not loyal. They want to make sure there is no mistake in identifying them so they use three descriptions. First they are Jewish. This immediately casts suspicion on them because they are not native Babylonians like the Chaldeans. Whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon Second they tell the king the three disloyal participants have significant positions right in the very province of Babylon – the province in which the king lives and rules. The implication is disloyalty this close to the king is very dangerous in deed. Note the subtle blame of the king – you chose these disloyal Jews instead of us loyal subjects.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego Finally the three men are identified using their Babylonian names, the names by which the king would know them. The culprits are identified clearly so there is no doubt in the king’s mind who is guilty.
These men, O king Then the Chaldeans level a three fold charge. Multiple accusations are made so that at least one of them will resonate with the king and a guilty verdict can be obtained.
Have not paid due regard to you. The first charge is that they have not obeyed and honored the king’s position and authority. It is interesting that this is the first charge made against the king’s most loyal subjects. We know it is scriptural to obey the legitimate authority God has placed over us. Yet there can come a time when the authority over us issues a decree which runs counter to God’s law. When that happens we must obey God rather than man. Here is the key point – it is never personal. We do not attack the king or his lifestyle or even beliefs. Instead we stand for what God has decreed. The four Jewish men are never asked why they did not bow or about their loyalty to the king. They would wholeheartedly agree to serve the king loyally. The Chaldeans chose to label the actions to suggest that the three young men are living a life of deliberate disloyalty to the king while holding key positions in his administration.
They do not serve your gods Second the Chaldeans accuse the Jewish young men of refusing to serve the king’s gods. This is a true charge. Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael cannot, will not, serve the idols that the king worships for this clearly violates Gods first commandment. “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” For the young men who would not disobey God by eating the king’s food, this is a clear line in the sand.
Or worship the gold image which you have set up The third accusation hits at the events on the plain of Dura. The first two
accusations are presented without proof to magnify the offense the Chaldeans allege. This accusation strikes at what has just occurred on the plain of Dura. While the statement is true the Jewish boys stand on God’s word for their refusal to obey the king’s order. Exodus 20:4 states “You shall not bow down to them or worship them”. The boys will not, cannot, bow to an idol.
What can we learn? When the world attacks believers they always broaden their accusations to make the believer’s behavior seem as repulsive and vile as possible. They especially attack motives. Here we see young men accused of defying the king’s authority. Nothing is further from the truth. But the world worships the “accuser of the brethern” so we should not be surprised that it happens on the plain of Dura (or to us).