“Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3: 29-30
We come to the end of Daniel 3. The test is over but what are the results? There are two major reactions – God’s and the world’s.
I. God’s Blessing: Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. First we see God’s reaction to his servants faithfulness. God moves the king to promote his servants. This does not surprise us for we are told that “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do”. Furthermore Peter tells us ” And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you”. Nebuchadnezzar promotes (the word means prosper or makes successful) the young men in the very province of Babylon in which he lived. The greatest result, however
was not the king’s promotion but that God “strengthened” them in their knowledge of and faith in Him. The test made their faith stronger.
II. The World’s Proclamation: Therefore I make a decree Nebuchadnezzar felt a need to do something in response to the miracle he has just seen. Unfortunately he does what so many parents do – send their kids to church while they stay home. The king makes faith in God legitimate in the kingdom which protects his people but it is not the repentance for sin that leads one to know God.
Any people, nation, or language Nebuchadnezzar’s decree is universal just as his decree to worship the golden image was. The decree is a mandate for every person in his kingdom.
That speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego The king initiates a law that no one may do what he did, reject the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Nebuchadnezzar
basically grants freedom to worship to Judaism. He does not mandate people believe in God but he prohibits others speaking against it. Judaism is accepted as an equal partner to other religions. This is the state of Christianity in America today. This part of the king’s decree is appropriate.
Shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins Again the king uses threats to ensure compliance. (It is the same way he
threatened the Chaldeans in Daniel 2 if they did not tell him his dream. It is Satan’s way to distort God’s love and call to all to repent.) Threatening people with God never accomplishes long lasting results. God provides one way people may come to him – through repentance and faith but Nebuchadnezzar does not know that yet.
For there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way Nebuchadnezzar then explains the greatness of God he observed. He is amazed at God’s power, His might– His ability to rescue. How did he see this? God worked through his people in a time of crisis and
showed Himself strong to them. In Nebuchadnezzar’s statement there is no understanding of his sin or the need to repent and turn
to God alone for salvation. He sees God’s power, that is good, but not His holiness, that is not. That is not enough for salvation.
What can we learn? God protected his three servants that day but He also protected all the Jews in Babylon. Just as God used Mordecai, one man, to protect all the Jews under King Ahasuerus, here he uses the obedience of three men to protect God’s people in Babylon. Faithfulness of a few removed the mandate to worship an idol from being expanded to all Jews. God uses a few faithful people who are willing to stand obediently for Him to protect all His people. In our age, that will happen again. He may call you or me but we must be ready and willing.