“King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 3:1
We are not sure how long after Daniel chapter 2 ends that Daniel chapter 3 begins. There are at least three links to the previous passage. First, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael are mentioned in the positions of authority that Daniel had requested for them. Second, Daniel who was appointed ruler of the entire province of Babylon is not mentioned although the events of chapter 3 happen in his area of authority. There have been several suggestions as to the reason he is not mentioned. The most likely reason is that Daniel had been given an assignment by Nebuchadnezzar that took him out of the kingdom for an extended period of time. It is interesting to note that after the trial the four boys face together in chapter 1 the next trial God allows in their lives they are separated from Daniel. That more than any other reason explains Daniel’s absence.
This is a trial of the three young men’s faith. They are given the opportunity to stand alone for God, not in Daniel’s shadow but standing alone. This shows us that our trials will vary in life. Some may be with a group, others may be alone but all are designed by God to bring Him the glory. Our response to the trial despite the type should be the same. Stand firm and true and trust God. The third link between the two chapters is King Nebuchadnezzar, himself. In chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar is nervous, anxious and perplexed over the dream God sent him. After Daniel had interpreted the dream, the king’s apprehensions goes away. If nothing else he is elated over he dream. Despite the fact his kingdom would end, he is delighted to realize God considered him as the greatest of all gentile rulers – he was the head of gold and that pleased him.
King Nebuchadnezzar Daniel records the facts that God wants us to know. He does not tell us the reason for the king’s action. He does not tell us what the image represents. Possibly the king had been meditating on how he was the image of gold (we know he had a problem with pride). Perhaps the statue is an image of himself. He is to be worshipped as god. Perhaps the statue represents Babylon. The kingdom (the state) is to be worshipped. God does not tell us the reason because the reason is not important. There is no reason that could ever justify what Nebuchadnezzar was going to ask the three young men to do. We need to keep that in mind. There is no justification for worshipping anything or anyone, including ourselves, other than the living and true God.
Made The king made, prepared or ordered to be created – in other words this was his plan that was executed and became reality.
An image This Aramaic word is used only in Daniel 2 (the king’s dream) and in chapter 3 (the statue the king had constructed). The first time the Hebrew word image is used in scripture is in Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image”. God made
man in his likeness, now Nebuchadnezzar makes an image of himself (in other words a copy of a copy) and prepares to instruct his kingdom to worship the cheap copy instead of the living and true God.
What can we learn? We are told we all will be tempted by the pride of life. This is defined as anything that exalts man above our position and attributes God-like qualities to ourselves which exalts us instead of God. This sin started in heaven in the heart of Satan. He tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden with this same sin. Exalt her way over God’s. It makes its way throughout history, here we see it affect King Nebuchadnezzar. It tempts us today and it will come to full bloom in the antichrist when his statute is placed in the temple for worship. Watch it develop in the plain of Dura but let’s make sure it doesn’t develop in our own hearts!
“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”