Give an account of the religious persecution suffered by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and comment on any point of significance about it.

Answer Details

The religious persecution of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3)

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits broad, and set it up in the plain of Dura. He assembled all the officials of the provinces for its dedication. A herald proclaimed that when the people heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe and every kind of music, they must fall down and worship the golden image. Whoever did not would immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

So when the music sounded, all the peoples fell down and worshipped the image. But certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. They reminded the king of his decree and reported that three men whom he had set over the affairs of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, paid no heed to him: they did not serve his gods or worship the golden image.

In furious rage Nebuchadnezzar summoned them and gave them another chance, threatening that if they did not worship, they would be thrown at once into the furnace, and asking, "Who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?" The three replied with great faith: "O Nebuchadnezzar... If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace... But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image."

The king was filled with fury and ordered the furnace heated seven times more than usual. Mighty men bound the three in their garments and cast them in, and the flames were so hot that they killed the men who threw them in.

Then Nebuchadnezzar was astonished. He rose and said, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." He called them out; the fire had no power over their bodies, not a hair of their heads was singed, their garments were not harmed, and there was no smell of fire on them. The king blessed their God, decreed that no one should speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and promoted the three men.

Points of significance

1. It shows the reward of unwavering faith and loyalty to God even in the face of death.
2. It demonstrates God's power to deliver His faithful servants from any danger.
3. It teaches that believers must refuse idolatry and obey God rather than men, whatever the cost.
4. Their bold testimony led even a pagan king to acknowledge and honour the true God.