(I was out of town until tonight, and was unable to post. Sorry so late. Flag salute is this week's counsel ...)
This week's Book Study:
Book Study Wk 11 9/5: pg 76-81 INTO THE FIERY FURNACE!
INTO THE FIERY FURNACE!
18 Infuriated, Nebuchadnezzar commanded that his servants heat up the furnace seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered “certain able-bodied men of vital energy” to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the “burning fiery furnace.” They followed the king’s orders, casting the three Hebrews into the fire, bound and fully clothed—perhaps so that they would be consumed all the more quickly. However, Nebuchadnezzar’s henchmen themselves were the ones who were killed by the flames.—Daniel 3:19-22.
19 But something extraordinary was happening. Although Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in the midst of the fiery furnace, the flames were not consuming them. Imagine Nebuchadnezzar’s astonishment! They had been thrown into a blazing fire, securely bound, but they were still alive. Why, they were walking about freely in the fire! But Nebuchadnezzar noticed something else. “Was it not three able-bodied men that we threw bound into the midst of the fire?” he asked his high royal officials. “Yes, O king,” they answered. “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar cried out, “I am beholding four able-bodied men walking about free in the midst of the fire, and there is no hurt to them, and the appearance of the fourth one is resembling a son of the gods.”—Daniel 3:23-25.
20 Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the fiery furnace. “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God,” he called out, “step out and come here!” The three Hebrews walked out of the midst of the fire. No doubt all who were eyewitnesses of this miracle—including the satraps, prefects, governors, and high officials—were stunned. Why, it was as if these three young men had never even entered the furnace! The smell of fire had not come onto them, and not a hair of their heads had been singed.—Daniel 3:26, 27.
21 Now King Nebuchadnezzar was forced to acknowledge that Jehovah is the Most High God. “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,” he declared, “who sent his angel and rescued his servants that trusted in him and that changed the very word of the king and gave over their bodies, because they would not serve and would not worship any god at all except their own God.” Then, the king added this stern warning: “From me an order is being put through, that any people, national group or language that says anything wrong against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego should be dismembered, and its house should be turned into a public privy; forasmuch as there does not exist another god that is able to deliver like this one.” At that, the three Hebrews were restored to royal favor and ‘prospered in the jurisdictional district of Babylon.’—Daniel 3:28-30.
FAITH AND THE CRUCIBLE TODAY
22 Today, worshipers of Jehovah face circumstances similar to those of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Granted, God’s people may not be exiles in a literal sense. Yet, Jesus said that his followers would be “no part of the world.” (John 17:14) They are “foreigners” in that they do not adopt the unscriptural customs, attitudes, and practices of those around them. As the apostle Paul wrote, Christians are to “quit being fashioned after this system of things.”—Romans 12:2.
23 The three Hebrews refused to be fashioned after the Babylonian system. Even thorough instruction in Chaldean wisdom did not sway them. Their position in the matter of worship was nonnegotiable, and their allegiance was to Jehovah. Christians today need to be just as steadfast. They need not be ashamed because they are different from those in the world. Indeed, “the world is passing away and so is its desire.” (1 John 2:17) So it would be foolish and futile to conform to this dying system of things.
24 Christians need to be on guard against every form of idolatry, including subtle forms. (1 John 5:21) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego obediently and respectfully stood before the golden image, but they realized that bowing before it was more than a mere gesture of respect. It was an act of worship, and participation would incur Jehovah’s wrath. (Deuteronomy 5:8-10) John F. Walvoord writes: “It was in effect a saluting of the flag, although, because of the interrelationship of religious with national loyalties, it may also have had religious connotation.” Today, true Christians take an equally firm stand against idolatry.
25 The Bible account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego provides a sterling object lesson for all who are determined to render exclusive devotion to Jehovah. The apostle Paul evidently had these three Hebrews in mind when he spoke of many who exercised faith, including those who “stayed the force of fire.” (Hebrews 11:33, 34) Jehovah will reward all who imitate such faith. The three Hebrews were delivered from the fiery furnace, but we can be sure that he will resurrect all loyal ones who lose their lives as integrity keepers and will bless them with everlasting life. Either way, Jehovah “is guarding the souls of his loyal ones; out of the hand of the wicked ones he delivers them.”—Psalm 97:10.
[Footnotes]
Some believe that Marduk, who was regarded as founder of the Babylonian Empire, represents the deified Nimrod. However, this cannot be stated with certainty.
“Belteshazzar” means “Protect the Life of the King.” “Shadrach” may mean “Command of Aku,” the Sumerian moon-god. “Meshach” possibly refers to a Sumerian god, and “Abednego” means “Servant of Nego,” or Nebo.
Considering the immense size of the image, some Bible scholars believe that it was made of wood and then overlaid with gold.
The Aramaic expression translated “accused” means to ‘eat the pieces’ of a person—to chew him up, as it were, by means of slander.
For example, the Bible links gluttony and covetousness with idolatry.—Philippians 3:18, 19; Colossians 3:5.
WHAT DID YOU DISCERN?
· Why did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow down before the image set up by Nebuchadnezzar?
· How did Nebuchadnezzar respond to the position taken by the three Hebrews?
· How did Jehovah reward the three Hebrews for their faith?
· What have you learned from paying attention to the true-life story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
[Study Questions]
18, 19. What happened when the three Hebrews were thrown into the fiery furnace?
20, 21. (a) What did Nebuchadnezzar notice about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they emerged from the furnace? (b) What was Nebuchadnezzar forced to acknowledge?
22. How do Jehovah’s present-day servants face circumstances similar to those of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
23. How did the three Hebrews display steadfastness, and how can Christians today follow their example?
24. How does the stand of true Christians compare with that of the three Hebrews?
25. What lesson have you learned from the true-life story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
[Full-page picture on page 68]
[Pictures on page 70]
1. Temple tower (ziggurat) in Babylon
2. Temple of Marduk
3. Bronze plaque depicting the gods Marduk (left) and Nebo (right) standing on dragons
4. Cameo of Nebuchadnezzar, renowned for his building projects
[Full-page picture on page 76]
[Full-page picture on page 78]