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Three Hebrew Worthies, March 5
Heroes for God
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O
king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not
serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set
up.
Daniel 3:17, 18
A severe test came to ... these youth when Nebuchadnezzar issued a
proclamation, calling upon all the officers of the kingdom to assemble
at the dedication of the great image, and at the sound of the musical
instruments, to bow down and worship it. Should any fail of doing this,
they were immediately to be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
The worship of this image had been brought about by the wise men of
Babylon in order to make the Hebrew youth join in their idolatrous
worship. They were beautiful singers, and the Chaldeans wanted them
to forget their God and accept the worship of the Babylonian idols.
The appointed day came, and at the sound of the music, the vast
company that had assembled at the king’s command “fell down and
worshiped the golden image.” But these faithful young men would not
bow down ....
Then the king commanded the furnace to be heated seven times
hotter than it was wont to be heated; and when this was done, the three
Hebrews were cast in. So furious were the flames that the men who cast
the Hebrews in were burned to death.
Suddenly the countenance of the king paled with terror.... His voice
trembling with excitement, the monarch exclaimed, “Lo, I see four men
loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the
form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
From age to age the heroes of faith have been marked by their fidelity
to God, and they have been brought conspicuously before the world
that their light might shine to those in darkness. Daniel and his three
companions are illustrious examples of Christian heroism.... From their
experience in the court of Babylon we may learn what God will do for
those who serve Him with full purpose of heart.
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