Middle school · Day 3 of 5
We Will Not Bow
Read: Daniel 3:13-25 (KJV)
13Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17If 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. 18But 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. 19Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25He answered and said, 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.
Read the whole chapter ›What it means
Daniel's friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the king's golden statue. The king was furious and threatened to throw them into a fiery furnace. Their answer was amazing: our God is able to deliver us, "But if not," we still will not bow. They trusted God no matter the outcome. The king threw them in, but when he looked, he saw four men walking in the fire, and the fourth looked like the Son of God! God did not keep them out of the fire, but He was with them in it. You may face pressure to "bow" to what everyone else is doing, whether it is gossip, lying, or cheating. Real courage says, "I will follow God even if it costs me."
Key verse
“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 (KJV)
Think about it
- What does "But if not" tell you about the faith of these three friends?
- What are some "golden statues" people your age feel pressure to bow to?
- How does it encourage you that God was with them in the fire?
Pray
Lord, help me never bow to anything but You. Give me faith like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to follow You no matter what. Thank You that You are with me, even in the fire. Amen.