Daniel 3:30 “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.”
Daniel 3 starts with a pompous king who wants all the adoration he can get. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits and he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. He calls all the leading people in Babylon to come for a dedication of his great statue of himself. Things then get dicey as at the dedication all the people are to fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Furthermore, this is not optional and failure to do so will result in dire consequences. Daniel 3:6 says, “And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
As you most likely know Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego are at this dedication and as Jews they cannot worship this image. When the music played, they stayed standing. They were willing to die rather than compromise their faith. Good to his word King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into a raging fire.
We jump to our verse for the date, and we read what has to be very shocking. The king PROMOTED Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon. One might not be expecting this as being thrown into a raging fire surely meant death. Yet here they are now being promoted. God protected these three Hebrew men who purposed in their hearts to do right regardless of the penalty.
In the world we live in we find it is no friend of Jesus and if they hate Him they will hate us. We are called to live holy lives and to declare truth, yes, to defend, and even contend for the faith. Our light is to shine in the darkness. Being faithful to Jesus could be fatal for us. Have you decided what you will die for? Have you decided what you WILL NOT DO even if it means losing your job?
I can’t tell you that when the world turns on you and you stand up for Jesus, having decided to follow Jesus you will get the same results as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. What I can tell you is Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego made their minds up. Recall Daniel 3:16-18 says “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
I hope you have made your mind up to serve the Lord, no matter what happens. I hope that in the long run, the persecution you face turns into a promotion as it did for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And if the persecution brings death, well you still got a promotion.
Continue Strong being faithful,
And remember to DATE the Word