B i b l e S t u d y
Lesson: Daniel 3 - The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace
SCRIPTURE READING: Daniel 3:1-30
GOLDEN TEXT: Daniel 3:17-18
1. Who made the image of Gold? (Daniel 3:1). How tall and wide was it? Where was it placed?
Note: This does not say that this image was in the shape of a man like Nebuchadnezzar dream in Daniel 2. The height to width ratio does not match a man’s image. Perhaps this image was an obelisk with decorations of the pagan gods.
Note: This image was probably not made of pure gold but rather overlaid with gold.
2. Who all did King Nebuchadnezzar gather together for the dedication of the image? (Daniel 3:2).
3. Did these officials stand before the image? (Daniel 3:3).
Note: All of the rulers had to come first and pledge their allegiance to King Nebuchadnezzar and his decreed requirements. These officials would then go to where they governed and they would require the same kind of allegiance in the provinces they ruled over.
4. What did the herald cry out loudly and say? (Daniel 3:4). Was this to be voluntary or was it being commanded?
Note: Everyone in the empire was included in this decree.
5. What were they to do when musical instruments sounded? (Daniel 3:5).
Note: This decree was a type of the one to be made in the final Babylonian system. The apostle John records in the book of Revelation chapter 13:15 "He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed." So there is similar situation in the end time that parallels the one in Daniel 3.
6. What was the punishment for not obeying King Nebuchadnezzar’s command? (Daniel 3:6).
7. Was this command only for the governmental officials or was it for all of the people and nations of King Nebuchadnezzar’s realm? (Daniel 3:7). What were they to do when they heard the symphony music?
8. Who did certain Chaldeans come forward and accuse? (Daniel 3:8).
Note: These Chaldeans were jealous of these three Jews and Daniel who had been promoted to high positions in the empire.
9. Who did they make their accusations to? (Daniel 3:9).
10. Did they remind King Nebuchadnezzar of his decree? (Daniel 3:10).
11. Did they remind King Nebuchadnezzar of the punishment of his decree? (Daniel 3:11).
12. Who were the three Jews that they accused? (Daniel 3:12). What was the charge against these three Jews?
Note: Daniel was not included in this accusation. Jewish tradition says that Daniel was outside of Babylon at this time and that he was an ambassador of the King. In a sense he was in a place of protection during this time. The three Jews had to make a decision not to worship the image and they were rewarded for their faith.
13. What was that emotional attitude of King Nebuchadnezzar of this charge? (Daniel 3:13). Were the three Jews brought before the King?
14. Did King Nebuchadnezzar question the three Jews? (Daniel 3:14). Were they to serve the King’s pagan gods and worship his gold idol that he set up?
15. What did King Nebuchadnezzar say would be good in this situation? (Daniel 3:15). What would be the bad part of this situation? Who did the King ask the three Jews could deliver them out of his hands?
16. What was the response of the three Jews to the King’s charge? (Daniel 3:16).
17. Who did the three Jews say could deliver them from the burning fiery furnace? (Daniel 3:17).
18. Did the three Jews know for sure that God would deliver them from the burning fiery furnace? (Daniel 3:18). Did they stand firm in their convictions to not serve King Nebuchadnezzar’s pagan gods nor worship his golden image?
Note: They knew that God could rescue them but they didn’t know if it was God’s will to do so. They were willing to give up their lives in order to obey God.
19. What was the King’s emotional attitude in response to the three Jews answer? (Daniel 3:19). What did the King command to be done?
20. What kind of men did King Nebuchadnezzar command to bind the three Jews? (Daniel 3:20). What were they to do after they bound them?
21. What kind of garments were the three Jews bound in for their proposed funeral? (Daniel 3:21). What part of the burning fiery furnace were they cast?
22. Was the King’s command urgent? (Daniel 3:22). How hot was the burning fiery furnace? What happened to the men who cast the three Jews into the furnace?
23. Did the three Jews fall down in the middle of the fiery furnace? (Daniel 3:19).
24. Was King Nebuchadnezzar astonished at what he saw inside the fiery furnace? (Daniel 3:24). What did the King ask his counselors and what was their reply?
25. What did the King Nebuchadnezzar say? (Daniel 3:25). Did the King see four individuals walking in the middle of the fire? What was the form of the fourth individual?
26. What did King Nebuchadnezzar say to the three Jews? (Daniel 3:26).
27. Did the fire have any effect on the three Jews? (Daniel 3:19). What about their hair and their garments?
28. Did King Nebuchadnezzar praise God? (Daniel 3:28). What did he say?
29. Did King Nebuchadnezzar issue a decree? (Daniel 3:29). What was the decree?
30. Did King Nebuchadnezzar promote the three Jews in the province of Babylon? (Daniel 3:30).
Note: The faith of the three Jews were rewarded by God’s intervention in delivering them from a fiery death. In the future in the Great Tribulation men will have to decide whether to worship the Beast or to obey God and be killed. What would you do if you had to make this decision?
Scriptures
Scripture Reading:
The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace(Daniel 3 NKJV) Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. {2} And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. {3} So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. {4} Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, {5} "that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; {6} "and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." {7} So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. {8} Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. {9} They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! {10} "You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; {11} "and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. {12} "There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up." {13} Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. {14} Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? {15} "Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" {16} Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "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." {19} Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. {20} And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. {21} Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. {22} Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. {23} And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. {24} Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." {25} "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." {26} Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. {27} And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. {28} Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! {29} "Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this." {30} Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Golden Text: (Daniel 3:17-18 NKJV) "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."
All Questions: See Scripture Reading.