November 15, 2009: The Three Men in the Fiery Furnace
The text for this lesson is Daniel 3.
Key Points
- Just as Jesus was with and saved the three men in the fiery furnace, so our Savior is with us and saves us in His Word and Sacraments, sustaining us when we suffer for His name.
- Law: In sin, I choose what makes the world, my flesh, and the devil happy and try to avoid the suffering or trouble that sometimes comes my way because of my faith in God.
- Gospel: He who once walked unharmed with the three faithful men in the fiery furnace was incinerated by fiery wrath for my sins to make me a citizen of heaven.
Context
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was the most powerful man in the world in his day (late seventh and early sixth centuries BC). It’s no surprise that such power went to his head, as this story illustrates (see also Daniel 4). When Nebuchadnezzar began his takeover of Jerusalem, he took the best and brightest of the citizens as POWs to Babylon. Among such captives were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When they risked punishment by sticking with kosher foods only, God rewarded their fidelity (Daniel 1). All four, though Israelites, rose to prominence in this Gentile court.
Discussion Questions
- Does your identity as a Christian ever seem to be a burden or a threat? Is there anything about being a Christian that you would be afraid to tell others? Is there any kind of ridicule, temptation, or persecution that you are afraid you will have to face someday as a Christian? How would you respond in facing this?
- Our pressures and temptations are surely real. Yet think about who Nebuchadnezzar was, the influence and authority he exercised, and the pressure that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would feel in this particular situation. Look particularly at verses 1–7. Work together to describe what this was like, and discuss what temptations were facing the three young men. Oh, and, anybody know what a trigon is?
- Notice how Nebuchadnezzar, even though he is demanding worship of this idol, has really presumed himself to be a god. He is not satisfied with his earthly authority. What are some phrases in verses 8–15 that indicate Nebuchadnezzar’s delusions of deity? What does this suggest about the temptation of political and worldly authority?
- How do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respond to Nebuchadnezzar? What is at stake? From a secular perspective, how likely is it that Nebuchadnezzar will listen to what they say?
- How does Nebuchadnezzar react to the men’s confession? What does he command regarding them and the furnace? Who become the casualties of his wrath?
- How does God bring about His good and gracious will, stopping the violence and affirming life? What is the condition of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego after being cast into the furnace?
- Who is this fourth man whom Nebuchadnezzar sees in the furnace? What does this man’s presence teach us about our own situations of temptation and peril?
- What does this account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego tell us about God’s work in situations of our own temptations and persecutions? What is our fundamental and ultimate hope?
