1. Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden statue and demanded all bow to worship it, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused. 2. They were reported to Nebuchadnezzar, who gave them another chance to comply or be thrown into a fiery furnace. They still refused. 3. Nebuchadnezzar had the furnace heated extra hot and the three men thrown in. However, God protected them, and a fourth figure was seen walking with them. They emerged unharmed, leading Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge the God of Israel.

1. TRIED BY FIRE
DANIEL 3:1-30
BASED ON DANIEL: STANDING FIRM FOR GOD BY GENE A. GETZ

2. SELF-CENTERED GRATIFICATION (3:1-6)
• Over a period of about two or three years, Nebuchadnezzar
forgot about his declaration in Daniel 2:47.
• V.1 He sets up a statue 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide.
• V.2-3 He calls all his officials together for the dedication. This
would include the four Hebrew children.
• V.4-6 When you hear the music, you had to turn and worship
the statue or be thrown into a furnace.

3. • Nebuchadnezzar had already become the gold head of his
previous vision in Daniel 2:38. Verse 4 proves it.
• Ruling wasn’t enough; he wanted to be worshiped.
• Nebuchadnezzar had never given up his pagan gods; he simply
acknowledged that Daniel’s God was greater than his.
• V.7 When the music started, everyone fell down and worshiped.
• Hundreds or perhaps thousands of people participated, but
three did not: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Exodus
20:4-6
• These three already had positions of great authority, and there
was a great deal of pressure to participate, but they refused.

4. JEALOUS RETALIATION (3:8-12)
• Obviously, they were seen and reported. In all likelihood, those
that reported them did so out of envy and jealousy and were
thrilled at the chance to put these young upstarts in their place.
• Where was Daniel?
• No one knows, but he was ruler over an entire province of
Babylon. He could have been out of the area or possibly in the
king’s court and simply nowhere near the statue.

5. • V.13-15 Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage like he did in
chapter 2.
• He was objective enough to give Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego another chance because they were some of his most
valued officials.
• His pride prevented him from letting them go, so he reiterates
the penalty in verse 15.
• V.16-18 These three Hebrews stood their ground and answered
the king confidently, directly, and – to be honest – bluntly.
• V.19 Nebuchadnezzar loses it and orders the furnace heated 7
times hotter than normal.

6. • V.20-21 He had them tied up so there was no chance to
escape.
• V.22-23 the flames were so hot the soldiers who threw them in
were burned to death.
• V.24-25 Nebuchadnezzar immediately notices that even
though his men were immediately destroyed by coming close to
the fire, the three Hebrews were still alive in the midst of the
flames.
• Then he sees a fourth man in the fire. This fourth man is Jesus
in the Old Testament!
• Since they weren’t tied up anymore, Nebuchadnezzar ordered
them out of the furnace.

7. • These three walked out of the fire without a singed hair, burnt
thread, or even the smell of smoke.
• Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that no other god could save like the
Hebrew God.
• He decreed that anyone how spoke ill of God would be killed and
their home destroyed.
• V.30 They get yet another promotion!
• We aren’t told how they reacted, but it would be difficult to not love
God more and serve Him even more faithfully after such a dramatic
rescue!
• God revealed His glory to some of the most significant unbelievers in
the world through three 20 year-old men who determined to serve
and worship God and Him alone.

8. 1. GOD ALWAYS HONORS OUR FAITH, BUT HE
DOES NOT PROMISE HE WILL ALWAYS DELIVER US
FROM PHYSICAL DEATH.
• They knew God was able to save them if He wanted to (v.17).
• Philippians 1:20
• Hebrews 11:37-39
• James 5:14 Even though we pray in faith for physical
restoration, God is still sovereign.

9. 2. NO MATTER THE OUTCOME, AS CHRISTIANS
WE SHOULD NEVER COMPROMISE OUR FAITH BY
WORSHIPING OTHER GODS.
• Philippians 2:19-20
• Romans 1:16
• When Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John, was given the
chance several times to recant his faith, he faced death
triumphantly knowing that he would be delivered from this
world to meet Jesus face to face. He was burned to death by
the Roman Emperor.

10. 3. WHEN A CHRISTIAN IS THREATENED WITH
PHYSICAL DEATH, HE WILL ALWAYS BE
DELIVERED – EITHER TO LIVE LIFE ON THIS EARTH
OR TO EXPERIENCE TOTAL FREEDOM IN HEAVEN.
• Paul knew he was going to die when he wrote II Timothy 4:6-8.
• Being threatened with heaven really isn’t much of a threat!
• There are a lot of ways I would prefer not to die, but death really
doesn’t frighten me because I know that joy is coming in the
morning!
• If you still fear death because you don’t know Christ as your Savior,
come talk to me and I will show you from the Bible how to know
heaven is your eternal destination.