Daniel

Daniel 3: God alone is worthy of worship

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the golden image and the fiery furnace, let us ask God to show us that He alone is worthy of our worship.

Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one. You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You alone are worthy of worship, and help us to see Christ. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Nebuchadnezzar sets up a giant image of gold and commands every people to fall down and worship it when the music plays. Anyone who refuses will be thrown the same hour into a burning fiery furnace. Certain Chaldeans tell the king that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, three Jews over the province of Babylon, will not worship it. The king gives them one more chance. They say that God is able to deliver them, and “But if not,” they will not serve his gods. The three are thrown bound into a furnace made seven times hotter, and the king sees four men walking in the fire. The three come out unharmed, and the king blesses their God.

As you read Daniel 3, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God alone is worthy of worship, and He is able to save His servants from the fire.

Nebuchadnezzar made a gold image and ordered all to worship it or be thrown into a furnace (verses 1 to 6). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego served God in Babylon, and they would not worship the image (verses 12 and 18). The king asked, “who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (verse 15). They said God is able to deliver them, and “But if not,” they would not worship the image (verses 17 and 18). Their worship did not depend on being rescued, because God alone is worthy of it. In the fire the king saw four men walking unharmed, and the fourth looked “like a son of the gods” (verse 25). Then the king said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” (verse 28). So God is able to save His servants, and He is worth worshiping whether He saves them or not.

How does Daniel 3 show us that God alone is worthy of worship, and that He is able to save His servants from the fire?

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would worship God alone.

Nebuchadnezzar commanded everyone to fall down and worship the golden image when the music played (verses 4 and 5). Certain Chaldeans told the king that these three Jews did not serve his gods or worship the image (verses 8 to 12). The king, in rage and fury, brought them in and gave them one more chance (verses 13 to 15). They answered, “we have no need to answer you in this matter” (verse 16).

God is able to save, and He is worthy even if He does not.

They said, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us” (verse 17). Then they added, “But if not,” they would still not serve the king's gods (verse 18). The text does not promise that God will always rescue His servants from danger. In the garden Jesus asked that the Father's will be done, and then He went to the cross (Luke 22 verse 42).

God kept the three safe in the fire.

The furnace was heated seven times hotter, and its flame killed the men who threw them in (verses 19 to 22). The king saw four men walking loose in the fire, and the fourth looked “like a son of the gods” (verse 25). The text does not say who the fourth was. The king later said that God “has sent his angel, and delivered his servants who trusted in him” (verse 28).

Memorise

But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.

Daniel 3:18

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, whom do I worship, and do I need Jesus to forgive my sin?

Those three men trusted God, “But if not,” whatever happened. Jesus trusted His Father perfectly, and the Father did not take the cross from Him.

Jesus was not rescued from the cross. He took the death His people had earned, and by it the whole debt was paid. Death could not keep Him, and God raised Jesus to life.

So worship Him alone. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will find forgiveness and a place with God forever.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God alone is worthy of worship, and that He is able to save His servants. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Parents, God does not promise to rescue from every danger, so please explain verses 18, 22 and 29 with care.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He alone is worthy of worship, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but you brought us to the place of abundance.

Psalm 66:12

Lord God, thank You that You alone are worthy of our worship and that You are able to save. Thank You for Jesus, who went to the cross for sinners. Please bring each of us to turn from sin and trust Him. Amen.