A Herald Crying Aloud - Daniel 3:4

In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how, “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up”, and in chapter three and verse four of his book Daniel shared how a, “herald cried aloud” where we read,

Then an herald cried aloud, to you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,...

The verse reads, “Then an herald cried aloud, ...” Daniel began with the words, “then an herald” or “at that time a courier or messenger” “cried aloud” which means “shouted and made a loud proclamation” according to the following. Daniel shared how a messenger shouted loudly the following words. 

The verse continues, “... to you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, ...” Daniel added the words, “to you it is commanded” which means “to you, the leaders of Babylon, the following is ordered, declared and told”, “O people”or “O human beings both male and female”, “nations” which means “people groups and tribes”,  “and languages” or “and diverse speeches and tongues”. Daniel said the “herald” made a loud declaration of the words in our next verse which were directed toward the “individuals, people groups and diverse speaking” ones who were gathered before the idolatrous figure set up by Nebuchadnezzar.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel more about what happened at this consecration of the idolatrous figure of gold that was erected before the people of Babylon. Not only did King Nebuchadnezzar make this ominous idol, but he wanted everyone to be summoned to worship it. God knew this, and we shall see how God deals with him as we read ahead, but for now, let us consider that God was aware of all these things and He allowed them. God will let us worship “idols” if we so choose, but He has offered His Son Jesus who died on the cross and was raised from the dead after three days as the eternal alternative to every other thing that may be adored. When we submit to Jesus, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit in us who shall help us not only turn from idols ourselves, but also to help others turn from them as well. (See 1 Thessalonians 1:9) 

Next time Daniel shared how the herald told the people what to do “at what time you hear the sound of the cornet”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".