Falling Down in the Midst of the Fire - Daniel 3:23

In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow to or worship the golden image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar, and afterward “he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego”, and in chapter three and verse twenty-three of his book Daniel shared how “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego”, “fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace” where we read,

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 

fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

The verse reads, “And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ...” Daniel began with the words, “and these three men” or “and the following three male human beings”, “Shadrach” whose name means “royal or the great scribe”, “Meshach” or “guest of the king”, “and Abednego” whose name means “servant of Nebo” did the following. Daniel shared how “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” did the following. 

The verse goes on to say, “... fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.” Daniel continued with the words, “fell down bound” which means “were fallen to the ground while being tied up and fettered” “into the midst” or “in the middle” “of the burning fiery furnace” which means “of the hot, ardent, fervent and painful fire-place”. Daniel said  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were fallen to the ground while their bodies and clothing were fettered. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Daniel how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not die by the extreme heat of the fire-place, but were fallen to the ground while their clothing and bodies were fettered. God's mighty hand was at work, and although the heat of the fire had it's affect on the mighty men who threw them in the fire, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were unharmed. God loved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and He came to their rescue. There is more to this story ahead, but for now let us consider the loving care that God had for these three faithful Hebrew men. God wants the same for us. When we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days, God made the way for us to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and eternally saved with Him regardless of the “fiery trials” that damage others but have no power upon us. (See 1 Peter 4:12-13) 

Next time Daniel shares how “Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied”, 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".