I See Four Men Loose - Daniel 3:25

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 these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spoke, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king”, and in chapter three and verse twenty-five of his book Daniel shared how Nebuchadnezzar said, “Lo, I see four men loose” where we read,

He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

The verse reads, “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt;” Daniel began with the words, “he answered and said” or “he, King Nebuchadnezzar, responded and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “lo, I see four men loose” which means “look, behold and consider, I, King Nebuchadnezzar, perceive, discern, notice and observe four male beings unraveled and set free”, “walking in the midst of the fire” or “ambling about within the middle of the fiery flame”, “and they have no hurt” which means “and they, the four men, do not suffer any damage, injury or harm”. Daniel shared how King Nebuchadnezzar said that he observe “four” males ambling about within the fiery flames and not only were they unraveled from their fetters, but they experienced no injury, harm or damage upon them. 

The verse continues, “and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel added the words, “and the form of the fourth” which means “and the appearance belonging to the fourth male” “is like the Son of God” or “exists similar and in likeness to the offspring of the Supreme Deity”. Daniel shared how King Nebuchadnezzar said the fourth male walking in the middle of the flames was similar to the offspring of the Supreme Deity. 

When we think through Daniel's words in this verse, we discover how King Nebuchadnezzar declared that he observed “four men” who were freely ambling about in the middle of the fiery flames, and he discerned that the “fourth man” was similar to the Supreme Deity's Son. This is another “theophany” recorded in the scriptures which is a manifestation of Jesus before He was born on the earth, and it is interesting to note the salvation timing of His appearance. These three Hebrew children, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego” were unharmed by the ardent fire because Jesus was with them. God wants to be with us in life's difficulties as well, and when we have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we may be assured that He is with us in every danger, toil or snare that enters into our lives. (See Matthew 28:20)

Next time Daniel shares how Nebuchadnezzar, “came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace”, 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".