In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow to or worship the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar set up, 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”, and in chapter three and verse twenty-two of his book Daniel shared how “the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” where we read,
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.
The verse reads, “Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, ...” Daniel began with the words, “therefore because the king's commandment” or “wherefore, then and on this account since and on account that the royal ruler and leader's utterance, word and order” “was urgent” which means “existed as harsh and insolent”, “and the furnace exceeding hot” or “and the fire-place was surpassingly and extraordinarily ardent and heated”the following occurred. Daniel said because the royal ruler Nebuchadnezzar's order was harsh and the fire-place was extraordinarily heated, the following happened.
The verse continues, “... the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.” Daniel added the words, “the flame of the fire” which means “the burning flare belonging to the fiery fire” “slew those men” or “killed the mighty male human beings within Nebuchadnezzar's military” “that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” which means “who lifted and escorted Shadrach whose name means royal or the great scribe, Meshach or guest of the king and Abednego whose name means servant of Nebo”. Daniel said the fire within the fire-place was so fervent that it killed the mighty men from Nebuchadnezzar's army who carried and threw “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” into it.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how the mighty men who were given the task of throwing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the hot fiery furnace were killed themselves because the heat was so great. We will see what happened to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in our next verses, but for now, let us be mindful that God was already at work in the midst of this “fiery trial”. God has a plan, and nobody can stop Him when He takes action. Although their opposition had a plan for their destruction, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's God had other plans in mind. God loves people, and His desire is to save and rescue us from eternal death caused by sin. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone, and He raised Him from the dead after three days so when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us in and thru the trials we encounter by the power of His Holy Spirit working in us.
Next time Daniel shares how “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego”, “fell down bound into the midst 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".
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