BIBLE STUDY LESSON 16

SERIES P --- YHVH’S PROPHETS

THE FIERY FURNACE

SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO

From Daniel 3

One day King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made a golden idol ninety feet high and nine feet wide and set it up in the Plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then the king assembled the presidents, captains, judges, treasurers, and counsellors, as well as all the other rulers of his empire, for the dedication of his idol. When all these officials were gathered before the idol, a herald announced with a loud voice, [A royal command is given to you people of all nations and races. When you hear the sound of music, you must fall to the ground and worship the king’s golden idol. Whoever does not fall to the ground and worship it will be thrown into a fiery furnace.] Soon the sound of music began -- horn, pipe, lyre, sackbut, psaltery, and other instruments. Then the people fell to the ground to worship the golden idol which Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then some of the Chaldeans complained to Nebuchadnezzar that certain Jews did not bow down. [You commanded that everyone who hears the sound of music must bow to your idol,] they said to the king. [And you warned that anyone who does not do so will be thrown into a fiery furnace. Now some of your Jewish officials, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have refused to worship your gods or bow before your golden idol.] Nebuchadnezzar was furious when he heard this and ordered the three men brought before him. [Is it true that you will not serve my gods or bow before my golden idol?] the king demanded. [If you will fall down now when you hear the sound of music, and worship my idol, you may live. But if you don’t, you will immediately be thrown into a fiery furnace. And what god can save you from me then?] Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king. [King Nebuchadnezzar, we will not defend ourselves, for if you throw us into a fiery furnace, our YHVH is able to deliver us,] they answered. [Even if He chooses not to deliver us, we must still be faithful to Him and refuse to worship your idol or serve your gods.] King Nebuchadnezzar was extremely angry when he heard this. His face became dark with rage at these three men. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than normal and ordered some of his mightiest soldiers to tie Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace. The three men were tied, fully clothed in their mantles, tunics, turbans, and other clothing, and were thrown into the fiery furnace. The king’s command was so strict and the furnace was so hot that the heat of the furnace killed the men who threw them into the fire. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell bound into the fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped to his feet in amazement. [We threw three bound men into the furnace, didn’t we?] he said to his counsellors. [You are correct, O king,] they answered. [But I see four men walking in the midst of the fire and they are not hurt!] the king exclaimed. [The fourth one looks like the Son of YHVH!] King Nebuchadnezzar came closer to the mouth of the furnace and called out, [Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High YHVH, come out of there and come here to me!] The three emerged from the fire, and all the other officials noticed that the fire had not hurt them at all. Not one hair of their heads was singed, their clothing was not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. [Blessed be the YHVH of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent His Angel to save His servants who trusted in Him. They refused to obey the king’s commandments and were ready to die rather than serve another god,] the king said. [Now I decree that any nation or people who speaks against the YHVH of these three men will be torn limb from limb, and that their houses will be utterly destroyed. There is no other god who can perform such a wonderful miracle.] The king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to higher positions in the province of Babylon.

COMMENTARY

BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN ORCHESTRAS

The language of music calling people to worship was familiar to everyone living in Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon. Taught by priestesses, temple musicians accompanied religious chants and hymns on harps, lyres, drums and tambourines. Ancient monuments and pictures reflect a deep love and enjoyment of music among the Babylonians and Assyrians. Musicians were greatly respected and appreciated. Feasts and banquets were not complete without hired orchestras, and professional musicians could afford to charge low rates. The Assyrian king listened to music in his leisure time too. Even war called for music. On the march, horses walked to the rhythms of an army orchestra. At rest, soldiers were entertained by musicians. When a town was conquered, musicians and singers led the victory march. Orchestras in ancient times did not look like those of the modern world. Most of the stringed, wind and percussion instruments were carried by walking players. Flutes resembled a double-tubed version of today’s clarinets, and an instrument later called the sackbut looked something like a trombone. Some instruments were inlaid with bits of shell and coloured stones. Harps and lyres were particularly enjoyed by the rich. Often made of precious woods, silver and ivory, they were decorated with figures of bulls and bulls’ heads. Harp sounds, sometimes compared to a bull’s bellowing, were rich and deep. A clay tablet, believed to be a piece of ancient sheet music, has been found, but how ancient musicians wrote or read music is still a mystery.