Second in a series of two about Daniel 3
“Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
“Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who will deliver like this” (Daniel 3:28-29).
“Amazed” is King Nebuchadnezzar’s reaction as he sees no harm come to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego who have been placed in his “intensified” fiery furnace because they have refused to fall down and worship his golden image.
“Impressed” is another descriptor for this king who has witnessed the great power of the God of Heaven in keeping these three from receiving any harm at all. To his credit, the king has done a complete “about face” from his position of extreme punishment for anyone who doesn’t follow his command.
Not only does the king witness the power of God, but he passes another decree that elevates God over all idol gods that might be in the kingdom.
The message is that we never know the level of influence we may have by standing staunch in our faith and by living our lives in such a way that we bring glory and recognition to God. Our influence will probably not reach the height that these three did, but we can still be a positive force for God by our unrelenting faithfulness.