Overview: (BKC) Since no specific god is mentioned, it may be inferred that Nebuchadnezzar was not honoring one of the gods of Babylon, but rather was instituting a new form of religious worship with this image as the center. Nebuchadnezzar purposed to establish a unified government and also a unified religion. The king constituted himself as both head of state and head of religion. All who served under him were to recognize both his political and religious authority.
Ob and In:
1. Repeated words: "the statue that I had erected," Neb was outrageous
a. v.1,2,3,5,7,12,14,18 the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected
b. v.13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in a fit of rage demanded that they bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before him
v. 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and his disposition changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than it was normally heated.
His rage was related to the fact that people refused to bow to the statue that he had erected, which was a representation to his power.
2. v.8 Now at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought malicious accusations against the Jews
malicious accusations=(NET) Aram “ate the pieces of.” This is a rather vivid idiom for slander.
(BKC) The word translated denounced is strong, meaning “to tear in pieces.” The accusation was severe, intended to destroy the accused. The accusers were evidently motivated by jealousy for they referred to the fact that Nebuchadnezzar had set some Jews … over the affairs of the province of Babylon (3:12; cf. 2:49). The jealousy evidently sprang from the king’s recognition of the unusual ability of these men (1:20). Subjugated peoples, such as the Jewish captives, were normally relegated to positions of servitude, not elevated to authority in a realm. So the high positions of “some Jews” were resented.
The king had lots of help in extending his power. The people might also hate believers with their own reason. Believers faced pressure from multiple sources.
3. The theme of ch 1 appeared again. Neb did not realize his position in front of God.
v. 15 Now, who is that god who can rescue you from my power?”
(BKC) Nebuchadnezzar considered himself above all gods, for he asked, What god will be able to rescue you from my hand? Again this shows that he claimed absolute authority in both political and religious realms. He was challenging any god to circumvent his authority. The matter then became a conflict between Nebuchadnezzar and Yahweh, the God of Daniel’s companions.
v.26b servants of the most high God, come out! Come here!”
(BKC) This was a remarkable admission by Nebuchadnezzar. Up to then he had believed that his Babylonian gods were superior to Yahweh (though he had once acknowledged the greatness of Yahweh, 2:47). After all, he had taken captives from Judah and vessels from the Jews’ temple.
No matter how Neb saw himself and how outrageous he was when he saw opposition to his power. Some believers did not yield to the threat. That was because believers know whom they believed.
Reflection: Do my strength of faith reflect whom I believed? Or does my strength only come from my own unreliable will power?
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