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idolatry happens

Daniel 3:1-7 (JDV)

Daniel 3:1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3:2 King Nebuchadnezzar sent a summons to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 3:3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue the king had set up. Then they stood before the statue Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Daniel 3:4 A herald loudly proclaimed, “You are commanded – People of every nation and language:
Daniel 3:5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, you are to fall face-down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
Daniel 3:6 But whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.”
Daniel 3:7 Therefore, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and every kind of music, people of every nation and language fell down and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

idolatry happens

Nebuchadnezzar was already feared and obeyed by the nations he had conquered. He already had the submission of all his servants and his court. But he wanted to go beyond that. He wanted to be worshiped. The gold statue was just the thing. I imagine that he felt it was only proper for him to be worshiped since he had conquered the known world.

But his statue would pose a problem for a few people. They would see it as a challenge to their faith. They could honor the king, even obey him in most things, but they could never worship that statue. It was idolatry. Only God is to be worshiped.

LORD, give us the wisdom to know when to stop obeying man’s will, and the courage to always obey your will.