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the second question

Daniel 3:13-15 (JDV)

Daniel 3:13 Then in a furious rage Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king.
Daniel 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don’t serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up?
Daniel 3:15 Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire – and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”

the second question

I want to pause and consider the two questions that Nebuchadnezzar asked as he interrogated these three criminals. Yes, they were criminals in that context, because the king’s edict was law. They deliberately refused to serve Nebuchadnezzar’s gods and worship his statue. They were practicing civil disobedience. They could not lie their way out of trouble, and would not consider it. Now was the time for them to confess allegiance to Yahveh, the God of the Hebrews. The answer to the first question was YES.

The second question would also be unavoidable, although the three criminals would not ultimately answer it. God himself would be the one to show that he could rescue them from the sentence of death decreed.

At some point in history, some followers of God might read this as they prepare to face a similar fate. They should know that they are responsible to answer the first question and leave it to their Savior to answer the second.