(presented by: Naomi Blankenship)
 

              In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim, king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, into the land of Judah.  The Lord God gave King Jehoiakim, King of Judah, and part of the vessels from the house of God into the hand of the king of Babylon for their sins and not following His Holy Word and instruction. 

        King Nebuchadnezzar spoke to his master of eunuchs and instructed him to bring in certain of the children of Israel in whom was found no blemish, and was skillful in wisdom and knowledge.  The king wanted those that could understand science and could stand with the king in the palace and that could be taught the language of the Chaldean’s.   

        Those chosen to come before the king were Daniel, who was renamed Belteshazzar by the master of the eunuchs, Hananiah renamed Shadrach, Mishael renamed Meshach, and Azariah who was renamed Abednego.

          The king offered from his own meat and wine storage  food and drink for those chosen for three years, but Daniel, renamed Belteshazzar, requested of the master of the eunuchs to have only pulse (vegetables and grains) and water to eat and drink.  Daniel had decided in his heart not to defile himself with the wine and meat from the king’s table.    So, he told the master of the eunuchs that they would be fairer and fatter from eating just the pulse and water in ten days than those that ate the meat and drank the wine.  Daniel was favored by the master of the eunuchs and he thus allowed Daniel his request. 

          God blessed the four children of Israel chosen by the king.  They grew in knowledge and in wisdom.
At the end of the period of time allowed, the four were brought before the king and were found to be ten times better at matters of wisdom and knowledge than all the king’s magicians and astrologers. 

          King Nebuchadnezzar made a large image of gold and set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.  All the king’s princes, governors, captains, and rulers from all the provinces gathered to dedicate the image that the king had set up.  Then, a herald announced aloud to all the people, nations, and languages that when they heard a trumpet or music sounding they were to bow down and worship the image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.  No one was exempt from bowing and worshipping the image.  It was required by the king's commandment. 

          A group of the Chaldeans came before the king to tell him that certain of the children of Israel, that he had set over the affairs of Babylon, had not obeyed the king and bowed to worship the golden image.  Then, the king was filled with rage and fury and commanded that they be brought before him. 

          King Nebuchadnezzar said unto them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?  Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the coronet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” 

          Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to thee, O king that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

          Full of anger and fury at their answer, King Nebuchadnezzar commanded the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual and that the mighty men in his army bind the three Hebrew children and cast them into the fiery furnace.  Because the furnace was so hot, the flame consumed the mighty men that had taken the three Hebrew children to put them into the furnace.

        Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, being bound, fell to their knees in the midst of the fiery furnace.  Then, King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and quickly rose and said to his counselors, “Did not we cast three men bound in the midst of the fire?”  They answered, “True, O king”.  He answered and said, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” 

        Then, King Nebuchadnezzar came near the mouth of the burning furnace, and spake, and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither.”  The three came forth from the furnace and all the counselors, governors, and princes were amazed.   Their bodies had not been touched by the fire and the fire had no power over them. 

        Then, King Nebuchadnezzar declared to all, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.” 

          Therefore, the king made a decree that anyone, in any nation, or peoples, which speak anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut into pieces and their houses made a dunghill, because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.  Then, the king promoted the three Hebrew children in the province of Babylon.  Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego forever! 

         If you have a problem in your life go to the Lord God Almighty in prayer as the Hebrew children did.  The Lord will help you find a solution to your problem as He did these three.  Just trust, and believe in Jesus' name and He can save your soul.

          If Jesus (Yeshua) has touched your heart and you would like to accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior, please just