WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.910 Emily: welcome to immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.010 --> 00:00:04.610 day 300 and 61. 00:00:04.981 --> 00:00:09.841 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, 90 feet tall and nine feet 00:00:09.841 --> 00:00:15.631 wide, and set it up on the plane of Dura in the province of Babylon. 00:00:16.501 --> 00:00:22.501 Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisors, 00:00:22.771 --> 00:00:28.891 treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the 00:00:28.891 --> 00:00:31.531 dedication of the statue he had set up. 00:00:32.446 --> 00:00:36.526 So all these officials came and stood before the statue 00:00:36.526 --> 00:00:38.566 King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:00:39.586 --> 00:00:45.586 Then a herald shouted out people of all races and nations and languages 00:00:45.886 --> 00:00:47.776 listened to the king's command. 00:00:48.346 --> 00:00:53.326 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, liar, harp 00:00:53.566 --> 00:00:58.966 pipes and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship. 00:00:58.966 --> 00:01:01.546 King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue. 00:01:02.371 --> 00:01:06.871 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown 00:01:06.871 --> 00:01:08.551 into a blazing furnace. 00:01:09.901 --> 00:01:14.701 So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever 00:01:14.701 --> 00:01:20.851 their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue 00:01:20.851 --> 00:01:23.101 that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:01:24.571 --> 00:01:29.671 But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. 00:01:30.301 --> 00:01:34.231 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, long live the king. 00:01:35.041 --> 00:01:39.121 You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down 00:01:39.126 --> 00:01:40.801 and worship the gold statue. 00:01:41.161 --> 00:01:47.371 When they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, liar, harp pipes, and 00:01:47.371 --> 00:01:54.751 other musical instruments, that decree also states that those who refuse to obey 00:01:55.201 --> 00:01:58.321 must be thrown into a blazing furnace. 00:01:59.146 --> 00:02:05.116 But there are some Jews, Shadrach, Micha, and Abednego, whom you have put 00:02:05.116 --> 00:02:07.336 in charge of the province of Babylon. 00:02:08.116 --> 00:02:10.936 They pay no attention to you, your majesty. 00:02:11.596 --> 00:02:16.966 They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up. 00:02:18.136 --> 00:02:24.316 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach Meha 00:02:24.316 --> 00:02:25.756 and Abednego be brought before him. 00:02:26.881 --> 00:02:32.491 When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, is it true Shadrach, 00:02:32.841 --> 00:02:37.501 Meha, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship 00:02:37.501 --> 00:02:39.301 the gold statue I have set up? 00:02:40.321 --> 00:02:44.491 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made. 00:02:44.491 --> 00:02:49.441 When you hear the sound of the musical instruments, But if you refuse, 00:02:49.891 --> 00:02:54.721 you'll be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace and then what? 00:02:54.721 --> 00:02:57.811 God will be able to rescue you from my power. 00:02:59.621 --> 00:03:05.641 Shadak, Meha and Abednego replied, oh, Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need 00:03:05.671 --> 00:03:07.531 to defend ourselves before you. 00:03:08.281 --> 00:03:14.161 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. 00:03:15.091 --> 00:03:18.061 He will rescue us from your power, your majesty. 00:03:18.721 --> 00:03:23.551 But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, your majesty, 00:03:23.911 --> 00:03:29.461 that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up. 00:03:30.421 --> 00:03:35.731 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meha, and Abednego that 00:03:35.731 --> 00:03:38.491 his face became distorted with rage. 00:03:39.121 --> 00:03:43.291 He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 00:03:44.296 --> 00:03:48.466 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind 00:03:48.526 --> 00:03:54.226 Shadrach, Meha, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 00:03:55.246 --> 00:04:00.136 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their 00:04:00.136 --> 00:04:03.286 pants, TURs robes, and other garments. 00:04:04.081 --> 00:04:09.511 And because the king in his anger had demanded such a hot fire in the 00:04:09.511 --> 00:04:15.331 furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 00:04:17.071 --> 00:04:25.681 So Shadrach, Micha, and Abbe securely tied, fell into the roaring flames, but 00:04:25.681 --> 00:04:32.191 suddenly Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisors. 00:04:33.091 --> 00:04:36.751 Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace? 00:04:37.561 --> 00:04:38.881 Yes, you are a majesty. 00:04:38.881 --> 00:04:39.931 We certainly did. 00:04:40.261 --> 00:04:44.101 They replied, look, Nebuchadnezzar shouted. 00:04:44.521 --> 00:04:49.501 I see four men unbound walking around in the fire unharmed, 00:04:49.981 --> 00:04:52.021 and the fourth looks like a God. 00:04:53.281 --> 00:04:56.791 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the 00:04:56.791 --> 00:04:58.381 flaming furnace and shouted. 00:04:59.371 --> 00:05:06.151 Shadrach, Meha and Abednego servants of the most high God, come out, come here. 00:05:07.411 --> 00:05:12.241 So Shadrach, Meha, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 00:05:13.171 --> 00:05:18.511 Then the high officers, officials, governors and advisors crowded 00:05:18.511 --> 00:05:22.561 around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. 00:05:23.161 --> 00:05:28.141 Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. 00:05:28.621 --> 00:05:30.571 They didn't even smell of smoke. 00:05:31.861 --> 00:05:37.801 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, praise to the God of Shadrach, Meha, and Abednego. 00:05:38.491 --> 00:05:42.421 He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. 00:05:43.261 --> 00:05:48.061 They defied the king's command and were willing to die rather than serve or 00:05:48.061 --> 00:05:50.761 worship any God except their own God. 00:05:51.661 --> 00:05:53.941 Therefore, I make this decree. 00:05:55.216 --> 00:06:00.616 If any people, whatever their race or nation or language speak a word 00:06:00.616 --> 00:06:05.986 against the God of Shadrach, Micha, and Abednego, they will be torn 00:06:06.076 --> 00:06:10.546 limb from limb and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. 00:06:11.326 --> 00:06:15.106 There is no other God who can rescue like this. 00:06:16.681 --> 00:06:22.321 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Michek, and Abednego to even higher 00:06:22.321 --> 00:06:24.871 positions in the province of Babylon.