Emily: welcome to immerse: the daily bible reading experience.
day 300 and 61.
King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, 90 feet tall and nine feet
wide, and set it up on the plane of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisors,
treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the
dedication of the statue he had set up.
So all these officials came and stood before the statue
King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Then a herald shouted out people of all races and nations and languages
listened to the king's command.
When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, liar, harp
pipes and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship.
King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue.
Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown
into a blazing furnace.
So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever
their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue
that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews.
They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, long live the king.
You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down
and worship the gold statue.
When they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, liar, harp pipes, and
other musical instruments, that decree also states that those who refuse to obey
must be thrown into a blazing furnace.
But there are some Jews, Shadrach, Micha, and Abednego, whom you have put
in charge of the province of Babylon.
They pay no attention to you, your majesty.
They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.
Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach Meha
and Abednego be brought before him.
When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, is it true Shadrach,
Meha, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship
the gold statue I have set up?
I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made.
When you hear the sound of the musical instruments, But if you refuse,
you'll be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace and then what?
God will be able to rescue you from my power.
Shadak, Meha and Abednego replied, oh, Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need
to defend ourselves before you.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us.
He will rescue us from your power, your majesty.
But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, your majesty,
that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.
Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meha, and Abednego that
his face became distorted with rage.
He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.
Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind
Shadrach, Meha, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their
pants, TURs robes, and other garments.
And because the king in his anger had demanded such a hot fire in the
furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in.
So Shadrach, Micha, and Abbe securely tied, fell into the roaring flames, but
suddenly Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisors.
Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?
Yes, you are a majesty.
We certainly did.
They replied, look, Nebuchadnezzar shouted.
I see four men unbound walking around in the fire unharmed,
and the fourth looks like a God.
Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the
flaming furnace and shouted.
Shadrach, Meha and Abednego servants of the most high God, come out, come here.
So Shadrach, Meha, and Abednego stepped out of the fire.
Then the high officers, officials, governors and advisors crowded
around them and saw that the fire had not touched them.
Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched.
They didn't even smell of smoke.
Then Nebuchadnezzar said, praise to the God of Shadrach, Meha, and Abednego.
He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him.
They defied the king's command and were willing to die rather than serve or
worship any God except their own God.
Therefore, I make this decree.
If any people, whatever their race or nation or language speak a word
against the God of Shadrach, Micha, and Abednego, they will be torn
limb from limb and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble.
There is no other God who can rescue like this.
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Michek, and Abednego to even higher
positions in the province of Babylon.