但以理书 第三章（英文）
King Nebuchadnezzar made a huge image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits (about 30 meters height and 3 meters width). This gold image may have been inspired by his dream. Instead of having only a head of gold (Daniel 2:32, 38), it was gold from head to toe. The king might want his kingdom to last forever. King Nebuchadnezzar missed the point of Daniel’s warning in chapter 2 and his devotion to Daniel's God was short-lived. He neither feared nor obeyed the God who was behind his dream. The king commanded that anyone who does not bow down and worship his image will be burned in his furnace (Daniel 3:6). But Daniel’s three friends - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refuse to bow to the king. The king was furious and offered them an ultimatum before throwing them into the burning fiery furnace. “And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”, he says (Daniel 3:15). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were pressured to deny God, but they chose to be faithful to Him regardless of the consequences. They demonstrated unwavering faith even when faced with death. They believed that God could save them, but even if He did not, they would not bow to the golden image (Daniel 3:16-18). In our daily lives, we often face challenges and pressures that test our faith. The story of Daniel’s three friends reminds us to trust in God’s power and plan regardless of our circumstances and whether God will intervene on our behalf or not. We, too, can face challenges with the same steadfast faith, knowing that God will be with us. Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first (Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 1:6-7). God's deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was a great victory of faith. They were protected from harm, comforted in trial, rewarded, and God was glorified. God is always with us, especially during our most difficult times. When we go through trials, we are not alone. No matter how difficult our situation may be, God’s presence provides comfort, strength and protection, just as He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace. After witnessing the miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, King Nebuchadnezzar praised God and issued a decree honouring God (Daniel 3:28-29). Our faith and actions can be a powerful testimony to others. Let us live out our faith steadfastly through our daily actions to make a positive impact on those around us and to bring glory to God.
