June 9: INTEGRITY TESTED BY FIRE
“Look!” [King Nebuchadnezzar] answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25
And herein lies the answer to the king’s own question as he threatened Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego: “And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” (v.20) With his own eyes, the astonished King Nebuchadnezzar saw a fourth man. The rendering in English, like the Son of God, is rendered by Jewish scholars “an angel of God”. The word meaning angel consistently means messenger, whether in Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic. The Aramaic grammar in this passage is rendered in some modern English translations as “like a son of the gods”. All three renderings are grammatically and etymologically correct, the form of the fourth being clearly set apart as a divine being. At this point, we are left wondering as to the mindset of the king. Earlier, he had acknowledged the superiority of the true God (2:47), but afterwards had slipped back into his former idolatry of multiple pagan gods, even presenting himself as a god to be worshiped by the people, for the top-to-bottom gold image was produced to signify that he was not only the head of gold (2:38) but the creator of a continuing empire.
Many conservative Christians believe that the rendering like the Son of God in the king’s exclamation is the most accurate. But how would Nebuchadnezzar, a heathen king, know what the Son of God was like? In the years leading up to this event, through the witness of Daniel and his three faithful friends, the Babylonians had been given an idea of Christ, the Redeemer to come. They were personable and approachable. They were ever ready to give the reason for their faith when asked. The principles of righteousness were evident in their lives, and it was no secret that they supremely loved and worshiped God. The unwavering integrity of the faithful Hebrews opened the door for God to show Himself strong* on their behalf. For them, it was better to be with Jesus in the fire than without Him in worldly comfort. Their lasting impact came to light six centuries later when Jesus was born, and wise men from the East came to worship Him (Matthew 2:1-2).
The king’s own words, they are not hurt, were an astonishment even to his own ears. This he exclaimed from the royal seat he had so hastily occupied to view the destruction of the three young Hebrew men. But instead, he saw four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire. What a follow-up to seeing three men fall down into the midst of the fire, bound hand and foot with ropes and wearing all of their garments. The only things that burned up on the three were the ropes that had been used to bind them. This detail alone provides each of us with divine encouragement to expose every habit, thought, or tradition that has no place in the life of a true follower of Christ to the fire of God’s love. In a glorious love-relationship with Him, He will burn away those things which bind us to this world of sin, for our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 1 Peter 3:15-16
*2 Chronicles 16:9a