Deeper Reflection
NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OF BABYLON, “THE KING OF KINGS” (Dan 2:37), was the most powerful human being in the known world then. One day, King Nebuchadnezzar “made an image of gold” (v.1) and demanded all his subjects in the Babylonian empire – “all the nations and peoples of every language” (v.4, NIV) – “to fall down and worship the golden image” (v.5), and “whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace” (v.6).Three Jewish young men – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – refused to obey the king to worship his golden image. But Nebuchadnezzar gave them a chance to change their minds as he boasted before them, “What god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” (v.15). The three young men stood firm in their decision with two discipleship attitudes.We are confident in God that He can deliver us: “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…and He will deliver us” (v.17). But this confidence in God must be accompanied by this divine possibility: “But if He does not” (v.18a). This divine possibility calls for a higher level of faith in God: We are committed to God even if He does not deliver us – “we are not going to serve your gods” (v.18b). This discipleship confidence and commitment is anchored in God’s covenant commitment to us, reflected in “our God” (v.17). “Our God” is an expression of covenant relationship with God, characterised by keeping of the covenant (Deut 4:13; 7:9): God’s commitment to us and our commitment to Him.