Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The king of Babylon made an enormous gold statue, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon, to celebrate its completion.

Nebuchadnezzar sent out a call to gather his top officials, governors, and administrators from all over the provinces, along with their leaders, to attend the dedication ceremony of the massive gold statue. When they arrived, the high officials, governors, and leaders stood before the statue, awaiting instructions.

A herald cried out to the crowd: "You are commanded, people from every nation and language! When you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar has set up." The warning continued: "Whoever fails to bow down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace at once."

As soon as the crowd heard the sound of the musical instruments, they fell down and worshiped the gold statue. But some Chaldeans noticed that three Jewish leaders – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – refused to join in.

The Chaldeans went to King Nebuchadnezzar and accused the Jews of disobeying his decree: "O king, live forever! You have commanded everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to bow down and worship the golden image. Anyone who refuses will be cast into a burning fiery furnace." The Chaldeans continued: "These men you've appointed to govern in Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue."

In response, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they stood before him, he demanded: "Is it true that you don't serve my gods or worship the golden image I've set up?" He warned them: "If you're willing to bow down at the sound of music – the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, along with all kinds of music – I'll let it pass. But if you refuse, you'll be cast into a burning fiery furnace this very hour."

The three men replied: "We're not concerned to respond in this matter. Our God is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and will rescue us from your hands, O king." The king's fury was ignited, and he ordered his soldiers to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace.

The men were bound in their coats, tunics, and headgear and cast into the blazing fire. As a result of the king's urgent command, the flames of the fire killed those who threw the three men into the furnace. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell down bound into the midst of the fiery inferno.

King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished at what he saw and quickly rose from his throne to ask his advisors: "Didn't we throw three men bound into the fire?" They confirmed that they had indeed cast them in. The king looked closer and exclaimed: "Look! I see four men walking freely in the midst of the flames, with no signs of harm. One of them looks like a divine being!"

Nebuchadnezzar approached the mouth of the furnace and called out to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come forth! Come here!" To everyone's amazement, the three men emerged from the fiery depths unscathed. Their bodies showed no signs of damage, their hair was not singed, their clothes were untouched, and there was no smoke clinging to them.

The king's advisors, governors, captains, and counselors gathered around the three men, marveling at their miraculous rescue. King Nebuchadnezzar declared: "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him and refused to serve or worship any other god." As a result, the king decreed that anyone who spoke against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would face severe punishment – their houses would be destroyed, and they would be cut into pieces.

From that day forward, King Nebuchadnezzar promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to positions of power in Babylon.