Daniel 3:

 "Nebuchadnezzar’s Gold Statue

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.  Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, 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, listen to the king’s command! When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, 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, lyre, 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, Meshach, 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, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, 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 will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O 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.”

The Blazing Furnace

Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, 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, Meshach, 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, turbans, 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, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”

“Yes, Your 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, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire.  Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers 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, Meshach, 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, Meshach, 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, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon."

1.  King Nebuchadnezzar made a .................................................

2.   Then he sent messages to the ...................................................

3.  To come to the dedication of ................................................

4.  So all these officials came and stood ........................................

5.  Then a herald shouted out, “People ..........................................

6.  When you hear the sound of the horn ......................................

7.   Bow to the ground to worship ...........................................

8.  Anyone who refuses to ....................................................

9.  So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people ..........

10.  Bowed to the ground ......................................................

11.  But some of the astrologers went to the king and ......................

12.  They said to ..................................................................

13.  You issued a decree requiring all the people to .............................

14.  And worship the ....................................................................

15.  That decree also states that those ...................................

16.  But there are some ............................................................

17.  They pay no attention to ....................................................

18.  They refuse to serve .........................................................

19.  Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered 

that ...................................................

20.  When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them 

Is it ...........................................................

21.   I will give you one more chance to ........................................

22.  But if you refuse .................................................................

23.  And then what god will .....................................................

24.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied ..........................

25.  If we are .....................................................

26.  The God whom we ..........................................................

27.  He will rescue us ...........................................................

28.    But even if he doesn’t ....................................................

29.  Nebuchadnezzar was .................................................

30.  His face became ........................................................

31.  He commanded that the furnace ....................................

32.  Then he ordered some of the strongest men ...........................

33.  And throw them into ....................................................

34.  So they tied them ........................................................

35.   And because the king, in his .............................................

36.  The flames killed the ...................................................

37.  So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, 

fell .....................................

38.  But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in ........................

39.  And exclaimed to his advisers .....................................

40.  They replied .................................................................

41.  Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men ..................

42.  And the fourth looks like .............................

43.  Yes or No? Was the fourth man Jesus Christ? ............................

44.  Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted .................................................

45.  So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped .......................

46.  Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire ....................................

47.  Not a hair ...........................................................

48.  They didn't smell .......................................................

49.  Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise .........................................

50.  He sent his angel to rescue his ................................................

51.  They defied the king’s command ...........................................

52.  Therefore, I make this decree: If any people ............................

53.  There is no other god who .................................................

54.  Then the king promoted ...................................................

55.  Are you willing to stand up for Jesus today like these friends did? ....................................................