fiery furnace

August 14, 2017

Praise for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan 3:27-3:28)

“The satraps,

The prefects,

The governors,

The king’s counselors,

Gathered together.

They saw

That the fire

Had not had any power

Over the bodies

Of these men.

The hair

Of their heads

Was not singed.

Their tunics were

Not harmed.

Not even the smell of fire

Came from them.

King Nebuchadnezzar said.

‘Blessed be the God

Of Shadrach,

Of Meshach,

Of Abednego,

Who has sent

His angel!

He has delivered

His servants,

Who trusted in him.

They disobeyed

The king’s command.

They yielded up

Their bodies

Rather than serve,

Rather than worship,

Any god

Except their own God.’”

All the important people of the Babylonian kingdom were gathered together, including the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors. They all marveled that the 3 men had survived the fire unscathed. Their hair was not even singed and their clothes were not harmed. They did not even smell like smoke from the fire. King Nebuchadnezzar then praised them and their God. He blessed God, just as they had done in the fiery furnace. The king noted that an angel of God had saved the 3 of them. They had trusted in their God by disobeying the king’s command. Then they suffering the consequences. They gave up their bodies, rather than serve and worship another god. They were truly blessed by their God.

August 8, 2017

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego go into the furnace (Dan 3:20-3:23)

“The king ordered

Some of the strongest guards

In his army

To bind

Shadrach,

Meshach,

Abednego.

They were to throw them

Into the furnace

Of blazing fire.

Then these men

Were bound.

They were still wearing

Their tunics,

Their trousers,

Their hats,

Their other garments.

They were thrown

Into the furnace

Of blazing fire.

Because the king’s command

Was urgent,

The furnace was so overheated,

That the raging flames

Killed the men

Who lifted

Shadrach,

Meshach,

Abednego.

However,

The three men,

Shadrach,

Meshach,

Abednego,

Fell down,

Bound

Into the furnace

Of blazing fire.”

The king ordered his strongest army guards to bind up these 3 men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The guards were to throw them into the fiery furnace. These 3 young men were still wearing their tunics, trousers, hats, and other garments as they were thrown into the furnace. Although the 3 men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the blazing fire, this fire was so hot that the men throwing them into the furnace were killed.

 

August 27, 2015

The defeat of the Yahweh’s enemies (Ps 21:8-21:12)

“Your hand will find out all your enemies.

Your right hand will find out those who hate you.

You will make them like a fiery furnace

When you appear.

Yahweh will swallow them up in his wrath.

Fire will consume them.

You will destroy their offspring from the earth.

You will destroy their children from among humankind.

If they plan evil against you,

If they devise mischief,

They will not succeed.

You will put them to flight.

You will aim at their faces,

With your bows.”

Yahweh will find his enemies and those who hate him. He will then defeat them as a fiery furnace or swallow them up. Fire will consume them, even their offspring. Their children will be destroyed. Anyone who tried to plan or devise evil or mischief against Yahweh will not succeed. They will be put to flight as arrows will hit them in the face.