12 "There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon , namely Shadrach , Meshach and Abed-nego . These men , O king , have disregarded e e e you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up." 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach , Meshach and Abed-nego ; then these men were brought before the king . 14 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, "Is it true , Shadrach , Meshach and Abed-nego , that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 "Now if you are ready , at the moment you hear the sound of the horn , flute , lyre , trigon , psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music , to fall down and worship the image that I have made , very well. But if you do not worship , you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire ; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands ?" 16 Shadrach , Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king , "O Nebuchadnezzar , we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter . 17 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire ; and He will deliver us out of your hand , O king . 18 " But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king , that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 3:12-18
Commentary on Daniel 3:8-18
(Read Daniel 3:8-18)
True devotion calms the spirit, quiets and softens it, but superstition and devotion to false gods inflame men's passions. The matter is put into a little compass, Turn, or burn. Proud men are still ready to say, as Nebuchadnezzar, Who is the Lord, that I should fear his power? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not hesitate whether they should comply or not. Life or death were not to be considered. Those that would avoid sin, must not parley with temptation when that to which we are allured or affrighted is manifestly evil. Stand not to pause about it, but say, as Christ did, Get thee behind me, Satan. They did not contrive an evasive answer, when a direct answer was expected. Those who make their duty their main care, need not be anxious or fearful concerning the event. The faithful servants of God find him able to control and overrule all the powers armed against them. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst. If He be for us, we need not fear what man can do unto us. God will deliver us, either from death or in death. They must obey God rather than man; they must rather suffer than sin; and must not do evil that good may come. Therefore none of these things moved them. The saving them from sinful compliance, was as great a miracle in the kingdom of grace, as the saving them out of the fiery furnace was in the kingdom of nature. Fear of man and love of the world, especially want of faith, make men yield to temptation, while a firm persuasion of the truth will deliver them from denying Christ, or being ashamed of him. We are to be meek in our replies, but we must be decided that we will obey God rather than man.