Daniel 3:1

Daniel 3:1 says, Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.  Though Nebuchadnezzar had proclaimed Daniel's God to be a god of gods, that did not stop him from creating his own god.  This was a giant golden statue set up so it would be seen from a great distance.  Often people today set up their own golden idols to worship.  This may not be an actual statue, but wealth becomes the most important thing to them.  Verse two adds, Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.  Nebuchadnezzar invited, or more accurately summoned, all the important people in the kingdom to come to the dedication of the statue.  They may have felt honored to be there, but they were also placed in the position of having to acknowledge this statue as a god.  We can never feel honored to be invited to any great event if we must acknowledge some other god than the one true God simply by being there. Verse three continues, Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  Since all the people involved in the government were there, we have to think that Daniel and his three friends were there.  Seeing this statue would have meant nothing to them.  We may be in the presence of idols today, though hopefully not because we have been forced to be there, but they should mean nothing to us.  Verse four states, Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,  Now came the king's command concerning the statue, which would change the requirement concerning the statue.  Verse five adds, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:  They were ordered that anytime they heard music they were to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar had made.  This could be at any time, and they didn't even have to actually be in the presence of the statue.  Some religions are just as fanatical today about their false prophets and the worship of them.  Verse six continues, And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  This made worshipping the image mandatory under the penalty of death.  Daniel and his three friends could no longer just be in the presence of the image but would be required to actually worship it.  We need to be certain that our faith in God is strong enough to stand the test if we are ever in such a situation.