Daniel 4:28

Daniel 4:28 says, All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.  Evidently Nebuchadnezzar did not take the council of Daniel, just like many lost people will not accept the gospel today when it is presented to them.  When they don't, they will suffer the judgment of God, just as Nebuchadnezzar did.  Verse twenty-nine adds, At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.  It was a year before this dream, or prophecy from God, was fulfilled.  This was time for Nebuchadnezzar to repent.  God will never act in haste to destroy those who will not acknowledge Him.  Nebuchadnezzar may have even begun to feel that Daniel was wrong.  As the return of Christ lingers, there are those who die thinking this is proof that it this is not going to happen, but as followers of Christ we know it will.  Verse thirty continues, The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?  Nebuchadnezzar was walking in his palace and bragging on his accomplishments.  He did not acknowledge God.  There are people today who like to boast of their accomplishments and attempt to bring credit to themselves and not God.  Verse thirty-one declares, While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.  Even as Nebuchadnezzar was boasting of his greatness, God overruled him.  As Daniel had foretold, God said the kingdom was departed from Nebuchadnezzar.  We may boast of our own accomplishments without acknowledging God, but those things we do without honoring God will certainly pass away.  Verse thirty-two adds, And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.  The fulfillment of the prophecy, or the dream, was to come to pass, just as Daniel had interpreted it.  We can likewise be certain that God's prophecy for the end of the world will come to pass, when God deems the time to be right.  Verse thirty-three continues, The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.  God had waited a year from the fulfillment of the dream, but now judgment had come.  No matter how long God waits, His judgment is sure.  We can never afford to delay our acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord, because God may not wait for us forever to make that decision.  Verse thirty-four states,  And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:  This was Nebuchadnezzar's personal testimony that what God had said would happen did happen.  When Nebuchadnezzar returned to his senses, he praised God.  He acknowledged the everlasting nature of God and His kingdom.  No matter where we are at in life, when we return to our senses we will acknowledge God.  The Bible tells us that the fool has said in his heart there is no God, so we must turn to a true knowledge of God to be sensible.  Then, we need to praise God and share that knowledge with the world.  Verse thirty-five adds, And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?  Nebuchadnezzar simply stated the superiority of God over all His creation.  God has not changed.  He still sustains the world.  Verse thirty-six continues, At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.  Nebuchadnezzar said that he was returned to his former glory as a ruler.  When we acknowledge Christ as our Savior and Lord, things on earth may not become a lot better materially, but we will be restored to a right relationship with God and become a part of His everlasting kingdom.  Verse thirty-seven concludes, Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.  Nebuchadnezzar said he would praise and extol God instead of himself.  Like Nebuchadnezzar, we must come humbly before God.

Daniel 4:19

Daniel 4:19 says, Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee.  Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.  Daniel was astonished at the interpretation of the dream, which was evidently very clear to him.  Though Nebuchadnezzar was still oppressing the Jews, Daniel did not take delight in telling him of his being overthrown.  Nebuchadnezzar, thinking Daniel might be afraid to tell him because Daniel feared the consequences of doing so, told him not to be troubled.  Daniel then told Nebuchadnezzar that the dream was for those who hated Nebuchadnezzar.  We should never be afraid to speak God's word, even if it pronounces destruction to those we are speaking to.  We cannot alter the gospel to make people feel better about not accepting it.  Verse twenty adds, The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;  Verse twenty-one continues, Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:  Verse twenty-two concludes, It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.  Daniel said that the tree represented Nebuchadnezzar, whose kingdom had grown vast and powerful.  So far, this would seem like a good thing, but even if a king is the most powerful ruler in the world, his kingdom is limited.  All earthly kingdoms, no matter how great, will one day be destroyed and Christ alone will rule.  Verse twenty-three states, And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;  Daniel had said that Nebuchadnezzar was the tree, and now he was saying that Nebuchadnezzar saw a watcher and holy one come down from heaven and order the tree to be cut down.  This was not good news for Nebuchadnezzar, but the truth of the coming destruction of those who do not accept the authority and leadership of God will never be good news.  Verse twenty-four adds, This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:  Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that this was not only the interpretation but also the decree of the most High.  Though Daniel did not say God, he did convey the idea when he said most High.  Since God had proclaimed it, it would come to pass.  It is possible that this could have changed had Nebuchadnezzar repented and acknowledged God.  We are told in no uncertain terms what the fate of those who deny God is, unless they repent and accept Christ as their savior.  Verse twenty-five continues, That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.  Daniel said that Nebuchadnezzar would be overthrown and live like the beast of the field, eating grass and covered by the dew.  This would continue for seven years, until Nebuchadnezzar recognized that God rules the kingdom of men.  God will indeed strike down the kingdoms of the earth at the second coming, not for seven years but forever.  Verse twenty-six says, And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.  Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom would be restored to him after he acknowledged God.  Verse twenty-seven adds, Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.  Daniel asked the king to accept his council and begin living by God's guidance now.  Had Nebuchadnezzar done so, he might have avoided the coming destruction of his kingdom.  God does not wish to destroy but to redeem those who rebel against Him.

Daniel 4:10

Daniel 4:10 says, Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.  We need to remember that Nebuchadnezzar had been at peace in his bed when this dream came, but it made him afraid.  When God is truly speaking to a lost person about what their future holds, they should be afraid.  Nebuchadnezzar said he saw a very tall tree in the midst of the earth.  Verse eleven adds, The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:  Nebuchadnezzar was simply telling his dream, and though all those who had said before that they could tell Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation if they knew the dream, they had failed to do so.  Now, Nebuchadnezzar was relying on Daniel, but he still was not relying on God.  We, as followers of Christ, have direct access to God and do not need to go to or through anyone to know His will for our lives.  This tree reached into heaven.  Verse twelve continues, The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.  Nebuchadnezzar was still simply telling his dream, but this tree was able to basically meet the needs people, animals and birds.  So far, there would seem to be nothing disturbing about the dream.  Verse thirteen states, I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;  Though the tree grew up into heaven, Nebuchadnezzar said he saw a Holy One come down from heaven.  Without getting into the interpretation too much, we know that we cannot reach God except through the Holy One Who came down from heaven, Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen adds, He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:  This is still just Nebuchadnezzar telling his dream to Daniel.  Verse fifteen continues,  Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: Verse sixteen says, Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.  Verse seventeen adds, This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.  The purpose of the dream was somewhat explained in this verse, but not the interpretation.  Verse eighteen continues, This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.  Nebuchadnezzar told Daniel that this was his dream and that, although all the wise men of his kingdom could not tell him the answer, that he felt Daniel could.  Nebuchadnezzar said he believed this because the spirit of the holy god lived in Daniel.  I still don't believe that Nebuchadnezzar recognized that there was but one God.  People may come to us, who are followers of Christ today for answers, because they see something different in us, and yet still not acknowledge God.  When someone acknowledges God, they can go directly to Him for answers.

Daniel 4:1

Daniel 4:1 says, Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.  Nebuchadnezzar himself was telling this story.  He was speaking, or more likely writing, about what had happened, not what might happen.  He wished peace for all the people who heard his story.  What he was to say did not make Nebuchadnezzar look good, but instead glorified God.  We need to always give God the glory, even if it shows our own weakness and failure.  Verse two adds, I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.  Just as Nebuchadnezzar said that he thought it good to relate the signs and wonders done to him by the high God, so must we tell the world about what God has done and is doing in our lives.  We are to witness for Christ, even if God has to rebuke or punish our actions.  Verse three continues, How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.  Nebuchadnezzar was shown the limited duration of his kingdom and came to realize the everlasting nature of God's kingdom.  No matter what nation we live in today, that nation is but temporary.  At the return of Christ, all nations will cease to exist.  Verse four states, I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:  Nebuchadnezzar was at peace and flourishing in his palace.  We might say he didn't have a care in the world.  He was a powerful king.  We may be at peace in our position in the world today and feel that this is all we need, but if we are not living for God, then it is a false peace.  This is what Nebuchadnezzar was to find out.  Verse five adds, I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.  Once more, while Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in his house, God gave him a disturbing dream.  I believe that God is always at work attempting to call people to Him.  God had been at work in Nebuchadnezzar's life on more than one occasion, and He was still at work in Nebuchadnezzar's life.  God does not give up easily on people, and neither should we.  Verse six continues, Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.  Once more, Nebuchadnezzar called all the wise men to tell him what the dream meant.  Maybe he figured if they knew the dream they could tell him the interpretation.  Verse seven says, Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.  Once more all the magicians, astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, all those who claimed some special ability to tell the future, failed.  There are people today who go to those who are supposedly able to tell the future, and even if they are not correct in what they fortell, people still go back to them.  Nebuchadnezzar should have learned from his earlier experience, and so should people today.  Verse eight adds, But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,  Nebuchadnezzar was still relying on his god, but he recognized that the Spirit of the holy God was in Daniel.  It is sad that many people are still that way today.  They cling to their own god while recognizing the power of the one true God in the lives of those who follow Christ.  Verse nine continues, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.  Nebuchadnezzar called Belteshazzar, Daniel's Babylonian name, the master of magicians, but he was not.  Daniel was simply a man relying on the power of God to guide him.  At least Nebuchadnezzar got it partly right when he again said the Spirit of the Holy God lived in Daniel, but he was wrong because he said holy gods.  Nebuchadnezzar still did not acknowledge that there was but one God.  We cannot make God just one of many gods.

Daniel 3:24

Daniel 3:24 says, Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.  Evidently Nebuchadnezzar was watching to make sure that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were destroyed, but he was astonished instead.  Those who attempt to destroy God's work, or His messengers will often be astonished at God's deliverance of them.  He asked if they threw three men in the fire, though he had to have known the answer, and those around him told him that was true.  Verse twenty-five adds, He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.  Nebuchadnezzar said he saw four men walking loose and unhurt in the midst of the fire, and the fourth was like unto the Son of God.  Their bindings were burned off, but not they clothes.  They were free, but they didn't run out.  More importantly, they were not alone.  There was a fourth man in the fire, like unto the Son of God.  When we are in the midst of the fire, God will protect us.  Our first thought should not be to escape, but to walk freely in God's grace until He calls us out.  Verse twenty-six continues, Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.  Nebuchadnezzar came near the mouth of the furnace and called them out. He also called them the servants of the most high God.  Nebuchadnezzar had placed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace, and they stayed until he called them out.  We need to be willing to stay in the furnace if necessary until God's purpose is fulfilled.  Nebuchadnezzar recognized that these three served a God greater than any image that he could create.  He called Him the most high God, and that is Who we serve.  Not only is He the most high God, but He is the only God.  Verse twenty-seven states, And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.  One of these people would have been the one who told Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had defined his order.  Now, instead of burning up, they had seen them walking unharmed and unbound with a fourth man in the fire and come out without even being singed.  When people attempt to destroy God's people, they are ultimately going to be disappointed, because God will deliver His people from death.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.  Nebuchadnezzar had already acknowledged the superiority of the one true God when Daniel interpreted his dream, but he still had not accepted God as his God, so he once again acknowledged and blessed God.  Just because someone sees God do miraculous things in the world does not mean that they are going to accept Him as their God.  Verse twenty-nine continues, Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.  Now, Nebuchadnezzar was ready to destroy anyone who spoke against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  We, as followers of Christ, cannot want the destruction of those who speak against God, but must pray for their salvation instead.  Nebuchadnezzar still did not say that he believed in and would follow God.  Verse thirty concludes, Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.  The king had ordered them thrown into the fiery furnace, and now he promoted them.  When we come through the fire, we may not be materially blessed, but our faith should grow even stronger.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went into the fire to remain faithful to God, not so that they might be rewarded if God delivered them from the fire.  We must remain faithful to God simply because He has delivered us to everlasting life, no matter what happens to us here on earth.

Daniel 3:14

Daniel 3:14 says, Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?  Nebuchadnezzar allowed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego an opportunity to deny the charges against them.  He didn't just take the word of their accusers.  While appearing to be fair, he still expected them to obey his decree.  There are decrees, or laws, today that go against what God teaches, and we as followers of Christ are expected to follow them with no consideration of our beliefs.  Verse fifteen adds, Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?  Nebuchadnezzar gave them a chance to change their minds and obey his decree, which meant worshipping the image that he had made.  If not, they were to be immediately thrown into the fiery furnace.  If given the chance to avoid punishment, whatever it might be, if we will follow the law of man instead of the law of God, we must remain faithful to God.  Verse sixteen continues, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  They did not have to consider what to say.  They knew that there was only one answer possible.  We need that same type faith today.  Verse seventeen declares, If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  They did not say that they knew that God would deliver them from this particular situation, but their faith was still in God and not Nebuchadnezzar.  We cannot serve God only when we know for certain that He will deliver us from a bad situation but must serve Him no matter what.  Verse eighteen adds, But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  I believe that the "but if not" often causes us to fail or waver in our faith.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said whether God delivered them from the fiery furnace or not that they would remain faithful to Him.  We cannot look at a situation where we feel that God has failed us, though He never will, and use that to justify questioning Him.  We must be willing to go into the furnace if necessary, knowing that even if this body is destroyed that our soul is eternally secure with God. Verse nineteen continues, Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.  Though earlier, when Daniel had interpreted his dream, Nebuchadnezzar had proclaimed the greatness of God, he was now angry that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were proclaiming their faith to Him.  He ordered the furnace to be heated excessively hot.  When we stand for God in defiance of some ruler, or maybe just a rich and powerful person, we should not be surprised if we anger them and they attempt to destroy us.  Verse twenty says, And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.  Nebuchadnezzar was taking no chances.  He had the strongest men of his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abebnego and throw them into the furnace.  Verse twenty-one adds, Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  They were bound with all their garments and thrown in.  Verse twenty-two continues, Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  This says that the fire was so hot that it killed those who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in.  Nebuchadnezzar lost some of his mightiest soldiers.  We might think, if we did not know the outcome, that God had failed Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego.  Well, they did not know the outcome when they went into the fiery furnace, but their faith was still in God delivering them, whether in this life or the one to come.  We cannot always know the outcome of every test of our faith in this world, but we can know that God will deliver us onto everlasting life if we are followers of Christ, no matter what happens in this world.  Verse twenty-three concludes, And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  I don't believe they regretted their decision to stand for God even as they lay bound in the furnace.  Neither should we ever doubt our faith in and standing for God, no matter what happens.

Daniel 3:7

Daniel 3:7 says, Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.  Since Nebuchadnezzar made the decree, we can assume he would want to see if it would be obeyed.  Until the actual playing of the music the people did not have to make a choice.  Today, until we are actually faced with having to worship some idol or false god, we do not really have our faith put to a test.  This verse states that all the people fell down and worshipped, but we know this is not true.  Verse eight adds, Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.  Evidently some people were observing who did not worship the image as much as Chaldeans were worshipping the image themselves.  I believe that had they really been devoted to worshipping that they would not have been concerned with what others were doing.  When we are truly worshipping God, our focus should be on God and not those around us.  Yet we often are more focused on those around us than we are on God.  Verse nine continues, They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.  Once more they were flattering the king, but they were really there for their own benefit.  They saw an opportunity to get rid of certain Jews who had been placed in power, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  I am not sure why Daniel was not included, but I believe that it is safe to say that he did not worship the image either.  There will always be people who want to destroy those who worship and stand for God for their own benefit in this world.  Verse ten states, Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:  These Chaldeans reminded Nebuchadnezzar of his decree, wanting it to appear that they were concerned about his authority being challenged.  Sometimes today those who want something from a ruler will go out of their way to make it appear that they are concerned simply within the ruler's welfare.  Verse eleven adds, And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  Then, they repeated the decree, maybe to show that they had been listening and heeding the king. Verse twelve continues, There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  This was the true reason for their speaking to Nebuchadnezzar.  They wanted to point out that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had not followed the king's decree.  Again, I am not sure why Daniel was not included, but we can be certain that he did not fall down and worship as well.  When we stand firm in our faith in God, there will always be those who attempt to destroy us in any way they can.  Verse thirteen concludes, Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.  Nebuchadnezzar had evidently forgotten his declaration to Daniel that Daniel's God was a powerful God and was now only concerned with his own authority.  There are many people in the world today who are more concerned with their authority than with the power of God, and they will do anything they can to destroy those who are faithful to Him.