Daniel 3:17 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. 18 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.
Nebuchadnezzar had at that time issued a mandate for the false worship of his golden image, which was actually a form of rebellion against what The Lord of heaven had plainly revealed to him earlier. Babylon was never to stand forever, just as any other earthly kingdom which will inevitably meet with demise.
But the king insisted on doing the exact opposite of what God showed him, and in his stubbornness, he issued a mandate for forced worship, a decree that had cut right across the path, and convictions of the Hebrew young men, and in response, they uttered sacred truths that are based upon the anatomy of God’s promises.
There are three critically important phrases in the above verses which highlight the anatomy of God’s promises, and if we were to grasp the sacred truths that are contained therein, we could become very firmly entrenched in our relationship with God, and in the mighty promises He has given us to live by. Here are those three phrases juxtaposed together and highlighted: [1] God is able. [2] He will deliver. [3] But if not.
Daniel 3:12 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.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!