1.  Instead of humbling himself before the God of Daniel who gave Daniel the knowledge of the king’s dream as well as the interpretation in Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar exalts himself.  As with many others, he turns away from God’s revelation and enlightenment and instead of bowing to the God of Heaven, he builds a golden image to which others must bow in obeisance to him.  The image of gold he had made was a response to his dream in which he was the head of gold.

2.  Nebuchadnezzar’s purpose in exacting this worship was so that he might be glorifies, that his gods might be honored, and that the peoples of his kingdom would be politically unified under him.

3.  When the music was played, under penalty of death, all complied  in bowing down to the image except Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, the three Hebrews.  As Gleason Archer writes,  “For them the will and glory of YHWH [Jehovah] meant more than fame, position, or security.  Loving Him with all their heart, they were ready to lay down their lives for Him.”  Their enemies among the Babylonians took their action as an occasion to gain political advantage over them. Given an second chance to comply by the King they refuse.  They would not sin against God in that way.

4.  The three Hebrews express such confidence and faith in God.  God could, if He desired, deliver them from the flames, but if not they would trust Him.  God could deliver from death or through death.  Job 1:21; 2:9,10; 13:15; Isaiah 41:10; 43:2; Hebrews 13:5,6. 

5.  In the midst of the fire they are joined by the pre-incarnate Christ, even as in our trials God is with us in a special way and reveals Himself in new ways.  “As Jesus was with the three Hebrews in the midst of the trial, He is with you and me today as we go through our trials.  God is able to keep His children, even in the fiery furnace, and He is able to bring them out of it.  We simply do not trust the Lord like we should—we do not have the faith of these three Hebrew children.” (J. Vernon McGee)