Daniel 3:1 - Meaning and Application

We do not know the exact date of this event. If this image, which Nebuchadnezzar dedicated, was connected to the one in his dream, it likely happened not long after that dream. Some place it around the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar, one year before Jehoiachin’s captivity, when Ezekiel was taken away.

I. A golden image was set up to be worshiped. Babylon was already full of idols, yet this proud king wanted one more. People who turn away from the one true and living God and start making many gods are never satisfied with them. They keep adding more, chasing after them without end, and never feel they have enough. Idolaters love what is new and varied, and those who have many gods still want more.

Nebuchadnezzar, the king, used his royal power to set up this image (Daniel 3:1). It was valuable, for it was a golden image. It was probably not solid gold, because even a rich king might not have afforded that, but it was likely covered with gold. Those who worship false gods do not usually spare expense when they make their idols. They pour out gold freely for that purpose (Isaiah 46:6), which puts our own stinginess in the worship of the true God to shame.

The image was also huge, 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide. It was about 15 times the height of an ordinary man, since a man is usually counted as about 4 cubits, or 6 feet. As if its being oversized could make up for its being lifeless, he set it up to impress people.

Some think Nebuchadnezzar did this to clear himself from suspicion that he had turned toward the Jews, because he had recently spoken with great honor of the God of Israel and had promoted some of his worshipers. Others think he set it up as an image of himself and wanted to be worshiped through it. Proud rulers often wanted divine honors paid to them. Alexander did this too, claiming to be the son of Jupiter Olympius. Nebuchadnezzar had been told in his dream that he was the head of gold, and that other kingdoms of lesser metal would follow. But now he set himself up as if he were the whole image, making it all gold.

We see here how quickly the good impressions made on him were lost. He had then said that the God of Israel was truly “a God of gods and a Lord of kings.” Yet now he openly breaks that God’s clear law and sets up an image to be worshiped. He did not just continue in old idolatry, he invented new idolatry. Strong convictions often fall far short of real conversion. Many people have honestly admitted that sin is foolish and dangerous, and yet kept on living in it.

We also see how the dream itself had the opposite effect on him now. At first, it humbled him and made him worship God. Now it made him act like a rival to God. Then he thought it was a great honor to be the golden head of the image and gave God credit for it. But as his power grew, so did his pride. He now thought that was not enough, and he went against both God and God’s message by trying to be everything himself.

II. A general gathering of the rulers was called for the dedication of this image (Daniel 3:2-3). Messengers were sent through the whole kingdom to gather the princes, governors, nobles, and all the leading officials, civil and military, including captains, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and provincial rulers. They had to come to the dedication of the image at the king’s command, at serious risk if they refused.

He called together the great men to give honor to his idol. In contrast, Scripture speaks for Christ’s honor when it says that kings will bring gifts to him. If Nebuchadnezzar could get the nobles to bow to his golden image, he expected the common people would follow. So the magistrates and officers from that huge kingdom left their own duties and came to Babylon. Many of them traveled far and at great cost for a foolish purpose. But idols are lifeless things, and so are their worshipers.

III. A public command was announced, ordering everyone present to fall down and worship the image when the signal was given, under the name “the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.” A herald shouted this through the large assembly of officials, along with their many servants and attendants, and no doubt a great crowd of people who had not been invited. Everyone was to notice two things.

First, the king strictly commanded all people to bow down and worship the golden image. Whatever gods they served at other times, they had to worship this one now. Second, they were all to do it at the same time, showing their shared agreement in this false worship. To mark the moment, music would be played, which would add splendor to the ceremony and help soften the hearts of those who were reluctant to obey. This kind of cheerful, outward worship would suit worldly and sensual minds very well, since they do not understand the spiritual worship due to God, who is Spirit.

IV. The whole crowd obeyed the command (Daniel 3:7). When they heard the music, both wind instruments and stringed instruments, they all at once fell down and worshiped the golden image. The sound may have seemed delightful to them, and it was well suited to stir up the kind of devotion they were about to show. The cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer played, and all the people, nations, and languages bowed together, like soldiers responding to a drumbeat.

This is no surprise, because a warning had already been given that anyone who refused to worship would be thrown at once into a burning fiery furnace, ready for that purpose (Daniel 3:6). So they were pulled in both directions, by music to entice them and by fire to frighten them. Surrounded by such pressure, they gave in. The way sense and appetite lead the many is the way they will go. There is almost nothing so evil that careless people will not be drawn into it by music or driven into it by fear. In this way, false worship has often been established and kept in place.