Daniel 3: 18 Commentary

1. God‘s very FIRST Commandment is to worship Him alone
a. You shall have no other gods before me (Ex 20:3)
2. Peter said it best for all believers regarding obedience
a. We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29)
3. Even if God DID allow them to be killed, it changes nothing
a. Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15)
4. These men could agree with Paul in Romans
a. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s (Rom 14:8)
5. These men are so resolute in their godly convictions
a. That if Nebuchadnezzar does NOT kill them
b. They will still NOT change their minds
6. They stood firm against eating
a. Impure foods and wine offered to gods
7. And God blessed them giving them assurance
a. That He is the God who is there
8. They will only worship the Lord God of Israel
a. And they will NOT bow
b. To the king‘s statue - period

By Tractorman (wrote 3574 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/21/2011 11:19 am

God will do what he will do whether we want it or not. the three hebrew boys decided not to bow down not just because they were willing to die but they trusted in God saving power and they were tought about how God delivers. even if he does not simply clearify the fact that he God has the power to deliver them from the king. but the question is where was daniel when the king gave the decree? my submit is that he was not in the scene but where he is is what i cannot tell

By owolabi sammy j (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 10/8/2010 11:49 am

This is one of the most mis-interpreted scriptures in the Bible; both in subsequent translations following the KJV, NKJV and New Century KJV. The Hebrew Boys set up two parallel scenarios. The only thing in question, as far as the Hebrew Boys were concerned, was Nebuchadnezzar’s choice TO throw them in the fiery furnance or NOT TO throw them in the fiery furnace. “If it be so…” referred to his choice to throw them in the furnace. If it be so, meant, if this is your decision, King(based on the king’s dialogue in verse 15), there was NO QUESTION IN THEIR MIND THAT GOD, WOULD INDEED, DELIVER THEM FROM THE FIERY FURNACE AND OUT OF HIS HAND, if he chose to throw them in the furnace. This they declared in verse 16. But if Nebuchadnezzar chose not to throw them in the furnace(ie. “But if not…”), they also wanted it to be clear to the king that they still would not bow to his golden image. “But if not…” CANNOT MEAN, if God does not deliver us. That would be declaring if God does not deliver us we will not serve Nebuchadnezzar’s gods…Well of course not, because they would burn in the furnace and die. If deliverance diddn’t come they would never even have oppotunity to serve Neuchadnezzar’s gods. But the conviction of the Hebrew boys was true to the teaching of the commandments delivered by Moses. That we are not to have any other gods before Him. With the faith in the true and living God, they new that their deliverance was sure and they were not moved or waivered byu the threats of the King. OUR GOD CAN AND WILL DELIVER!!

By Pastor TB (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 8/28/2010 06:21 am

This verse shows how God save his people for all their temptations by godly real faith and some times overjoyed faith.Firstly why Daniel was not in the scene, because his faith was godly faith thats why god saved him even not come to the spot of temptation.Secondly these three people faith was the fatih of overjoyed thats why after great temptation god saved them. So its better like daniel not as the three people who saved form furnace.

By P.Barnabas (wrote 3 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/1/2009 16:32 pm

Sometimes, we want something that is not God’s will for us, and so, it is left for God to decide whether we have it or not. The three Hebrew men knew that God was capable of saving them from the fiery furnace but they also knew that He would do what He knows is best (thus, ‘if not.’). Daniel 3:17 only establishes the faith of the Hebrews in God’s ability, thus “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of thine hand, O King.” Vs 18 goes ahead to say “even if He does not….” This is not to say that they doubted His ability to save (note ‘does not’ and not ‘cannot’)or that they were double minded. It only shows that they understand that God’s ways are different from man’s. This goes a long way to show us as believers that we should not trust God only because He can save but we should trust Him because He is God (i.e. unquestionable). The Hebrews showed their devotion to God, whether He saved them or not. This is a genuine love.

By Opeoluwa (wrote 4 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 10/16/2009 08:34 am

‘But if not’in verse 17 does not mean if God does not save them out of the fiery furnace, because they have already declared their faith in verse 16, that He will, but it relates to if Nebuchadnezzar does not throw them into the fiery furnace. It cannot mean ‘if God does not spare them’ because if they were to perish in the furnace they would not be in a position to choose.
Several translations read ‘but even if he does not’ this cannot be a correct translation because James 1 v 7&8 states that a double minded man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.These 3 Hebrews were convinced that God not only could but would save them. It’s a done thing. No if’s no buts.

By Truth Seeker (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/22/2008 12:12 pm