Shadrach-We Won't Bow Down

By Mary Vee
Daniel 3

From Shadrach's Journal

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My friends and I have lived in Babylon for a little while. We're not Babylonians. We are Hebrews who were born in the land of Judah. 

Babylonian men and women had come to see the new statue of King Nebuchadnezzar. As they gathered around the statue a herald stood on the platform and shouted, 

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"This is what you are commanded to do. O peoples, nations, and men of every language. As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown int a blazing furnace."

 Meshach, Abednego, and I looked at each other. 

"We can't do that," said Abednego. "That would violate God's law."

"I know. I'm just not sure what we should do," said Meshach

"Well, we can't bow down," I said. None of us would bow down. 

When we first came to the king's court, we, and Daniel took a stand not to eat the king's special food. At first the guards were afraid we would get sick, but after awhile, he saw our Hebrew diet made us healthier than the other boys.

Meshach whispered "We need to take a stand for what we believe. No matter the cost."

Abednego and I nodded. 

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The horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music played loud enough for everyone to hear. As they played, the people, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up all except some Jews, including us.

We stood strong with each other and will wait to see what happens. Maybe the king will excuse us. We will see.

What do you think will happen? Come next Saturday to read more of the story.

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1.  When the music played, what were the people supposed to do?
2.  Why did Shadrach and his friends say they couldn't do this?
3.  Had Shadrach and his friends ever chosen not to do what the king said before?
4.  What happened when they first came to Babylon?
5.  When the music played, what did the Babylonian people and other people of nations do?
6.  What did Shadrach, his friends, and some other Jews do?