3:1-7 v.1, $, idolatry, Col. 3:5. v.2, Modernists: “Persian terms”. v.3, impressive group / work of humans! v.6, fiery furnace: bow knee, not heart. Islam. Mt. 10:28; Phil. 2:9,10. v.7, majority / sin; remnant / salvation, Rom. 9:27; Mt. 10:39

3:8-12 v.8, motivated by malice. v.10, feigned loyalty to ingratiate; moved by resentment (12)
v.12, favorite tool = misrepresentation!

3:13-18 v.13, material convenience vs conviction
v.14, “on purpose?” v.15, what pride! He for- got 2:47. v.16, why? Not standing before hu- man tribunal, but divine. V.17, confidence. Can / will, or Jas. 4:15. V.18, one thing they know: not serve idols! Phil. 1:20; Heb. 5:8,9.

3:19-23 v.19, pride wounded. Prov.16:18. His fur- furnace w/o comparison to God, Heb. 10:31; 12:29. v.20, pitiful efforts to prove his power not to be challenged. v. 22, the instrument of death for the 3 Hebrews kills the executioners!

3:24-27 v.24, Nebuch. & counselors look. v.25,
Note one by one what they saw! v.26, has to admit defeat. Infuriated / humbled. God did it!
Multiple witnesses of the miracle (cp. 6:23)

3:28-30 “ v.28, he blessed their god. “Trusted, changed, yielded” (same required of Christ- ians today!) v.29, not blaspheme God (but worship him?). He continues in polytheism.
Worship of God not legislated! (Rom.6:17,18)
v.30, the plan to defeat turns into promotion.
By the 3 youths the influence of faith in Jeho- vah God spreads throughout Babylon.

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