Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego also received the king"s blessing. He approved their faith in Yahweh, who had demonstrated Himself to be as powerful as His three faithful followers had claimed that He was. [source][source][source]
"This historical incident seems to have prophetic significance as well. In the coming Tribulation a Gentile ruler ( Daniel 7:8) will demand for himself the worship that belongs to God ( 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:8). Any who refuse to acknowledge his right to receive worship will be killed ( Revelation 13:15). Assuming political and religious power, he will oppress Israel ( Revelation 13:7). Most of the people in the world, including many in Israel, will submit to and worship him. But a small remnant in Israel, like the three in Daniel"s day, will refuse. Many who will not worship the Antichrist will be severely punished; some will be martyred for their faithfulness to Jesus Christ. But a few will be delivered from those persecutions by the Lord Jesus Christ at His second coming [1]. [source][source][source]
"In the forthcoming Tribulation period God will do for this believing remnant what He did for Daniel"s three companions. They withstood the decree of the king, and though they were not exempted from suffering and oppression they were delivered out of it by the God they trusted." [2][source]
This chapter advances the revelation in the preceding ones. Previously, God had revealed Himself as the only God who can reveal mysteries: things previously unknown but now made clear by Him. The image that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream, and that Daniel interpreted (ch2), was a revelation of future world kingdoms and their characteristics. Chapter3shows that Yahweh is powerful enough to control history miraculously. He does so to remain true to His promises to His people, and to deliver those who put their trust in Him. He can reveal the future, but He can also bring it into existence. Chapter2demonstrates the wisdom of God, and chapter3the power of God primarily (cf. Daniel 2:20-23). The witness to Yahweh"s superior powers was the most powerful human being of his day: King Nebuchadnezzar. Thus there should be no question about the Lord"s greatness. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Daniel 3:19-30 - Loyalty Rewarded
It is only when we reach the fire that we become aware of the presence of the divine Companion, walking beside us as if treading the dew-besprinkled glades of Paradise. The Good Shepherd was there with His rod and staff. Loose, Daniel 3:25, that is, the fire had consumed their bonds and nothing else. Hair would soonest catch the flame, but not a hair perished, Luke 12:7; Luke 21:18. The yielded body of Daniel 3:28 reminds us of Romans 6:13; Romans 12:1-2. Let us yield our bodies and souls to our faithful Creator for Him to use as He will. He made and redeemed, let Him have; and when we are possessed by His Spirit, all other fires, whether physical or temperamental, fail to hurt. Of the martyrs, it may be said that upon them also the fire had no power, Isaiah 43:2! [source]
Chapter Summary: Daniel 3
1Nebuchadnezzar dedicates a golden image in Dura 3They being threatened, make a good confession 8Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are accused for not worshipping the image 19They are cast into the furnace, 24from which God delivers them 28Nebuchadnezzar seeing the miracle blesses God, and advances them
What do the individual words in Daniel 3:30 mean?
Thenking thepromotedShadrachMeshachandAbed-negoin the provinceof Babylon-
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁדְרַךְ
Sense: the godly friend of Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king’s table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord.
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֵישַׁךְ
Sense: the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Meshach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king’s table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord.
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲבֵד נְגֹו
Sense: the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Abednego; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king’s table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord.
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּבֶל
Sense: Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates.