   
WHY WASN'T DANIEL CAST INTO THE FIERY FURNACE WITH SHADRACH, MESHACH 
AND ABEDNEGO?
   

   
All right, in Daniel chapter 3, here's Nebuchadnezzar putting up his 
image to worship himself (verse 3).  And, you'll notice in chapter 3, 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are the only ones who get into hot 
water (or a hot furnace!), and Daniel doesn't get burned.  So the 
question comes up, where was Daniel?  Did he bow down?
   
And the answer is in Daniel 2:49:  "Then Daniel requested of the king, 
and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the 
province of Babylon." They're out in the province (2:49), "...but 
Daniel sat in the gate of the king."
   
So Daniel is not required to bow down.
   
In chapter 3, verse 4:  "Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is 
commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear 
the sound of the cornet..." So Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego are out 
over the provinces, ruling with the people, and when the dedication 
comes, they come with the people.  But Daniel is right up there with 
the king.
   
Then the question comes up, Why didn't Daniel say something?  And the 
answer to that is, Daniel had already had his baptism by fire back in 
chapter 2, when he led them and got them off the king's meat (chapter 
1), got them on pulse (chapter 1), interpreted the king's image and 
dream in Daniel 2.  And, like the old proverb says, "Every tub shall 
stand upon its own bottom," Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have to 
earn their own spurs.  So they earn them.
   
And there's one more thought, that's real upsetting.  Look at chapter 
2, verse 46.  Daniel couldn't have opened his mouth!  Look at 2:46; he 
let that king worship him!  See there?  Boy!  He couldn't have opened 
his mouth!  If Daniel had said, "What?" the king would have said, 
"`What' nothing!  You let me bow down to you!"
   

   

 
