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Old Testament

Wisdom and Poetical Books

Did everyone follow the king’s order?

No. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ignored the king’s command, and continued to worship God. They said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your god, and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.” (NRSV, Daniel 3:17–18) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were confident that God could rescue them, not that he would rescue them.