Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

Artwork: Chillingham Road Primary School Pupils

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were three devout Jews who refused to worship a tall golden statue, that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

As a result of this they were brought before the king and questioned by him.

They were well aware of the punishment that awaited them, a fiery furnace!

Their reply to him was very courageous. They said,

“If our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, O King,

he will save us, and even if he does not, then you must know, O King,

that we will not serve your god or

worship the statue you have erected!” (Daniel 3,1-23).

As they walked into the flames they began praising God.

But the king noticed a ‘fourth’ man with them in the midst of the flames, walking freely with them, protecting them, and the three men emerged without even the smell of the fire upon them.

The king marvelled at the power of their God.

How difficult it is to stand up for something you believe in, when everyone else stands against you?

Act this story out as a short play.

Now act out a more modern scene, where something similar is taking place, and someone is standing up for what is right against the crowd who believe they are wrong.

There is a saying that ‘only dead fish go with the flow!’ What do you think this means?

43 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: Daniel 3

(to the tune ‘The Big Ship Sails’)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,

wouldn’t bow down low, to an idol made of gold.

So servants of the King reported them to him,

for they wouldn’t do as they’d been told.

By order of the king when the people heard the choir

of the zither, flute and lyre, the pipes and horns so clear.

They must bow down or else they’d feel the fire

of the furnace down below.

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

began to feel the pressure of Nebuch- adnezzar.

King he was, but also an aggressor,

if they wouldn’t do as they were told.

“I gave an order when you hear the choir

of the zither, flute and lyre, the pipes and horns so clear.

You must bow down or else you’d feel the fire

of the furnace down below.

But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

said, “We must be bold, we serve a God of old.

No other gods, no images of gold,

will make us all bow low!”

By order of the king the heat was turned up higher;

the guards they all expired, when they threw them on the pyre.

The king saw a fourth man walking in the fire

of the furnace down below.

“Oh Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,

servants of the Lord! Come out! I’ll let you go!”

And out they came, unharmed and all aglow.

“No other god can save this way!

“Praise be to him, today!”