Did Daniel Bow Down?

Did Daniel Bow Down?

Ideas about where Daniel may have been in Daniel chapter 3

Why was Daniel not the fourth man in the fire? Clearly, he would have been summoned there, being both a satrap and a prefect in Babylonia (Daniel 3:2). Unless (two reasons):

    1.     Nebuchadnezzar sent him on a diplomatic mission to a foreign nation.

Nebuchadnezzar clearly trusted Daniel, particularly his discernment (a highly valuable trait of ambassadors). As the most powerful leader in the world, the king had every reason to maintain equitable relationships with foreign nations (particularly neighboring ones like Media and Persia) for trade purposes, mutual protection, and other important reasons. Daniel would have made an excellent ambassador for Nebuchadnezzar. à Some Biblical evidence to this: (Daniel 2:48-49 – Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.)

     2.     Daniel happened to be in the court along with the king.

Is it possible the king wouldn’t have been at the dedication of the statue? Sure, anything is possible when you’re the king! Nevertheless, the text tells us the music prompted the worship, not Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:4-5). So, if he was at his palace, his top “regular” servants and advisors would have been there (including Daniel; refer to Daniel 2:48-49 above).

 

If Daniel was there, we are left with two main choices:

     1.     He did not bow down. If true, why was he not turned in?

a.     Got permission by Nebuchadnezzar not to bow down. (Highly unlikely.)

Not to say the king didn’t have respect for Daniel and his God, considering his words in Daniel 2:47 (The king answered unto Daniel, and said, “Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.”). However, in chapter 2, verse 46, Nebuchadnezzar bowed and paid homage to Daniel, while offering incense and an offering to him. That sounds a bit like worship, so what a messed-up mind. So, highly doubtful that Nebuchadnezzar would have directly given him this kind of permission, but he may have helped him avoid it (such as sending him to another country?).

b.     No one noticed that he didn’t bow down due to his position. (Unlikely, but more believable than Nebuchadnezzar granting him permission not to bow.)

Scenario: Top assistants/advisors/servants standing behind the king as he declares his orders. Modern example: When President Trump signs a bill into law or an executive order, a group of officials are standing behind him. à If this scenario happens to be the case, that doesn’t bode well for Daniel. It is firmly believed that the people standing behind the leader are standing in solidarity. They agree. In this situation, even if Daniel disagrees with worshipping the image, he would still be compromising his faith and integrity as a Hebrew. (BTW, I would consider the idea of Daniel being in the king’s court at the dedication an equal level of compromise.)

 

     2.     The sobering possibility: Daniel capitulated by directly bowing down to the image. Any evidence for this? Not directly, but…

a.     The major promotion to head of the province of Babylon (satrap), as well as his role as the chief of the wise men (prefect) could have given him reason to take a bow. Giving in to the culture now that he’s close to the top of the heap.

b.     Also, some potentially parallel evidence seen in the life of Joseph. Once he was promoted to the second in command of Egypt, he was given by hand in marriage to a daughter of one of Egypt’s priests (Genesis 41:45) and had a cup used for divination purposes (Genesis 44:5). Neither are proof of compromise, but still interesting citations.

c.      Then the truth that anyone could give into the pressure of bowing down. Romans 3:10 – “There is none righteous, no not one.” That includes Daniel.

Now, I firmly believe Daniel did NOT bow to this image. His resolve in Daniel 1:8 makes his character and integrity clear; he is not the kind of a person that would capitulate to stuff that is not of God. On the other hand, not only it is true that no one is perfect, it is quite possible to stray from the way you once walked. Paul declared to the Galatian church that they were running well. What happened? Why are they no longer following hard after God and capitulating to what the world says is good and right (Galatians 5:7-9)?

As possible as this situation may be, it is still highly unlikely. Simply look at the continuation of the book and narrative. His interpretations in the future for both Nebuchadnezzar (ch. 4) and King Belshazzar (ch. 5). He will also be positioned as one of three administrators in the Medo-Persian Empire, as well as one of the king’s most sought-after advisors (Daniel 6:1-3). – While it’s easy to forget things over many years, the miracle of three men surviving a furnace hot enough to immediately kill the guards outside of it doesn’t easily get forgotten.

Then, look at the great evidence of his stance to risk being thrown to a den of lions for continuing to pray to God three times a day AS WAS HIS CUSTOM (Daniel 6:10). Sure, he was much older, but such a resolve to resist bowing to such wicked and idolatrous cultures from an early age in chapter 1 to an old age in chapter 6! Enough evidence to believe he did not bow to this golden image.

All four of these faithful Hebrew men were heavily remembered for the great things God did through them in an age and land that stood against the God they served. While the Bible may be silent on Daniel’s whereabouts in the dedication of the king’s golden image, by looking at the Biblical evidence we do have, we can be certain Daniel remained faithful to continue in serving and worshipping his God day by day.

JOY!