Then the satraps, governors, administrators, judges, treasurers, counselors, officers, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together, attending the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. They stood in front of the image that Nebuchadnezzar had erected. 4Then the herald proclaimed, “Peoples, nations, and languages, you are commanded 5that at whatever time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, triangle, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, you will fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has erected. 6and whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the burning fiery furnace in that same hour.”
7So when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, triangle, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected.
8So at that time certain astrologers approached and accused the Jews. 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live for ever! 10You have made a decree, O king, that everyone that hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, triangle, psaltery and dulcimer, and all types of music, will fall down and worship the golden image. 11Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the interior of the burning fiery furnace. 12There are certain Jews that you have put in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have not shown you respect. They don’t serve your gods, and they don’t worship the golden image that you erected.†  Daniel 3:3-12 [TFBV]
– Henry Neufeld
Just because there’s music doesn’t mean you have to bow down.
Notice what’s going on here. Nebuchadnezzar has made an idol to prove that he will rule forever, that he is in charge of everyone. But as is common when we are creating illusions for ourselves, he needs to have everyone else follow to build his confidence. So he has the music play to bring everyone together and get them to show how right he is.
But three young men don’t go along with the plan. Why do you think Nebuchadnezzar was so angry that just three men didn’t go along with his plan? Surely three men did not constitute such an extraordinary threat to his power! But Nebuchadnezzar knows the power of the minority who refuse to go along with the crowd. He knows that idolatry is illusion, and that as soon as someone points out the illusion, it will start to break down. So he is furious at the three who don’t go along with his plan.
These young men do not express assurance that they will be saved. What they express is determination, and that’s all that is necessary.
Just because the music plays, you don’t have to bow down. If you don’t, you may change the world.
