第三章是我們所熟悉信心英雄－－沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌的故事（來11：33）。這是多麼偉大的榜樣，即使生命危險，仍堅信上帝。尼布甲尼撒王也很驚奇，竟有人敢反抗他的權威，尤其當他們的生命是在他的手中。但這幾個希伯來人知道，他們的性命其實是在更高權威者手中。當尼布甲尼撒征服了許多邦國，他以為他也征服了他們的神明，他不信有何神能拯救他們（3：15下）。但上帝的眾僕人知道他們的上帝能。雖然但以理不在這一章中（也許他因公不在），但我們可確信的是，他若在場，他必不拜（見第6章）。

        上帝為何不事先救他們？這就像祂有時也讓我們受到試煉。上帝這麼做有幾個原因：上帝允許他們經過火，要撒旦羞愧（是牠激動王去做）；祂使大家知道上帝掌管一切，上帝是大能的。人是很容易妥協的，也會為拜偶像找正當的藉口，像那些猶太人一樣。對這三人而言，即使第二次要他們跪拜，他們也不會做。如此，上帝才用他們展現祂的大能。他們經歷了祂的同在（第四人出現火中）；祂的能力（沒被燒死）；和祂的保守（危機變轉機）。

        上帝允許此事發生，為要試驗他們的信心。事後他們更加親近上帝，更有能力、更潔淨、自由。此事發生最主要的原因是上帝的名要得榮耀，祂也的確做到了。古代希臘文的舊約聖經記載，此事發生正當耶路撒冷陷落時。上帝要各國知道，祂仍是大能的上帝。要人知道，祂能使耶路撒冷免於被尼布甲尼撒的大火焚毀，但祂定意使耶路撒冷被毀，為要刑罰那背道的百姓。經過這個事件，王諭令全帝國，要認識以色列的上帝是大能的真神。

        第四章旨在說明上帝絕對的能力和主權，好讓驕傲的尼布甲尼撒王學習謙卑在上帝面前（4：17；參結17：24），所以當上帝在重立他時，他才會宣告上帝在他身上的作為（記於第四章，參詩66：16）。尼布甲尼撒看過很多次上帝的大能（即但以理解他兩個夢，及三個信心英雄），但他還是沒學會該學的功課（參伯33：14~30）。這個砍倒樹的異夢是個警戒，又只有但以理能解。但尼布甲尼撒王，沒有把但以理的警語聽進去。

        尼布甲尼撒王在第四章的宣揚，說明了夢在一年後應驗，那時他還在那漂亮而莊嚴的宮中享樂呢！他把巴比倫造成一個花園城市，是當時地上最美的城。他那巨大而繁茂的花園，為要獻給妻子撒拉米的，今天被列為古代七大奇蹟之一。當他一切作為都為自己時，驕傲就洋溢在他的心裡，他就否定上帝了（參可7：21~23；彼前5：5；太23：12；詩31：23；箴6：16~17；8：13；11：2；16：18）

        因著精神錯亂，偉大有能的尼布甲尼撒王，竟變得像動物般活了七年，但以理所解的夢應驗了（4：28~33）。這段時間國政由但以理掌管。當上帝最後使尼布甲尼撒的心志恢復時，他承認上帝是高過他的，並願為其驕傲悔改（4：35；參伯9：12；賽40：15 ~17；詩103：19）。因此上帝重新堅定他的國，更大大地賜福他（4：36）。雖然他是個外邦的國君，他還是認識到三件重要的事（4：37）：（一）祂的作為都是真實的；（二）祂所行皆公正（參啟15：3）；（三）祂要使驕傲的人降為卑（即徒12：21~23）。

        主阿，我們願降卑在您面前，而不要像尼布甲尼撒那樣驕傲。幫助我們有信靠您的心，使我們可為您的大能作見證。奉主耶穌基督的名，阿們！

English

        With chapter three we come to the well known story of the three heroes of faith — Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego (Heb. 11:33). What wonderful examples of consecration and faith in God, even when their lives were at stake. Nebuchadnezzar was astonished that anyone would disobey his authoritative word, especially when he had their lives in his hands. Yet the Hebrew men knew of a higher authority in whose hands their lives really were. After Nebuchadnezzar had conquered so many nations, believing that he had overcome their gods, he doubted that any God could save them (3:15b), but God's servants knew their God was able. We do not read of Daniel in this chapter (possibly he was away on official business), but certainly he, like his friends, would not have bowed down (Dan. 6).

        It is amazing how God allowed them to go through the fire rather than saving them beforehand, just as God sometimes allows us to go through trials. God had several reasons. In their going through the fire, He put Satan (who moved the king) to shame, and thus it would be a witness to all that God is in control and He is all-powerful. It would have been so easy for the men to compromise and find justification in bowing down to the idol, as did many Jews, but even when a second chance was offered to them, they did not bow. Therefore, they were used by God to display His power. They experienced His presence (the fourth man in the fire), His power (in not being burned), and His providence (in seeing the situation turn out for good).

        Yet another reason God allowed them to be thrown into the fire was to test their faith. After this experience they came out closer to God, having more strength, purity and freedom (only their chains were burned off). The major reason for this event, however, was that God's name might be glorified, and indeed it was! The ancient Greek version of the Old Testament tells us that this event occurred about the same time that Jerusalem fell. God wanted the nations to know that He was indeed all-powerful. If He so desired, He who was Lord over the fire could have easily prevented His city of Jerusalem from burning at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, but instead He purposed to bring about Jerusalem's destruction in order to punish His apostate people. Through this incident, which resulted in the king's decree, all the nations were to know that the God of Israel is the true and mighty God.

        Chapter four shows the absolute power of God and His authority over all things, which King Nebuchadnezzar came to realize after the Lord supernaturally humiliated him because of his pride (4:17; cf. Ezek. 17:24). Once the Lord had restored him, he wrote a proclamation of what God had done for him (recorded in chapter 4; cf. Ps. 66:16). Nebuchadnezzar had seen the power of God on many occasions (e.g. Daniel's interpretation of his two dreams, and the three heroes of faith), and yet he did not learn the lessons God tried to teach him through these miracles (cf. Job 33:14-30). God gave him the dream of the cut down tree to serve as a warning, and again only Daniel, upon whom was the Spirit of God, was able to interpret it. Even after Nebuchadnezzar heard the warning and Daniel's compassionate plea (4:27), he did not heed it.

        Nebuchadnezzar's lengthy proclamation in chapter four goes on to tell us that the dream came to fulfillment one year later, as he was enjoying his beautiful and majestic palace. Nebuchadnezzar's grand building projects made Babylon "the golden city", the most beautiful city on earth at that time. His fabulous and flourishing gardens, built in honour of his wife Siramis, are listed today among the seven wonders of the ancient world. Pride swelled up in his heart when he attributed everything to himself. In so doing, he asserted his independence and denied God (cf. Mk. 7:21-23; 1 Pet. 5:5; Mat. 23:12; Ps. 31:23; Prov. 6:16-17; 8:13; 11:2; 16:18).

        Stricken with insanity, the great and mighty Nebuchadnezzar, king of kings, became like an animal for seven years, and the dream, just as Daniel had interpreted it, was fulfilled (4:28-33). During this time, Daniel likely played a leading role in the kingdom. When God i finally restored Nebuchadnezzar's mind, he recognized who is higher i than himself (4:35; cf. Job 9:12; Isa. 40:15-17; Ps. 103:19), repented of his pride, and made a decision to change. Therefore, God also restored to him his kingdom and blessed him in even a greater way than before (4:36). Although, he was a Gentile king over a heathen j nation, he came to understand three important facts about God (4:37): (1) all His works are true, (2) all His ways are just (cf. Rev. 15:3) and, (3) He will humble those who walk in pride (e.g. Acts 12:21-23).

        Lord, we purpose to humble ourselves before You and not be like Nebuchadnezzar, who was so full of pride that You had to humble him. Help us to develop our faith and trust in You, that we may be effective witnesses of Your power.