This is the 3rd part in a 6 part series on the book of Daniel. Chapter 3 covers: The King’s Golden Image, Worship of the Image Refused, and Daniel’s Friends Protected. I have put Daniel 4:1-3 at the end of this chapter because it is King Nebuchadnezzar’s reaction to what happened at the end of Chapter 3.
Don’t miss all our lesson and teaching ideas about the Book of Daniel.
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Daniel Chapter 3
The King’s Golden Image: Daniel 3:1-7
Characters:
Nebuchadnezzar, Servants, Group of People (satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, rulers of all provinces), Herald, Narrator
Props:
Scrolls & Feather Pens for Servants to write instructions, Large Picture of Golden Image, CD Player, CD of Bagpipe Music
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(Enter Nebuchadnezzar & Servant with scrolls/feather pens to write instructions)
Nebuchadnezzar (to servants): I want an image of gold made to the height of which will be sixty cubits and its width six cubits. It will be set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Send word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image.
(Bring in Picture of Golden Image)
(Enter Group of People & stand before the Image)
Herald (loudly proclaiming): To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language, that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.
(Play Music)
Narrator: Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
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Worship of the Image Refused: Daniel 3:8-18
Characters:
Narrator, Chaldean 1, Chaldean 2, King Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego
Props:
None
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(Enter Chaldeans & Nebuchadnezzar)
Narrator: For this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews.
Chaldean 1: O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to fall down and worship the golden image. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.
Chaldean 2: There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.
Nebuchadnezzar (in a rage): Bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to me at once!
(Enter Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego)
Nebuchadnezzar: Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?
Shadrach: O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.
Meshach: If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Abed-nego: But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
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Daniel’s Friends Protected: Daniel 3:19-30
Characters:
Narrator, Nebuchadnezzar, Servants, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego, Son of God
Props:
Ropes to tie them up with, Large Picture of Fiery Furnace,
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(Enter Nebuchadnezzar, Servants, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego)
Narrator: Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.
Nebuchadnezzar: Heat the furnace seven times more than it usually is heated. Tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego so they can be cast into the furnace of blazing fire.
Narrators: Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.
(Servants fall down, as if dead)
Narrator: For this reason, because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.
(Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego go into the fiery furnace)
Narrator: But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.
Nebuchadnezzar (stands up): Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?
(Enter Son of God)
Servants: Certainly, O king.
Nebuchadnezzar: Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!
Nebuchadnezzar (going towards furnace): Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!
(Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego come out)
Servant: The fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.
Nebuchadnezzar: Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.
Nebuchadnezzar (to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego): You shall prosper in the province of Babylon.
The King Acknowledges God: Daniel 4:1-3
Nebuchadnezzar: This is to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language that live in all the earth. May your peace abound! It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me.
How great are His signs
And how mighty are His wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom
And His dominion is from generation to generation.
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Daniel Chapter 3 Bible Skits (Part 3 of 6)
