King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide…”

That’s nine stories high and nine feet wide. It’s very tall and relatively narrow, perhaps akin to a very large column. It is an image of gold that is huge and very hard to miss. If you ever feel that our government misspends money, remember Nebuchadnezzar – a gold statue nine stories high and nine feet wide.

While the image is supposed to be an awe-inspiring display of the king’s wealth, it stands in sharp contrast to heaven, where the streets are paved with gold. My brother John has pointed out that the image of streets of gold in heaven is not intended to be awe-inspiring, but rather to let us know that gold is common material to be trampled underfoot in heaven. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue the king had set up. Then they stood before the statue Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

A herald loudly proclaimed, “People of every nation and language, you are commanded: When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, you are to fall facedown and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.”

Therefore, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and every kind of music, people of every nation and language fell down and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Some Chaldeans took this occasion to come forward and maliciously accuse the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever. You as king have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music must fall down and worship the gold statue. Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have ignored you, the king; they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Please notice that the accusation against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was partly true and partly false. This is the case with many accusations.

There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Yes, this is true.

These men have ignored you, the king… No, this is false.

… they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up. This is also true.

Although it is true they do not serve Nebuchadnezzar’s gods, it is not because they pay no attention to the king. It is out of respect for the God who is God, and not out of disrespect for the king, that they do not worship a false god. Sometimes you and I might hear an accusation against someone and part of it is true, but part of it is false. The part that is false is the hardest part to verify, because it has to do with motive. Ultimately, only God can be sure of what is in someone’s heart.

Have you ever had someone suggest that they could read your mind? They are certain they know why you said what you said or did what you did. You know that they are wrong, but it is extremely hard to defend yourself. Not only might you hear an accusation like this, you might make one. Be careful. Be very careful, even if you don’t speak in any ugly or sarcastic tone of voice.

All of us at times are tempted to think that we can see into the inner recesses of another person’s heart and know what they’re really up to. Don’t forget that the enemy is capable of planting very evil ideas and false accusations in your head, too. Sometimes what you may think is a gleam of insight is actually a lie from the enemy. Be very careful.

I have decided that I don’t know why other people do what they do. I can guess, but I can’t be sure. I better not condemn them based on what I perceive to be their real, hidden, inner motivation. What I need to distinguish is the difference between particular behavior I don’t like and what is in another person’s heart. The hardest kind of accusation to defend against is one that is partly true.
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