Daniel 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as you see, deal with thy servants.
But satan is a relentless and determined foe, and he will not let the servants of God off the hook, until he has tested them on the matter of worship, the very same issue that is scheduled to bring the probation of earth to a permanent, and final close. The devil insists through Nebuchadnezzar that the Hebrew worthies must subscribe to a false system of worship, or else face the heat of the furnace. As far as the devil is concerned, if persuasion will not work, then he will threaten them with death, and in this dire circumstance, their loyalty to God will again be tested.
It’s worthy of note that the same format used by the devil in testing the loyalty of Daniel and his friends is the same format used he when he tempted Christ in the wilderness. He begins with the issue of food, the issue so many persons struggle with. And when that doesn’t pan out at all in his favor, he finally moves to the issue worship. In other words, if food does not work with Christ and Daniel, the very last test of loyalty would be bowing down to a false system of worship.
Daniel 3: 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not you serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Daniel 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!