Certain important aspects of Olympianity are well
displayed here. The ruler is the embodiment of Jupiter: Olympian god of
politics. He orders an idol constructed to serve as the focal point for the
worship of Jupiter and to strengthen his grip on people. He demands that
devotion to Jupiter and him be demonstrated by a visually verifiable act of conformity.
With a lively sense of devotion to Yahweh, the only true
god, these three young men understood the Olympian nature lying behind the king,
his idol, and his command. They refused to betray Yahweh even when threatened by
the king himself with death. In reaction to their defiance, the king himself
betrays his own devotion to the false god Jupiter and rejection of the true god
Yahweh when he asks, “and what god is
there who can deliver you out of my hands?” (v. 15).
In response to the king, the three young men provide us
with a hope-filled response for the ages: “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. 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” (vs. 17-18).
Copyright © 2019
by Steven Farsaci.
All rights reserved. Fair use encouraged.
All rights reserved. Fair use encouraged.
