By Ken G. Cooper
SHADRACH
Jerusalem
sacked and razed to the ground
Homes that we
had could no longer be found.
Taken into
exile our future bleak,
We prayed to
our God for safety to seek.
NEBUCHUDNEZZAR
My army is strong: I am the
proud king,
Once more the loud bells of
victory ring.
History will Nebuchudnezzar
name
As the mighty one of
unchallenged fame.
MESHACH
We’re
encouraged to work, and we will do our best,
And find in
our faith renewed strength and rest.
For our God is
with us and leads us along,
He is
our home, and to Him we belong.
NEBUCHUDNEZZAR
My notice is drawn to the
Hebrew slaves
They have their God and
believe that He saves.
I see in them a spirit rare
and pure,
Their understanding and
wisdom is sure.
ABEDNEGO
Now Daniel rules
with all under his wing
He agrees our
promotion with the King.
We continue in
prayer to guide our ways
But jealousy
watched to trap us as slaves.
NEBUCHUDNEZZAR
I build me an image of
purest gold
The biggest idol that was
ever beheld.
I gather all from each part
of my land,
And order: Worship the work
of my hand.
SHADRACH
We hear of
this order, hear music play,
But know in
our hearts this not how to pray.
The threat of
the furnace looms large and loud:
We stay true
to God, don’t follow the crowd.
NEBUCHUDNEZZAR
The Jews stand accused;
they’ve not obeyed me,
Despite all I gave them and
made them so free!
They will now burn in hell
for this very thing!
How dare they choose God and
not me the King!
MESHACH
We’re taken
before him, given one chance,
But his evil
threats will not change our stance.
We know our
God is more pow’rful than he:
We will not
bow down to idolatry!
NEBUCHUDNEZZAR
Their words make me rage and
stamp on the floor!
Heat up that furnace some
seven times more!
Bind them up in their clothes,
make sure they burn!
They’ll die in the furnace,
all nations will learn!
ABEDNEGO
We’re thrown
in the flames, but to us they’re not there.
All we can
feel is GOD present and here.
The bindings
fall off, we walk round quite free
We are untouched
by what others could see.
NEBUCHUDNEZZAR
My rage turns to fear; I see
them unharmed!
There is a fourth person!
Makes me alarmed!
They’re all walking, unhurt,
all very odd!
The
form of the fourth is the Son of God!
SHADRACH
The heat of manic jealousy and rage
Is vanquished by Love at every stage.
There is no furnace, no flame or fire
When thoughts held with God lead ever higher.
NEBUCHUDNEZZAR
The
Hebrews untouched and death do they cheat!
Yet
my strongest men smitten by fierce heat!
Servants
of the most high God, don’t dither,
Come
out from the furnace, and come hither.
MESHACH
The king calls us forth, before him we stand,
We’ve proved our God and the feeling is grand!
We knew in our hearts that we were not wrong
And full faith in God leaves everyone strong.
NEBUCHUDNEZZAR
No
scorching, no burning, nor even smell!
Your
God sent his angel, and all is well.
My
word was changed by a higher decree,
There’s
no other God than Almighty Thee!
ABEDNEGO
The king’s bold decree has new freedom won;
The power of our God known to everyone.
Now given promotion, God still our Guide;
All Babylon blessed, with Him at our side.
SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO:
The Word of our God does stand evermore!
Our trust in His wisdom made us secure.
We know that in Spirit our lives stay untouched,
At one with the Father, with LOVE UNMATCHED.
See Daniel
Chapter 3
