The excerpt from the book of Daniel today tells us about three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and how they will not bow in worship of the king’s idol at the sound of any musical instrument. They refuse even though the punishment is death in a fiery furnace. I believe music should be a way to praise God and hearing musical instruments should turn our minds to God. So, what’s the problem? First, the king’s idol is not God. Second, it is a matter of empty adoration. Worshipping, or maybe even just desiring anything that gets in the way of true worship, sets us up on a slippery slope of adoring idols. Music, money, sex, medications are all well and good in and of themselves, but if they take over our lives we’ve lost sight of, and may have no room for God. The three men are an example to us of putting nothing ahead of God in our lives.
