Week 35 Daniel 3
Shadrach Meshach & Abednego (SM&A) are the only ones still standing. Acres and acres of people all around them are bowing to the statue. So SM&A are very conspicuous.
They could have complied in a theatrical act of conformity (“we’ll physically bow to the statue but in our hearts we’ll still be standing!”) I think that could have worked. But whatever their reason was SM&A decided that this wasn’t the time for secrecy. At this point, under these circumstances, they felt obligated to make a public point.
I remember the story of Hushai – Absalom’s advisor (but in deceptive reality he was David’s secret agent).
Obadiah was one of Evil King Ahab’s assistants (but in secret he was a God-fearing man).
After he is healed Naaman would still publicly support the idolatry of his king (but in his heart he believed in the Lord).
Some people in the bible hide their true loyalty for self-preservation’s sake. And that seems to be okay. But in this story SM&A decided they had to show their true colours.
I’m not sure that a public stand is the default in every circumstance. I’m guessing that there’s some personal decision-making & some ‘soul-searching’ going on before coming to that decision.
But this story shows me that sometimes a public stand is the best decision. That self-interest & self-preservation can’t always be my polestar.
Note: see Hushai in 2 Samuel 16:16-19. Obadiah in 1 Kings 18:2-4. Naaman in 2 Kings 5:17-18.