當音樂響起
但以理書三章1至7節
1尼布甲尼撒王造了一個金像，高六十肘，寬六肘，立在巴比倫省杜拉平原。
2尼布甲尼撒王差人將總督、欽差、巡撫、臬司、藩司、謀士、法官，和各省的官員都召了來，為尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行開光之禮。
3於是總督、欽差、巡撫、臬司、藩司、謀士、法官，和各省的官員都聚集了來，要為尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行開光之禮，就站在尼布甲尼撒所立的像前。
4那時傳令的大聲呼叫說：各方、各國、各族（原文是舌：下同）的人哪，有令傳與你們：
5你們一聽見角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙，和各樣樂器的聲音，就當俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。
6凡不俯伏敬拜的，必立時扔在烈火的窯中。
7因此各方、各國、各族的人民一聽見角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟，和各樣樂器的聲音，就都俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。
信息分享
我們能否憑著信心，去面對人生中的大小試煉呢？在今天的經文中，我們看到一個真實的例子，說明人憑著對神的信心，可以面對生死的考驗。故事中的三位主角，在公開表示堅持信仰立場的時候，並不知道神最終會拯救他們；但即使面對死刑，他們卻絲毫沒有動搖對神的信心。
事件的經過，是尼布甲尼撒王希望獲得人民的敬拜，並後代的紀念；於是，命人在城外大約二十公里的地方，為他鑄造一個高達28米，寬約三米的巨型金像。試想像它屹立在沙漠之上，被炫目的陽光映照，是如何的光芒萬丈、熠熠生輝！
到了金像的開光日，巴比倫各省的官員都奉命出席儀式，接著還有傳令下來：「當聽到樂師奏起音樂時，舉國人民都必須俯伏敬拜王的金像。」
傳令員為了確保所有人都遵從王命，便明確說明違令者的刑罰，是要被扔到烈火的窰中（6節）。在附近升起的煙火，無疑證明這絕非是憑空的威嚇。
你能想像當時的景象嗎？成千上萬肅立的人群，當聽到音樂響起，人人曳步前行，你推我擠，立刻找地方跪下敬拜，無人違抗。
假設我們也在場，當音樂奏起的時候，我們會不會隨從大眾下跪呢？音樂可以發揮很大的影響力，它可以影響人的情緒，甚至推動人做他本來不願做的事情。例如搖滾樂可以令人情緒失控，行為反常；反之，聖樂卻可以平靜人的內心，使人產生敬拜的情愫。音樂可以激發我們決志和向神委身。你喜歡聽甚麼音樂呢？當音樂響起的時候，它會引發你甚麼行動呢？
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE MUSIC STARTS?
Daniel 3:1-7
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;
6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Message
But do we always face every trial with confidence? The three men in our reading today are a remarkable illustration of how confidence in God can help us stand for Him. They had no idea what the end result of their stand for God might be, but their faith in God was unshakeable.
You know the story. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to be worshipped by his people and also remembered by generations to come. About 20 kms. outside the city, he built an image 28 Metres high and about 3 Metres wide. It was completely covered in gold. Imagine how it would reflect the desert sun!
The day of its dedication arrived and every government official across the Babylonian Empire was commanded to be present. Then came the announcement, "When the band starts playing, when the music starts, everyone, absolutely everyone, must fall down and worship this image of the King."
To make certain everyone understood, the herald told them very plainly what would happen if they didn't obey (v.6). No doubt the smoke of the furnace nearby reinforced his remarks.
Can you imagine the scene? The music starts. Immediately thousands and thousands of men are shuffling, pushing each other trying to find room to kneel down. Everyone was doing it.
What would you have done when the band started to play? Would you have followed the crowd? Music has tremendous power. It can so easily work on emotions. It can motivate people to do what they might not otherwise do. Hard rock music for example can have a devastating effect morally and in other ways. But music can also have a deep spiritual motivation. It can stir us to decision and devotion. What kind of music do you listen to? What do you do when the band starts playing?