当音乐响起
但以理书三章1至7节
1尼布甲尼撒王造了一个金像，高六十肘，宽六肘，立在巴比伦省杜拉平原。
2尼布甲尼撒王差人将总督、钦差、巡抚、臬司、藩司、谋士、法官，和各省的官员都召了来，为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光之礼。
3于是总督、钦差、巡抚、臬司、藩司、谋士、法官，和各省的官员都聚集了来，要为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光之礼，就站在尼布甲尼撒所立的像前。
4那时传令的大声呼叫说：各方、各国、各族（原文是舌：下同）的人哪，有令传与你们：
5你们一听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙，和各样乐器的声音，就当俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。
6凡不俯伏敬拜的，必立时扔在烈火的窑中。
7因此各方、各国、各族的人民一听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟，和各样乐器的声音，就都俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。
信息分享
我们能否凭着信心，去面对人生中的大小试炼呢？在今天的经文中，我们看到一个真实的例子，说明人凭着对神的信心，可以面对生死的考验。故事中的三位主角，在公开表示坚持信仰立场的时候，并不知道神最终会拯救他们；但即使面对死刑，他们却丝毫没有动摇对神的信心。
事件的经过，是尼布甲尼撒王希望获得人民的敬拜，并后代的纪念；于是，命人在城外大约二十公里的地方，为他铸造一个高达28米，宽约三米的巨型金像。试想像它屹立在沙漠之上，被炫目的阳光映照，是如何的光芒万丈、熠熠生辉！
到了金像的开光日，巴比伦各省的官员都奉命出席仪式，接着还有传令下来：「当听到乐师奏起音乐时，举国人民都必须俯伏敬拜王的金像。」
传令员为了确保所有人都遵从王命，便明确说明违令者的刑罚，是要被扔到烈火的窰中（6节）。在附近升起的烟火，无疑证明这绝非是凭空的威吓。
你能想像当时的景象吗？成千上万肃立的人群，当听到音乐响起，人人曳步前行，你推我挤，立刻找地方跪下敬拜，无人违抗。
假设我们也在场，当音乐奏起的时候，我们会不会随从大众下跪呢？音乐可以发挥很大的影响力，它可以影响人的情绪，甚至推动人做他本来不愿做的事情。例如摇滚乐可以令人情绪失控，行为反常；反之，圣乐却可以平静人的内心，使人产生敬拜的情愫。音乐可以激发我们决志和向神委身。你喜欢听甚么音乐呢？当音乐响起的时候，它会引发你甚么行动呢？
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?