Daniel and the Three Young Men (December 17)

Daniel the prophet and the Three Young Men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were among the leaders of the people of Judah who were taken into captivity in Babylon. Even in that foreign land they remained faithful to the one true God in their piety, prayer and life. On account of such steadfast faithfulness in the face of pagan idolatry, the Three Young Men were thrown into a fiery furnace, from which they were saved by the Lord and emerged unharmed (Daniel 3). Similarly, Daniel was thrown into a pit of lions, from which he also was saved (Daniel 6). Blessed in all their endeavors by the Lord-and in spite of the hostility of some, Daniel and the Three Young Men were promoted to positions of leadership among the Babylonians (Dan 2:48-49; 3:30; 6:28). To Daniel in particular the Lord revealed the interpretation of dreams and signs that were given to King Nebuchadnezzar and King Belshazzar (Daniel 2, 4, 5). To Daniel himself the Lord gave visions of the end times. [From "Commemorations Biographies," Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship]