Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
Ver. 26. Ye servants of the most high God.] This was a high title, such as David and other great princes have gloried in; Psa 36:1 title See Trapp on " Psa 36:1 " The devil gave it to Paul and his fellow labourers; Act 16:17 and they who deny it to Christ's faithful ministers, loading them with names of scorn and obloquy, show therein less ingenuity than the devil himself.
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth.] Not till they were called had they any mind to come forth; for where could they possibly mend themselves? Any place is a paradise where God is present. Ubi imperator, ibi Roma. Where the emperor is, there is Rome. Noah was well content to lie buried, as it were, in the ark, which was made in the form of a coffin, so long as God was there with him. Nos quoque non abhorremus a sepulchris ipsis, saith an expositor, a We also fear not to go down to the grave so long as we may hear God saying unto us, as once he did to old Jacob thinking of his journey to Egypt, "Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will go with thee, and I will also bring thee up again." Gen 46:3-4 Further, note how these three martyrs carry themselves toward the tyrant: they do simply obey his command, and come forth; they are not puffed up by the strangeness of the miracle wrought upon them, neither do they tattle, but suffer the matter itself and experience to speak, showing themselves to all sorts to be looked upon with greatest humility and modesty.
a Rollock.