Matthew Poole and continuators on Daniel 3:18

18 But if not , be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up .

They add this, but if not, to shew they did not presume to tye God to this deliverance absolutely, for God is arbitrary, and knows how to deliver, and sometimes, to suffer his Saints to glorifie him by suffering.

It was therefore all a case to them, which way of the two God would honour himself, they were resolved to venture suffering rather then sinning, and leave the cause to God.