Read

Daniel 1:6-10

⁶Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. ⁷The chief official renamed them with these Babylonian names:

Daniel was called Belteshazzar.
Hananiah was called Shadrach.
Mishael was called Meshach.
Azariah was called Abednego.

⁸But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief official for permission to eat other things instead. ⁹Now God had given the chief official great respect for Daniel. ¹⁰But he was alarmed by Daniel’s suggestion. “My lord the king has ordered that you eat this food and wine,” he said. “If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded for neglecting my duties.”

Reflect

It is interesting to note that Nebuchadnezzar tried to not only assimilate these four men into the Babylonian culture, he also tried to change their religious loyalty by changing their names.

• Daniel, “God is my judge” in Hebrew, was changed to Belteshazar, meaning “Bel, protect his life!” (Bel was the chief god of the Babylonians)
• Hananian means “the Lord shows grace”; his new name Shadrach, probably means “under the command of Aku” (the moon god).
• Mishael means “who is like God?”; his new name Meshach, probably means “who is like Aku?”
• Azariah means “the Lord helps”; his new name, Abednego, means “servant of Nego/Nebo” (or Nabu, the god of learning and writing).

Through all this outside pressure to conform, Daniel made up his mind that he wouldn’t conform. He was intentional. It didn’t just happen. We too are often assaulted by pressures to compromise our standards and live more like the world around us. Like Daniel, we must resolve to obey God. It is easier to resist temptation if you have thought through your convictions before the temptation arises.

Respond

1. Why did Nebuchadnezzar change the boy’s names?
2. Why was it important for Daniel to make up his mind that he wouldn’t conform?
3. What can we do to prepare ourselves to resist the temptations that will come our way?

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