What’s In A Name Part 2.mp3

What's In A Name Part 2 In Daniel chapter 1 we read of how King Nebchadnezzar of Babylonian had besieged and conquered Jerusalem and some talented, intelligent Hebrew men were taken to serve the king in Babylon. They were taught the Babylonian /Chaldean language and literature. They were given 3 years of training with a glorious provision of luxury food every day as was given to the king himself. Wow! It was a life of privilege! BUT what was actually going on here? Firstly their Hebrew names were replaced with Babylonian names.( Daniel 1:6) "Daniel" means "My Judge is GOD" He was given the name "Belteshazzar" meaning "May Bel Protect His Life" Bel was the chief Babylonian god. "Hannaniah" means "Yahweh Is Gracious". He was given the name "Shadrach" meaning "The Command Of Aku" Aku was the Sumerian moon god "Mishael" means "Who Is Like GOD". He was given the name "Mesach" meaning "Who Is Like Aku" ( the same moon god). "Azariah" means "Yahweh Has Helped". He was given the name "Abednego" meaning "Servant of Nego" who was called "a shining fire" and is translated from the Chaldean/Babylonian language as "Lucifer". In honour of these men, let's try to use their Hebrew names. They would have loathed and hated the demonic names they were given! In Daniel 1:8 we read these words "Daniel purposed in his heart". Daniel made a firm quality decision of conviction. His 3 friends also joined him in his conviction to not eat the king's meat but only vegetables. This was because they decided they would not compromise their identities as Hebrew worshippers of The One True GOD. The Babylonian meat was dedicated to the Babylonian gods but the vegetables were not. These Hebrew men wanted to keep the food laws of Leviticus 11 and 17:10-14. They also refused the wine because drinking wine has to do with covenant as well as fellowship. Drinking wine at a meal with someone was to do with covenant. The ministry of king of Saul is "bookended" with covenant meals. The prophet Samuel hosted a significant ceremonial covenant meal for Saul in 1 Samuel chapter 9 at the beginning of his kingship. Tragically in 1 Samuel 28 the witch of Endor slaughtered a fattened calf for Saul in a covenant meal. He started being in covenant with The Living GOD but ended being in a covenant with the Devil. Daniel and his friends knew about covenant. We know Daniel and no doubt his friends knew the Scriptures. In Daniel 9:2 Daniel tells us that he was, studying the book of Jeremiah the prophet and knew that the Babylonian exile would last 70 years- which it did. These 4 Hebrew men showed a conviction of heart in actively resisting evil. They had conviction of Who they belonged to and their eternal destiny in The Living GOD of Israel. Daniel went on to be delivered fron the power of the lions (Daniel chapter 6)and his 3 friends were delivered from the firey furnace( Daniel chapter 3) How sad that of all the Hebrew men taken to Babylonian to serve king Nebchadnezzar the Scriptures tell us of these four men alone and their brave convictions. We can only assume that of all the Hebrew men taken, only 4 of them refused to compromise their faith and convictions and therefore became assimilated into the Babylonian culture and also therefore into covenant with the Babylonian gods. Selah Shalom shalom