Today's Devotion

Monday May 6th, 2024

 

“Stop saying: Shadrach, Meshach; and Abednego, and call them by their God given names: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah”

 

Daniel  1:1-6 KJV

“1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:”

 

The date was 604 BC and Daniel would’ve been around the age of 14 years old. 

That would’ve been a very difficult time to grow up in, because the Babylonian empire had risen up in great power, and was conquering every country they come up on.

 

That’s when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon conquered Judah and Jerusalem, and lead Daniel captive, along with many many others into Babylon.

 

Now, the king took Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,  and placed them in kind of a school or training because they were known to be very intelligent. 

This was also done to force them to forget their previous life and accept a new world order and yes, I meant to say that!

 

Now in verse 7, it talks about the name changes:

 

7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. Daniel 1:7 KJV

 

Their original Hebrew names, seem to always have a meaning that referenced God: 

 

Daniel: Daw-nee-yale’; “Judge of God”

 

Hananiah: Chan-an-yaw’;  “Yaw or God has favored” 

 

Mishael:  “Mee-shaw-ale”; “Who is what God is”! 

 

Azariah: As-ar-yaw; “Yaw or God has helped”!

 

 

Daniel (Daw-nee-yale’) “Judge of God”!, was given the name Belteshazzar: 

The name Belteshazzar is compounded of two words:  

balâṭsu-uṣur meaning, good Saturn protect the king! 

Then also the name:

 Bel: meaning  "Bel's prince;" that is, “he whom Bel favors”. 

 

“Bel" was the principal god worshipped in Babylon. 

Bel, was later changed to bal, then to baal, and also to Beelzebub, which of course, they’re all names of satan!  

 

Hananaia (Chan-an-yaw’) “Yaw or God has favored”!, was renamed and called Shadrach; Shad-rak’

This name could mean “young friend of the king;”, OR, it could mean "rejoicing in the way," which is what two out of three scholars believe it means. 

Either one, would hopefully cause him to forget, the significancy of his former name, and

totally wipe out ANY remembrance of him EVER!, being in the service of their God; Jehovah.

 

Mishael (Mee-shaw-ale’) ; “Who is what God is”! , he was now called Meshach; “May’-shak" 

The signification of the name "Meshach" is less known. 

It's said to be similar to the Persian word Ovicula and means a little sheep (Wilhelm Gesenius a German lutheran Bible scholar). 

So why this name was given, is not sure. 

Might it have been because of his looks, his gentleness, his lamb-like disposition maybe.

Anyway, what ever the reason, nothing would’ve been better fitted, to again, maybe turn him away from the one true God, and then cause him to focus on HIMSELF!, as well as, the king.

 

Azariah (As-ar-yaw’) “Yaw or God has helped”!, his name became  Abed-nego; “Ab-ade-neg-o’ 

The name Abed-nego  means, "a servant of Nego," or perhaps rather of "Nebo”. 

This word "Nebo," among the Chaldeans, likely denoted the planet Mercury. 

This planet was worshipped by them, as well as the Arabs, as the “celestial scribe” or writer. 

 

This change of name, was therefore designed to denote, a consecration to the service, of this idol-god!

This change was obviously chosen, to make Azariah forget, the one true God Yahweh, to whom he was so very devoted to!!

 

By the way, the kings name apparently was spelled wrong in some places. 

Nebuchadnezzar; Nᵉbukadneʼtstsar.

or 

Nebuchadrezzar;

Nᵉbûwkadreʼtstsar

 

His name meant: “may Nebo (Mercury) protect the crown"

 

Like I said earlier, the king took these four Hebrew children and placed them in kind of a school or training, because they were known to be very intelligent. 

And for another very important reason, which we’ll talk about later on.

 

Now the king wanted them to eat HIS food, drink HIS drinks and learn HIS culture! 

 

But in verse 8 & 9 we see Daniel refusing!

 

Daniel 1:8-9 KJV

“8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

 

Then in verse 9 it says;

 

"9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.”

 

Of corse Danial capitalizes on his favor and says hey, let’s do a test for ten days and let’s see how things come out.

 

"10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king."

 

So Daniel was told no!, by Ashpenaz, the prince of the eunuchs!

 

But Daniel wouldn’t take no for an answer!

When one door closes, the Lord opens up another one! Amen?

 

"11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days."

 

So, Melzar complies with Daniel’s request!!

It’s unclear if Ashpenaz ever finds out. 

 

Either way though, it’s likely that he would take credit for what Daniel and Melzar decided to do LOL. 

 

"Pulse" is “Zeroa” (zay-ro'-ah) It means “something grown”. 

So just vegetables and they drank water. 

Some have said it was probably lintels or something like that. I’m not sure at this point.  

 

But seriously, raw vegetables and water??

 

Who on God’s green earth could do that today? LOL

Of course back then I’m sure there were no genetic modifications going on. 

And the water was probably from springs or wells that weren’t polluted.  

It was probably clear and cold!

 

So now look what happens:

 

"15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse."

 

So it worked!!

Melzar was probably relieved! 

After all, he took a huge risk right??

 

Now look what GOD DOES, when they decided to stand firm and not defile themselves with the king’s meat and wine:

 

Daniel 1:17-21 KJV 

“17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.”

 

As I said before, Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, and placed them in kind of a school or training, because they were known to be very intelligent!!

 

Was it because he would use their intelligence, for his own benefit?

OR

Was it because of their intelligence, he saw them as a threat??

 

In any event, it’s very clear!

You can easily see for sure, that the purpose of the Babylonian king, was to indoctrinate them into the Babylonian culture!!

 

This was an effort to force them, to FORGET!, their past life!! 

He tried to make them FORGET!, their service and love for the one true God is Glory!!

 

He changed their names, wanted them to eat HIS food!!

Teach them HIS literature!!

Teach them HIS language!

 

All so that once FULLY COMPLIANT!, he could use them in his own personal service. 

 

The eunuch’s job, was to, VERRY SLOWLY and OVER TIME, make sure that they would no longer remember being a Jew and that they followed the one true God almighty. 

 

Again, iINDOCTRINATION, has been going on for a very long time, AMEN !!

 

But as you can see, these CHILDREN!: 14-15 years old, stayed faithful to God!

Could it be because of their upbringing???

Absolutely!!!! 

The Bible says in:

 

Proverbs 22:6 KJV
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

 

A two fold blessing;

First, when they are old, they will NOT part from it!!!

The second one is listed in the first one: THEY WILL GROW OLD!!

They are promised to have a long lasting life!!!

 

Even later on, when faced with death, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah’s faith, would stand strong and God would indeed, miraculously rescue them! 

 

I ask you, will God not do the same, for His Children today?? 

Absolutely He will!! 

 

And if the Lord tarries, we’ll see Him do it again and again and again!! 

Hallelujah, Halleluah!!