Identify With God

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21

Key Verse: “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” (Daniel 1:8, KJV).

Human beings are social animals. We live together and interact with each other. Individuals form relationships with others. When humans compare themselves to other animals we see each other as belonging to one big family. But, within the human family are many sub groups. These may result from geographical locations, religious beliefs, ethnicities, skin color, history, political ideology, economic status, family heritage, size, and other common interest. We all identify with at least one group of people and it is likely that we identify with several groups. Sometimes we change who we identify with as when we experience change in education, economic status, religious persuasions, and customs.

All Christians claim to identify with God. In Daniel 1 we are given an example of what it means to identify with God. Identifying with God is a matter of faith. Faith requires works or action (James 2). In Daniel 1, Daniel and his three friends decide to identify with God rather than the gods of Babylon. The word, identify, means “to be made identical or to treat as the same. It means to join or associate closely.” Daniel makes a decision that he will not defile himself with the king’s food and wine. Why does Daniel make this decision?

In 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem. He takes Jehoiakim along with other members of the royal family to Babylon. He also takes some of the vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem to the house of his gods. Nebuchadnezzar orders Ashpenaz “to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles” (v.3, NASB) to be trained to serve him. They will be valuable to him because they have knowledge of their people and they can influence them to cooperate with his rule. In order to indoctrinate these young men into the Babylonian way of life Nebuchadnezzar changes their names, and he gives them preferential treatment in matters of food, social standing, and positions of influence. As members of the royal family in Judah these young men are accustomed to having the finer things in life. Since they are in fact slaves they will be happy to accept what is being offered to them. Among these Hebrew captives are Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Babylon is a secular, worldly, and polytheistic society. Like Daniel and his friends, Christians live in a world that does not honor God and oppose His divine authority. Nebuchadnezzar intends to use the three years training period as a trial. These dedicated Jewish boys will need to adapt themselves to the thinking and customs of the Babylonians. The purpose is to transform them into Babylonians. In their new homes, they are to learn the customs, language, history, science and religion of Babylon. Their names are Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Their names are changed to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Daniel and Mishael contain the syllable el which means “God.” Daniel means “God is my Judge.” His new name Belteshazzar means “Bel protects his life.” Mishael means “Who is like God?” His new name, Meshach, means “Who is as Aku is?”The names Hananiah and Azariah contain iah, a form of the name “Adonai” which means “Lord.” Hananiah means “the Lord shows grace.” His new name Shadrach means “command of Aku”. Azariah means “The Lord is my help.” His new name Abednego means “Servant of Nebo (Nego)” Aku and Nego are names of gods of Babylon. They are to identify with the gods of Babylon.

The Babylonians were great scientist, mathematicians, and military strategist. Their religion was based on superstition and myths. Christian students in secular schools often learn things that contradict what they believe. Daniel and his friends are to learn the ways of the Babylonians during a three year training period. When, Daniel sees the food that he is being offered he and his friends refuse to eat the king’s food. Why do they refuse the best food in the land? The Jews followed strict dietary laws. They eat only animals approved by God and it has to be prepared in a way that the blood is drained from the flesh because eating blood is strictly prohibited (Lev. 11; 17:10-16). Also, the king’s food is offered to idols. As faithful Jews, they cannot eat any of this defiled food. So, what does name changes and food laws have to do with identifying with God?

First, their Hebrew names signify that they are to be like God. Their new names signify that their god now is the god of the Babylonians. We cannot identify with God if we do not know who God is and what our relationship to Him is. Their Jewish names are to remind them that they are to be faithful to God. Some Christians worship a God that they hear about: even talk and sing about, but they have little or no knowledge of His ways and the nature of their relationship to Him. These four Hebrew boys are in a strange land, but based on their behavior in Babylon, they have been nurtured by people who have taught them the ways of God and all that God has done for the Israelites. Since they are about fifteen or sixteen years old this means that they were born during the years that Josiah reigned in Judah. Josiah’s religious reforms are recorded in 2 Kings 22-23. When they are presented with the king’s food, they know that eating the king’s food is a violation of God’s law. After a ten day test Daniel and his friends appeared healthier than the other trainees.

Christians identify with God by being prepared. These young men are the healthiest and most educated. The world wants only the best. Sadly, too many fail to see the need for preparation. They believe that their faith and God’s grace is all that matters. Preparation for life is God’s grace. Christians should learn the ways of the world, because God places His people in strategic places so that they can carry out God’s purpose in the world. Moses and Paul are two examples of men who were well educated in secular things. God placed them in strategic positions to use their learning to effect great change in the lives of people. Daniel and his friends apply themselves to learn the ways of the Chaldeans. God gives to them skills and wisdom to learn and apply knowledge. These Hebrew boys find favor with God and with their supervisors.

Daniel and his friends identify with God by being loyal to Him. Their faith and trust in God causes them to be obedient to God’s commandments. They recognize that God is sovereign. This means that God rules nations and individuals. God’s rule cannot be challenged or over ruled by anything in the universe. They believe that God’s diet will bring them better health than the king’s food. At the end of the ten day test period their appearance is better than the other young men in the training class (vv. 8-16). Although their names have been changed, they do not compromise their faith in the God of Israel.

Daniel and his friends make the decision to identify with God. They have every opportunity to compromise their faith in God. They could have reasoned that since they are in Babylon, they should learn to live as Babylonians. It is a new day, and times have changed. If they want to be successful they will need to oblige the king. Why should they pass up this golden opportunity? The answer is found in the final outcome of the three year training period. “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” (v 18). “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king required of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in his realm” (vv 21-22). Identifying with God ultimately leads to God’s favor.