Monday, March 9, 2009

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - Part 2: It's All in a Name.

Daniel 1:5-14 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service. Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you." Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

We've been talking about the three part process that the king was using to brainwash these boys to his way of thinking. We're on step number 2:

Number 2 is Identity: I enjoyed the Bourne Identity and the sequels that followed it. As I mentioned before, I'm a big - spy helping the good guy - fan. In the beginning of this particular spy movie, Jason Bourne has lost his memory after a mission gone awry. He spends the rest of the movie trying to find out who he was and what his purpose had been. In the end, he realizes that he didn't really like who he was and started a brand new life.


The boys who had been captured by the king were given new names. There is a nice little history behind their original names: Hananiah meaning 'God is gracious', Mishael meaning 'Who is like God?' and Azariah meaning 'God keeps him'. There names were changed to Shadrach (meaning 'Command of the Moon-God'), Meshach (meaning 'Who is like the Moon-God?') and Abednego (meaning 'Servant of Nego'). Wouldn't this be more confusing for the boys, why would the king choose this to be done?

If the king could change their names to that of Babylonians, maybe they would embrace that style of life and become loyal to the Babylonians. It was a good solid plan, one that Satan has used for centuries.

If Satan can convince people to act a certain way online, a different way at work, even change how they act when they're at church, he might be able to confuse them enough that they forget they are the children of the King. We see it all the time. People who act differently at church and then use unethical practices at work or curse at the bank teller while they're running errands. These people are suffering from mistaken identity.

As royalty, as a princess, as a daughter of the King - I know that I am required to behave a certain way. It is my HONOR to make my father proud. Don't let Satan make you forget who you are.

8 comments:

Greg C said...

Great message. I try to act properly all the time even though I sometimes fail. I do however know some people who don't even try. They want to be seen in church acting properly but it is just that, an act.

Kelly said...

Yes, soemtimes I act like a JERK! I'm so thankful for a heavenly father who forgives me. and I keep trying.

Kay Martin said...

You are right. I must remember who I am and Who's I am. Love this.

Edie said...

I just love your ananlogies Dorothy. You are so right. I number of years ago I made the decision to add a cross to the end of my signature. I realize now that was prompted by the Holy Spirit. The cross is there to remind me of who I am. It does a great job.

debrah said...

Wow! This really hits the mark. I have often been shamed by the way I might behave in public(irritated to have to stand in line and visibly irritated when someone cuts in front)..and then sometimes moments after shamefaced about not being Christ like. I appreciate those times that I consider who I am in Christ before behaving badly...thank you for this post.

In His Love,
Be Blessed,
Debrah

God's girl said...

LOve this girl! Great points. I just love how God's word comes to life to us today.
Much love,
Angela

nursegoodman1102 said...

This was a very inspiring article. Its time that we remember who we are and to whom we belong. We have to be careful not to become less than who God intended us to be. This is not arrogance but confidence in him. Often the enemy has a greater perception of who we are the strength that lie within us. So in reassigning us a new identity, often to for a less one, it his is purpose to make us forget that are children of the most High

Nkem said...

pls could you make your font-color visible most especially for those whose who want to read but cant see clealy thank you