Prayer: Father, begin in me the lifestyle changes necessary for me to live righteously and obediently unto You. Amen.
The Bible Project: Daniel Book of Daniel Summary | Watch an Overview Video (bibleproject.com)
Reading: Daniel 1 key: vs. 3-6 “Then the king told Ashpenaz the chief of his officials to bring in some of the sons of Israel from royal descent and nobility— youths without any defect, handsome, proficient in all wisdom, knowledgeable, intelligent and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king allotted them a daily portion from the king’s delicacies and from the wine that he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end they were to stand before the king. Now among them were some from the sons of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.”
Attention: We hear much today about culture wars. According to Wikipedia, culture wars are defined as “a cultural conflict between different social groups struggle to impose their own virtues, beliefs, and practices over society.
What we witness from the beginning of the book od Daniel is a culture war which is being imposed on Hebrew exiles. The king of Babylon decrees to his officials to find, select, and bring to him, the choice male youths of Israel to be groomed in the Persian ways of language, education, belief system and diet. These youth are to be assimilated into the culture and serve in the king’s courts. This is identity politics at it’s highest. Even their names are changed to Persian names.
When Hebrews named their children, their names identified with Adonai, the God of the Hebrew nation. Daniel for instance, means “God is judge” or “God’s judge.” Hananiah means, “Yah(weh) is gracious.” Mishael means, “Who is what God is?” Azariah means, “Yah(weh) has helped.”
Notice that Daniel and each of the Hebrew men’s names were honoring to Adonai. The new names they were given, were associated with service to the king or with Persian deities. The name assigned to Daniel was Belteshazzar, which means “protect the king’s life.” Belteshazzar was also the name of the “prince of eunuchs under Nebuchadnezzar (the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary).”
According to According to rabbinical tradition Daniel was of royal descent; and his fate, together with that of his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, was foretold by the prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah in these words, “and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon” (Isa. xxxix. 7; compare Sanh. 93b; Pirḳe R. El. lii.; Origen, commentary to Matt. xv. 5; Jerome, commentary to Isaiah, l.c.).” (DANIEL – JewishEncyclopedia.com)
Daniel was faithful to Adonai even in the face of the oppressive tactics used by the Persian culture to erase his identity in Adonai, the God of the Hebrew nation. May we in the face of the cultural pressure which surrounds our nation and communities, never acquiesce, but stay true to Adonai.
Action: I choose to identify with Adonai, the One who gives me identity and tells me who I am.
Yield: I choose to submit to the authority of Adonai.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Sovereign God, Adonai.
Relationship: I choose to live in intimate relationship with the God of Daniel, Adonai.
Prayer: Father, there is no One like You. There is no other god besides You. Like Daniel, I declare my allegiance and devotion. Amen.
Memory Verse: Daniel 1:17 “Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and proficiency in every kind of wisdom and literature, and Daniel could understand all sorts of visions and dreams.”
Music Video: Ray Boltz—I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb https://youtu.be/CpZvkIjc3Oc?si=011U3ez22KCnErO-
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”