Deep and Deeper Still

Daniel 1 talks about a time when Babylon invaded Jerusalem and besieged the city. Not only did King Nebuchadnezzar take the vessels of the house of God but also the people of Israel, including members of the royal family and well-learned youths.

Daniel 1:3–4 (ESV): "Then the king commanded Ashpenaz his chief eunuch to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans."

Among them were Daniel and his three friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These youths were taken captive and uprooted from their homeland to be indoctrinated with Babylonian cultures to eventually serve their captors. Their original Hebrew names, which had meanings connected to their faith in God, were changed to Babylonian names associated with Babylonian gods. Although their names were changed (i.e., Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, Azariah to Abednego), their identity in God was not changed. Deep down, they knew who they were in God. Do we know who we are in God?

Daniel 1:6–7 (ESV): "Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego."

These Jewish youths would have been taught the Torah from a young age. Their deep-seated faith stood out by the way they responded when they were put to the test at various times in Babylon. We will only know what is really inside of us when we are put to the test.

Daniel and his three friends purposed in their hearts not to defile themselves with the king’s choice food and wine. They also excelled in their attitude and in their character while they made their request. They could make such a decision because of their deep relationship with God. They grew their relationship while they were still in their homeland.

Daniel 1:8, 11–12 (ESV): "But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine that he drank. Therefore, he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. ... Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 'Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.'"

At the end of the programme, King Nebuchadnezzar found these four youths to be ten times better in wisdom and in understanding.

Daniel 1:20 (ESV): "And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom."

In Daniel 2, Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and paid homage to Daniel. The king even praised Daniel’s God.

Daniel 2:47 (ESV): "The king answered and said to Daniel, 'Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.'"

The king was charmed but not changed because, in Daniel 3, he built an image of gold for all peoples and nations to worship. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow to this image, and their ‘defiance’ was reported to the king. When we have a spirit of excellence, there will be jealous people who want to bring us down.

Daniel 3:14–15 (ESV): "Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, 'Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now, if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?'"

They knew what their consequences were, but they stood firm in their belief and would not compromise. Even if God does not deliver them, it would still not change their relationship with Him. In this great test of life and death, their relationship with God went deeper still. Their belief in Him had no ‘terms and conditions’ attached to it.

Daniel 3:16–18 (ESV): "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.'"

Even if God does not answer us the way we expect Him to answer, will we still follow Him? Remember, God is still sovereign, and His plan is always the best. He is our good Father. We must trust Him to do what is best for us.

At their reply, King Nebuchadnezzar, in his mad fury, ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more.

Daniel 3:19 (ESV): "Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated."

Then the king saw the fourth man in the burning fiery furnace!

Daniel 3:24–25 (ESV): "Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?' They answered and said to the king, 'True, O king.' He answered and said, 'But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.'"

God’s name is Emmanuel: God with us. If we remain faithful to Him, others will see that God is with us. He will not leave us nor forsake us.

Isaiah 43:2 (ESV): "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

God did not disappoint Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel 3:28 (ESV): "Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants, who trusted in Him and set aside the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.'"

Conclusion

When we are tested in the faith, may we not cower under pressure but be taken deeper still in our relationship with God.

In reflection:

Are we deep in our relationship with God?

Are we growing deeper still in our relationship with God?