Fully Devoted: Israel, Act 2Sample

Identity and Attention

Today, we’re going to zoom in and follow the captivity story of four teenagers—Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These were young men who’d grown up in the troubled southern kingdom of Judah. Their nation was plagued by morally corrupt leadership and their new home was no safe haven. The subtle strategy used by the Babylonians to capture the hearts and minds (not just the physical bodies) of entire generations is one that is replicated by our culture today. So what can we learn from these four teenage guys about faithfully following Jesus?

    1. We have to know who we are. 

Influence is intoxicating. This is something the Babylonians knew then and we definitely know now. In ancient times, instead of treating their prisoners with extreme cruelty like the Assyrians, the Babylonians would select the best of the best and bring them into the king’s courts to serve in the palace. The best of the best—those who were already respected by their peers. To the palace—a place of influence, a place of honor. Think of clerks in the Supreme Court. Babylon gave them all the training and resources they needed to succeed, as well as luxuries to enjoy, so that they would hopefully become intoxicated by their influence and environment and end up setting a “full send into Babylon” example for others to follow. 

Among those who were chosen 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. Daniel 1:6-7 NIV

Daniel and his buddies were chosen for this process. And the first thing the Babylonians did to try to integrate them into their kingdom was to change their names—and thereby their identities. This is super significant because names back then were taken much more seriously than they are now. Back then, your name was like a self-fulfilling prophecy over your life. It was more than what people said to get your attention; it stated what was true about you as a person. And here’s the thing: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah all had names that ascribed honor, worth, and devotion to the one true God. But their new names all mentioned false deities, the various gods of the Babylonians. 

These guys had to intentionally decide to tie their identity to something that could not be taken away—their commitment to God. What is your identity attached to? Something that ebbs and flows, like how you feel, the opinions of others, or the trends of culture? To faithfully follow Jesus in the present-day Babylon we find ourselves in, this world that tries to entice our hearts and minds away from desiring and trusting God above anything else, we have to decide to root and establish who we are in who our God is. Because what God says about you is the most true thing about you. 

    2. We have to be “picky eaters.” 

Is this what was happening in Daniel chapter 1? Are these guys going vegan just to prove a point? No. In reality, they’re being intentional about what they allow into their lives. They’re being attentive to what they touch, taste, encounter, and participate in. They refuse to allow things to go unexamined. They aren’t passive receivers, but active examiners. Are we? Because it wasn’t just about the food.

Here’s the thing: Back then, worship was so woven into every aspect of life, that even the meals people ate were a sacrifice to the god they worshiped. And this is a beautiful thing, except when that worship is pointed in the wrong direction. Our worship of God is always, always evidenced by our obedience to what He says. God says not to have anything to do with idols. Thus the problem Daniel encountered was not the food itself, but its dedication to Babylon’s false gods. 

Instead of playing the martyr, Daniel and his friends work out a compromise. This reminds us how to go about being “picky eaters.” We’re called to be intentional about what we consume—and again, we’re not talking about food. We’re talking about internet content, shows, movies, relationships, substances, etc. What direction are they pointing your worship? Let’s learn to be aware, but not obnoxious. Purposeful, but not a pain in the butt!

Remember Jesus’ command? The world will know who He is by the way we love. So let’s not turn our abstinence of certain things into a judgment of other people, because that’s not what love does. Love should be our filter for determining what we consume, but also how we respond. 

Daniel and his friends exemplify two really important characteristics for faithfully following Jesus in our version of Babylon—a culture that tries to captivate our senses and attention. We must root our identity in something that doesn’t change. And we must cultivate an awareness about what we consume and how we respond. Note: It wasn’t Daniel’s loud protests that made an impact on the people around him—it was his quiet dedication to following God, no matter the cost. 

Journaling Questions

• What verse or verses stuck out to you today? Take some time to write those down. Why did they stand out? 
• Is there something new that you learned about yourself from today’s reading? Describe it.
• What is something that you’ve allowed yourself to consume that you should be a pickier eater about?

Memory Verse

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 NIV