You Are Better Series

November 5, 2023

Daniel 1:12-20 (NKJV)

You are Better

“Changes, Choices & Consequences”

Changes - The world we live in always brings about change. Everything must change. There is only one constant we have and that is the Word of God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever more. These four Hebrew boys faced change.

1. V. 1-2 A New Home - These boys had been brought up in and around Jerusalem. There they were constantly reminded of their God and of His importance to life. The Temple with its sacrifices was there. The priests and the scribes were there teaching. The prophets were preaching the message of Jehovah. Now, they are slaves and have been hauled off the Babylon. Here, they are surrounded by heathen worship, heathen images and heathen people. It would be easy to conform just to fit in. Just like today, it is easy to be spiritual in church. It is easy to be godly around godly people. However, when we separate from the godly influences around us, we are placing ourselves in a dangerous position. This is why it is important that we are consistent in biblical teaching and good works. The Hebrew writer says (10:24), “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

2. V. 3-4 A New Education - These young men were taught a new language and new ways of looking at life. All their lives, they had been exposed to the wisdom of God as taught by Moses, David, Solomon, and the Prophets. Now, they are being taught the wisdom of Babylon. They are being exposed to things they have never been exposed to before. It was a dangerous time for them. There is much pressure being exerted on them to conform to the new world around them. The same dangers face the Christian in this world today. We are constantly being exposed to new ways of thinking and are being told that our way of looking at the world, through the eyes of God in the Bible, is outdated, ancient and intolerant. The pressure that young believers are under now is harder than we ever had.

3. V. 5 A New Diet - All their lives, these four young men had lived by the dietary laws handed down by the Lord. Now, they are faced with food that was unclean and most of the meat had probably been sacrificed to idols. Therefore, it would have defiled these men and made them unclean before the Lord. Be careful not to make this lesson about food. This is about change. We are confronted daily by a changing world. Therefore, it is extremely important that we constantly guard ourselves in this matter of what we take into our lives. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:26, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

4. V. 6-7 A New Name - The boys had their names changed to slave names. Their masters would not call them by the names that spoke of Jehovah God. Even today we still call them by their slave names, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! When these young men arrived in Babylon, they came carrying wonderful names. Each name carried with it a testimony to the person of God, but they were given new names. Nebuchadnezzar's goal was to change their identity and their way of thinking. Daniel - God is my judge. (called Belteshazzar - meaning, "Bel will protect.") Hananiah - God is gracious. (called Shadrach - meaning, "Inspiration of the Sun.") Azariah - The Lord is my helper. (called Abednego - meaning, "Servant of Nego.") Mishael - God is without equal. (called Meshach - meaning, "Belonging to Aku.") Even though their names were changed their character remained intact. The world will try every tactic to force us to fit into their mold. They try to force us to use their pronouns in academic and business settings. However, no matter what they say to us, call us, do to us, or throw at us in life, they will never be able to change who we are! 1 John 3 says, “the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

Choices - To every change there is always a choice. How much are we willing to compromise? Every compromise takes you farther and farther from your calling. Every conviction brings you closer and closer to your calling. These boys were willing to be called by a different name but unwilling to eat what their masters were serving. Often, life is filled with compromises. We are given a choice as to how we will live our lives and what path we are going to follow through life. When we come to these times of decision, it is imperative that we make godly choices. Because the choices we make at the crossroads of life will determine our usefulness to God and our effectiveness in His kingdom work. Our text is about four boys who came to a time of decision in their lives. They could either compromise and go with the flow, or they could stand their ground and live for the Lord. The circumstances they faced and the decisions they made set the course or the rest of their lives. These boys stood their test and as a result, we are all blessed because of them. In an effort to maintain their ceremonial purity before the Lord, they requested that they not be forced to eat the king's meat. They knew they would be fed defiled foods, so they requested that they be allowed to have vegetables and water for a ten-day period. They were willing to put God to the test. It will not always be the easiest thing, nor will it be the most popular thing for you to take your stand with God. Their experiment worked! God honored His Word, and these men were healthier than the others. The whole point of this section of the text is that these young men made up their minds that they were going to live for the Lord, and they allowed nothing to change them or to turn them from their purpose! They were willing to trust God to do what He had promised, and they were willing to follow Him, regardless of the personal cost. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”