Servant or Slave


Servant or Slave
(the tug of war)
Basic Scriptural Study: Daniel Chapter One.

    Because Israel had been disobedient to their God, God allowed Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to come a to conquer the land of Israel and take away captives to Babylon. Babylon from the Scriptural context goes back to Babel which means "confusion" which has its history with the Tower of Babel. The pagan city itself was known for wickedness, its sensual pleasure, and materialism. Some called it the "gate to the gods".  Nabu was one of the major gods which was associated with wisdom, learning, and learning. Nebuchadnezzar name mean "Nabu protect the crown".

    Nebuchadnezzar came and besieged Jerusalem and took away captive, Daniel and his friends. You can imagine seeing your city fall to the enemy and your are taken away captive. You are taken away from you home, your family, friends, your occupation, and your place of worship. You are forced into a completely new environment. We can see that Nebuchadnezzar is a type of Satan. Satan has invaded God's creation and is attempting or has already taken away many as captives.

Daniel and his friends:
1. They were taken away from their homes, their families, and their place of worship.

2. They were brought as slaves into a pagan culture which had many gods.

3. Their initial identity was to be that of a defeated people.

4. Their God may well to have appear as being defeated because they were a defeated people.

5. They would have had to wear different clothes.

6. Their surrounding would be totally different.

7. Their sexual identity would have been changed in that they were made eunuchs.

8. They would no longer have a close family ties for support.

9. Their diets would be changed.

10. They would be forced to learn a new language.

11. They would have to learn new customs, morals, beliefs, and forced to learn a new way of thinking (philosophy).

12. Their names were to be changed.
a. Daniel name meant "God is my judge".  However, his name was changed to "Belteshazzar" which meant "Bel protect the king". Bel goes back to the god of Baal.

b. Hananiah name meant "Jah (a form of God) is gracious".  His name was changed to "Shadrach" which meant "command of Aku (the moon god)".

c. Mishael name meant "who is what God is". His name is changed to "Meshach" which meant "who is as Aku is".

d. Azariah name meant "Jah has helped". His name was changed to "Abednego" which meant "slave of the god Nebo".

*Could you imagine, that every time that you are called by your new name that it would be associated with a pagan god.

       Nebuchadnezzar wanted to take away their identity and give them an entirely new identity. Satan, the liar, wants to do the same thing with us.

  Identity Check: Has Satan taken you captive and changed your identity?
[ ] 1. You are just a product of chance.

[ ] 1. You are a creature created by God. (Psalms 100:3)


[ ] 2. You are the product of some couple's  mistake.

[ ] 2. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalms 139:14)

[ ] 3. You have been abandoned by God.

[ ] 3. You have been adopted, never to be forsaken. (Ephesians 1:5), (Hebrews 13:5).


[ ] 4. You are a failure.

[ ] 4. You find success through the Word and in your faith in Jesus. (Joshua 1:8), (Matthew 7:24).

 
[ ]  5. You are a victim of your past.

[ ] 5. You are a victorious person. (I John 5:4).

 
[ ]  6. You are bound by addictions.

[ ] 6. You are more than a conquerer. (Romans 8:37)

 
[ ] 7. You a flawed person.

[ ] 7. You are a new creation. (II Corinthians 5:17).


[ ] 8. You are hopeless.

[ ] 8. You are full of hope. (Romans 15:13).

 
[ ] 9.Your life is of no value.

[ ] 9 God has attributed worth to your life. (John 3:16).


[ ] 10. You are an individual without eternal purpose.

[ ] 10. You are one who has a God given purpose. (Jeremiah 29:11).


[ ] 11. You are one who is too weak, to old, or too young.

[ ] 11. You are one who is strong in the Lord. (Ephesians 6:10).

 
[ ] 12. You are damaged goods.

[ ] 12. Your life is renewed every day. (II Corinthians 4:16).


[ ] 13. You find yourself often confused.

[ ] 13. You have a peaceful mind.   (I Corinthians 14:33).

 
[ ] 14. You are in emotional pain every day.

[ ] 14. Though you have been wounded in the past, you have found healing through the suffering of Jesus. (Luke 4:18-19).

 
[ ] 15. You are living in fear.

[ ] 15. You have a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:7).

 

    Wisdom is seeing God work in our circumstances.

    Although Daniel was taken captive along with his three friends, I don't see that he took on the slave's identity, but rather took on a servant's identity unto the authority which he found himself under. Ultimately, Daniel served God by serving others. He served under at least four or more different rulers and gave counsel to some of them. He never ran away from the area of Babylon, but served God wherever he found himself.

    Paul in the New Testament said, that we are to present ourselves a living sacrifice in service unto God and not let the world put us into a mold. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"  (Romans 12:1-2).
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