Name changes - April 19, 2023

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:1-24; PM Psalm 12, 13, 14 
Dan. 2:17-30; 1 John 2:12-17; John 17:20-26 

The story of Daniel and his friends has always been a fascinating Bible story adventure, as they face perils like lions and fiery furnaces. I learned something new about this part of our Hebrew legacy while studying the Old Testament reading this morning. The famed three men who faced fire and through faith in God were protected, the same three who were always named together - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - were not given those names at birth!

The disrupting king Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon had Jerusalem besieged. The invading king had some of the finest of Judah, noble families and those with talents and skills, brought to his Babylonian palace to learn and live in the manner of the royal court. (This is describes the Babylonian exile, decimating the land of Judah and those left behind, and defining the trajectory of what was to be the story of the Israelites on their return.) The palace master welcomed Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, among many others. He gave them other names: Daniel became Belteshazzar; Hananiah became Shadrach; Mishael became Meshach; and Azariah became Abednego. The original names were Jewish ones, ending in -el or –[y]ah, connecting them to Israel’s God YHWH. The other names referred to foreign deities - Babylonian gods Bel and Nabu and Sumerian god Anu. (I had no idea!!) The concordance notes in my Bible offered that name changes were a common practice among conquering kings, as a means of shifting one’s identity – in ethnicity and faith.

In our story of Daniel, faith in God and fealty to Judah remained true, though he and his friends were fiercely tested by the king who had disturbing dreams. Sleepless and frantic, Nebuchadnezzar searched for a magician, sorcerer, or Chaldean to tell the king his dream and then interpret it (Daniel 2:1-16). What he asked was impossible…the Chaldeans answer to the king was, “There is no one on earth who can reveal what the king demands! In fact no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king is asking is too difficult, and no one can reveal it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.” (v. 10-11) The king’s demand came at a high cost – the chief executioner was to execute all wisemen in Babylon if no one could meet Nebuchadnezzar’s impulsive demand.

Daniel let his companions know of the tensions brewing. He told them to pray – to “seek mercy from the god of heaven concerning this mystery” – to save their lives and the lives of many others around them. The faithful Judeans prayed, and our appointed reading for today fills in a few details – a vision came to Daniel in his dreams. And Daniel prayed words of praise and thanks to God, “Blessed be the name of God from age to age, for wisdom and power are his.” (v. 20) Daniel approached Nebuchadnezzar and proclaimed that the God of Israel was the one that showed the king the vision of what would happen at the end of his days.

Tales of biblical yore like these are compelling – as faith stories, as adventures of the human experience, and as invitations to see our own prayers of fear, fervor, and faith within the spaces of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah – though I am not sure I can call the latter three by their original names. Old habits are hard to shake!

-- Katherine+

Questions for Reflection

What is the name you choose to be called? Who named you? If your driver's license reflects a different name, reflect on those names and the stories associated.

Daily Challenge:

Read about the different names the God of Israel is called... resources could include books on your shelf or websites through the Episcopal Church or other venues. Get curious!