Scripture - Dan. 1: 6Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
Observation - after besieging Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar taps these four men and brings them back to Babylon to educate them and bring them into his service. In the process, he gives them new names of Babylonian persuation.
Application - assigning new names is not new in the Bible. Most accounts feature God touching a man's life and then giving him a new name that is given for purpose. It is most blatant in the life of the OT character Jacob. His birthname meant heel catcher, surplanter or deciever. His name was very indicative of His character. He was what his name suggested, and his name suggested what he was. Later, after a tremendous encounter with God, God gave him the new name Israel. It meant that he had stuggled with God and overcome. The renaming process, in my opinion, was the prophetic utterance of the man's leader that removed the man's past, and assigned him a new future based on what had been done in his life. It was also a symbol of ownership, and a declaration of the new character if the man.
Interesting that not only God renames people... so does Nebuchadnezzar (the world). He renamed Daniel and the three other Hebrew men, for the same purpose. The world and God stand on opposite swoops of the pendulum. While God desires to give you a new name, so does the world. Both want to define your character. Both want to do something with your past. Both want to speak prophetically about your future. Both want ownership.
I like the Lord's renaming process better than Nebuchadnezzars. I think I'll go with his.
Prayer - Lord, thanks for erasing my past. Thanks for assigning new character and a new future to my life. Thank you for placing your seal of ownership on my life. I don't know what "my new name" is, but just like an adopted child takes on his new parents last name, I know I am marked with yours!
