DON’T BE CONFORMED
DON’T BE CONFORMED
“Be not conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:2)
In this brief article we will consider the success of four young Hebrew boys in resisting the powerful temptation to “conform” to this world. They were taken captive to Babylon when Jerusalem was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. Please consider the pressure they faced. #
Their first sight of Babylon must have been overwhelming. Herodotus states that it’s walls were 335 feet high and 85 feet thick. The four walls were between 10.5 and 14 miles long on each side (The distance from Jerusalem to Jericho was 17 miles).
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The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were considered to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. At that time Babylon led the world in science, music, architecture and art. #
The fact that the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and worshiped many gods created, the illusion that their many gods were superior to the single God worshiped by the Hebrews. #
The fact that these young men were placed under the care of Ashpenaz, the master of the eunuchs, leads to the assumption that they had been castrated.
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Their Hebrew names honoring Jehovah were changed to names honoring pagan gods. #
Daniel (God is my Judge) became Belteshazzar (Bel protect the king).
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Hananiah (Compassion of God) became Shadrach (Servant of Aku).
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Mishael (Who is like God) became (Who is like Aku).
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Azariah (Helped by God) became (Servant of Nebo).
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Bel, Aku, and Nebo were pagan gods.
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They were enrolled in a university to learn the language and literature of the Babylonians. #
The temptation to “conform” must have been overwhelming!
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Their success in resisting this temptation involved the direct intervention of God. The first “push back” recorded involves their desire not to be defiled by eating the food and drinking the wine from the king’s table. Since God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs a ten day trial was agreed upon. At the end of the ten days the Hebrews fared better than their Babylonian counterparts. In fact, the king found these Hebrew boys ten times greater than all the magicians and astrologers in all his realm (Dan. 1:20).
The second great test came when the king had a troubling dream that he couldn’t remember. When his magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers were unable to recall the dream for him, he ordered that all of them be killed. At this time Daniel and his three companions sought help from Jehovah and the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. This remarkable answer to prayer catapulted these non-conformists to pinnacles of power in the Babylonian government (Dan. 2:48, 49). The third test came when everyone was commanded by the king to fall down and worship a golden idol. When the three Hebrew boys refused to do so thy were cast into a furnace of fire. Their miraculous deliverance caused the king to write a decree to all the world honoring Jehovah and promoting Sadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to greater positions of power (Dan. 3:28 - 30). Later, as you know, Daniel read the handwriting on the wall the very night Babylon was conquered by the Medes and the Persians. Remarkably, this non-conformist Hebrew outlasted the Babylonian Empire and continued to be a world leader under Darius.
Sadly, it doesn’t always work out this way. Some of the great non-conformists of history were stoned, sawn asunder, slain width the sword, and wandered about being destitute, afflicted, and tormented (Heb. 11:37). The three non-conformist Hebrews said it best. They didn’t know what God would do, but they did know what they wouldn’t do. “Be it known unto thee O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Dan. 3:18).