Daniel & friends

When Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon, they were given "pagan" names by Nebuchadnezzar to replace the Hebrew names given by their parents. What do their names say about them?  Which name would you rather be known by?

Hebrew names:
Daniel:  God is my judge.
Hananiah:  Yahweh is gracious.
Mishael:  Who is what God is?  Or... Who is like God?
Azariah:  Yahweh helps.

Pagan names:
Belteshazzar:  Bel is the keeper of secrets.  (Bel-Marduk was the sun-god.)
Shadrach:  Command of Aku.  (Aku was the moon-god.)
Meshach:  Who is what Aku is? Or... Who is like Aku?
Abed-Nebo:  Servant of Nebo.  (Nebo was the god of wisdom.)

Think about their God-given Hebrew names in light of what they did.  Who judged Daniel, God or Nebuchadnezzar?  Did Yahweh help Azariah?  Was Yahweh gracious to Hananiah?  Who is greater, God who entered the flames and protected Mishael, or Aku the pagan moon-god?

After God protected Azariah, Misha'el, and Hananiah from the flames, Nebuchadnezzar said, "“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God." (Daniel 3:28)  Even the great king Nebuchadnezzar had to admit that God was greater than his pagan idols.