HONOR GOD WHO HOLDS YOUR LIFE
Daniel 5:22-31
Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. (23)
chapter 5
22. "But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.
23. Instead, you have set yourself up against the LORD of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.
24. Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
25. "This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin
26. "Here is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
27. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
28. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
29. Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
30. That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain,
31. and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. King Belshazzar knew all about God’s work in King Nebuchadnezzar’s life. But Belshazzar chose not to humble himself. Rather, he chose to rebel against God, he chose a life of depravity and debauchery, and he chose to praise other gods. He failed to acknowledge that God holds in his hands his life and his ways. Tragically, many people know all about God and the Bible, but they harden their hearts and choose to rebel against God. They want to be the center of their own world.
2. Daniel read the inscription on the wall that predicted God’s judgment of King Belshazzar. God graciously warned him before it was too late. Though he heard God’s word very clearly and the great servant of God Daniel counseled him, he chose not to repent. That very night, it all came true. Belshazzar was killed, and his empire was taken over by the Medes and Persians. Likewise, God’s warning in the Bible is clear. God will repay each person according to what he deserves (Ro 2:5-10). May we persist in doing good and seek his glory, honor, and immortality. May we also guide the wayward ones to repent and honor God before it is too late and help them to the end.
Prayer: Lord, please help me to honor you with my life and in all my ways. May I shepherd to the end those who have rebelled against you.
One Word: Honor God who holds in his hands my life and all my ways