Let us weigh ourselves in the balances of God
Daniel 5:1-3 “Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords…
Belshazzar…commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which…Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem;
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God….and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.”
Most believe that Belshazzar was Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson. Belshazzar’s father was away at war….losing….and had left the keeping of the city to his son.
This great city was a fortress. And had a river running through it. It was well supplied for years, and impenetrable…..or so they thought.
So Belshazzar was simply enjoying the riches his grandfather had gotten….lavishly partying with those wealthy young men like him.
Growing bored with the party….he calls for some of the old glory of Nebuchadnezzar to be brought in:
The gold and silver vessels of the Temple from Jerusalem.
They set the M’naurh or Candlestick next to the wall and light it. Then they pass the vessels, only priests were to drink from, around….and begin to drink their wine from them.
What fun to make sport of the God of Israel!!! Or so they thought.
Suddenly:
Daniel 5:5-6 “In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.”
Notice, God did not wait long. “In the same hour”….and He made sure Belshazzar saw His hand in this judgment.
And it terrified him….but what to do?
Now I want to mention here….that God can, and does, take care of HIs own glory.
But most of the time, the Lord uses us, as HIs children, His Christians, to explain and “interpret” to others….what they are seeing or hearing, from His Word.
Often people hear about God’s works for years….yet something suddenly gets there attention about His Word,….for themselves….and then, we are called upon to show them the Way of life. Or what God is speaking to them about.
This is what happens here: enter Daniel.
(I want to mention, that for the most part, Daniel had been set aside for any work for the royal house. Belshazzar the king did not even know about him…..until the queen….who most believe was his grandmother, the famous wife of Nebuchadnezzar, told him about Daniel.)
Daniel is offered gifts and up to a third of the kingdom,….if he will interpret the message written in front of them.
But Daniel refuses the gifts and rewards….and shows Belshazzar what the Lord is speaking to him about.
(And how important for us to keep in context the message we are to give. We do not speak about our Lord for reward….or benefit….but to instruct and show His glory and goodness.)
Daniel begins by reminding this king….who wanted to glory in the victories of his grandfather,….some of the most important “history” of Nebuchadnezzar…..
….that God had given Nebuchadnezzar this kingdom….and when his grandfather had gotten “lifted up” in his ego and pride…..yes, like you, Belshazzar….then God “drove him” out with the beasts of the field….making him mad….
….till…….and here is the important part for you Belshazzar…
…till he knew that God ruled in the kingdom of men….and gave it to whomsoever He pleased.
Yet, though you knew this….you did not want to remember this….
….you have not humbled your heart, even though, you have for a time, been given the opportunity to rule in his kingdom.
Daniel 5:23-25 “But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven;and they have brought the vessels of His house before thee, and thou,…have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praise the gods of silver, and gold….which see not, nor hear, nor know:
and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
Then was the part of the hand sent from Him; and this writing was written.
And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”
Then Daniel gives the interpretation of the message to Belshazzar:
Mene: God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
This was said twice: Belshazzar had time to “grow up” and see a responsibility to God where the kingdom of Babylon was concerned….yet though God gave him time….he had not sought wisdom, or concern for his citizens….but looked only for gratifying and satisfying himself.
Therefore his time was up….his time to rule rightly was gone.
(And what about the people we know, running to ruin, seeking only the things of this world….seeking satisfaction in worshiping the gods of “silver and gold”. They have forgotten that there is only true satisfaction in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His salvation.
There may be time for them, if we give them the Word of God.)
Tekel: Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Belshazzar did not “measure up” in action, to the knowledge that he had.
(And here I want to mention each of us.
The “balances” that we are all going to be weighed in are God’s balances….His Word.
John 12:44, 48 “Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me.
He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
It is always what we have….and what we could use….that we will be judged by. His Word is right in our homes, our churches, every hotel room, everywhere….what are we doing with it?
Do we know what it says to us?
Can we interpret it to others?)
Peres ( most believe that Peres is the plural of upharsin…upharsin means “divided”….peres means “dividers”): thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Most say this happened at about daybreak the next morning.
Cyrus (the nephew of Darius), diverted the river Euphrates into a new channel…and they came up into the city by the river bed….guided by two deserters from the Chaledean army.
The “hand” of the Lord came swiftly to give a small time for some to personally repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
The judgment already coming….. God gave time to repent….and again I stress, personally.
Yet, Daniel….spoke God’s Word faithfully. And so should we.
Balshazzar’s kingdom was doomed….judged by God….
….but please listen….
Everyone who is seeking another “kingdom” than the Kingdom of God by Jesus Christ….will have the same ending….their kingdom will fail.
Let us weigh ourselves in the balances of God’s Word….and seek for HIs Kingdom Come….His righteousness and glory…HIs Will be done….
…in earth, in me, in you….as it is in heaven.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 