“Judged by God”

Tuesday, August 06, 2019

And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.” (Daniel 5:23)

Belshazzar, grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, was heir to the throne of the mighty Babylonian empire.  Here was a young and gallant prince who you should have been perfectly able to secure his throne from the threat of Cyrus, the Persian. However, failing to learn from the humbling experience of his grandfather (Daniel 4:31-33) Belshazzar became prideful.

The sins of Belshazzar were irreverence, sacrilege, indecency, drunkenness, and idolatry. Daniel enumerates these sins, and attributes them to Belshazzar’s arrogant heart: “you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven.” Thus, God was not glorified.

While we might not commit the same specific sins, but all mankind still falls into the same category: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. (Romans 3:23) Our chief duty is to glorify God. This responsibility is imposed on us because we are totally dependent on Him.  Unfortunately, all men fail.

As in the case of this Babylonian monarch, God will not overlook our transgressions. His throne is not so high he cannot see, nor is his disposition to ignore our failings. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”(Galatians 6:7)

Thus all of mankind will be brought before the Supreme Court of God. And when God passes sentence, all will deserve the same as this Babylonian ruler:  "You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting”(Daniel 5:27), “and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified”. (Daniel 5:23)

Belshazzar was fully responsible for his blasphemous conduct. What will you do with this life God has given you?  Remarkably, God can offer full pardon, and the opportunity to proclaim his excellence!

By George Slover

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