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The Book of Daniel Meditations: Chapter 5

 Some time after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, his successor Belshazzar is now king of Babylon. One day, King Belshazzar decided to throw a huge banquet in his palace, inviting all of the prominent members of his kingdom.

       Belshazzar’s Feast by Rembrandt 

In the midst of the celebration, Belshazzar becomes intoxicated with wine, began to praise his false idols and even drank from the sacred vessels that were taken from the Jerusalem temple by his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar. 

But the festivities come to a screeching halt when suddenly a disembodied hand appears in the room and writes a message on the wall, directed at Belshazzar:


Belshazzar is obviously terrified after this supernatural encounter. He is in such distress that his body is violently trembling. He has no idea what these words mean and neither can his wise men.  But then he is told of Daniel, the prophet who had a prominent reputation with Nebuchadnezzar and the kingdom. Daniel agrees to interpret the words, which are found in verses 25-28. The was a message of JUDGEMENT! God has numbered the days of Belshazzar’s reign and is about to end it. He is weighed on the scales and found wanting. Lastly, Belshazzar’s kingdom will be conquered and given to the Medes and Persians. 

And that very night, Belshazzar was killed. 

This is another example of the dangers of pride and idolatry. Belshazzar challenged God by praising his own false gods and even defiling the sacred treasures of the Jews’ temple. He desecrated the worship of the true God. Like Nebuchadnezzar before him, Belshazzar had an overinflated sense of self. And in the end he lost everything. His riches, His kingdom and ultimately, his life. The Lord commanded us to have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3-5). He told us that a man’s pride brings him low (Proverbs 29:23). 

Let us truly heed these warnings. The Lord loves you and desires to save you from false idols that will destroy your life. Jesus Christ is seeking for you right now. Repent and trust in Him! 





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