“And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this.”
(Daniel 5:22 ESV)
Here we got the account of Belshazzar, king of Babylon at that time which reign after Nebuchadnezzar though he is not a direct successor of Nebuchadnezzar. Most historians and conservative theologians says that Belshazzar is not the real King, but his father (Nabonidus) is. Nabonidus share his kingdom and his authority with Belshazzar and so he is also considered as a king (he is a co-regent with Nabonidus).
At the end of Babylon era, King Belshazzar made a great feast with thousands of his nobles. He ordered to take the vessels of gold and silver that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem so that he and his guest can use them as a cup for their drink. Note that these vessels are items that was used in God’s house in Jerusalem. As they drank wine, they also praised their idols, their gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. At this point, it is as if God from heaven said “this is it. I have enough!”. Then immediately, there was a fingers of man appeared and wrote on wall of the palace. Belshazzar watched it, and he became so pale, and so terrified. He summoned all his wise men and ask them to read and interpret the meaning to him, and whoever can do such task would be rewarded with purple clothed and chain of gold for his neck, and also he will be the third ruler in the kingdom (which is the next “big” man after himself - as he is the 2nd). All of his wise men are unable to explain the meaning, and so the queen mother reminded Belshazzar that there is someone whose name is Daniel that would be able to explain it to him. Daniel came and he explained what's the meaning of the writing though he totally rejected the rewards from the king. Daniel decided to refuse rewards from Belshazzar because he has mocked God, but he still interpreted it to tell God's judgement to king Belshazzar.
Daniel rebuked Belshazzar that though he knew the history of what happen with king Nebuchadnezzar, he still neglected the lesson.Daniel reminded what Nebuchadnezzar did wrongly: that he lifted up himself against God almighty and so God humbled Nebuchadnezzar by driven him away from his people, and he was made like a beast until he knew that God is the one worthy of all praise. Belshazzar knew but he neglected; he knew the truth, he knew what God dislike, but he ignores them and he kept doing it. What Belshazzar did is an attitude of mocking God or disrespecting God, because he did it not out of his innocence, but out of his knowing to the truth. How is our living? is there part of our life that we know what is true, what God dislike, but we neglect it? There is a difference though between someone that knows the truth but still struggling in sin, to someone that also knows the truth but does evil or sin purposely. The later won’t find themselves guilty compared to the first one, as they simply ignore or neglect the truth totally just like Belshazzar. The message of Daniel 5 is to warn us for repentance because God is the judge: He will judge everyone of us, just like what Daniel told Belshazzar about the writing. The writing says: “Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin”, or translated: “Numbered, numbered, Weighed, divided”; in other words, that God has numbered the days of Belshazzar’s kingdom and brought it to an end (Mene), and Belshazzar have been weighed in the balances and found wanting (Tekel), and Belshazzar’s kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians (Peres).
God in his patience has numbered our days, we don’t know when it is going to an end, only God knows and He will judge each of us. This passage warns us about the problem of negligence. Luke 12:48 says “...Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” Do we think that this verse is talking only in regards of how much money or material possession that we have? or do do we think think that this verse is talking for whoever has more talent? Now, i want to draw a little further from Daniel 5, and concentrate on this verse a bit, so that we may see the relation later on. First, we need to know this verse has the say not just to the whom much was given, but also to whom God entrusted thing, either it is a little or much - that is the implication. The verse says that if you are given much, then much will be demanded, but if you have little then little is what God demanded. It tells us that God is fair, that God knows us and demands us according to the portion we have. It tells us that God has been gracious to both people (the little or the much). Second, this verse doesn’t just talk about material possession or our talent, the verse doesn’t need to say what things are given or entrusted, because everything that we have is given by God, everything that we have is entrusted by God - our whole life! - including Jesus (the Gospel)! If we are truly God’s people, then we are God’s possession (1 Peter 2:9; Deuteronomy 7:6), and God is our possession / portion (Psalm 73:26; Lamentation 3:24; Psalm 16:5). Do we say that we are christian (God’s people)? Do you consider God as your precious portion / your all in all? Now do we have the passion for His kingdom - for the gospel? If we are christian, God’s grace has been so abundant given to us, His grace allows us to have such knowledge to know that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, that His death on the cross is what matter on our life so that we are saved! Often we say we are christian who has Jesus, but we don’t give Jesus to others. Again, if you have much, much will be required; if you have little then little what will be required; and if we have Jesus; we are required to give Jesus to others. Do we heed his command in Matthew 28:19-20 to make disciples, to go and spreading the gospel? or are we simply neglecting that and live for our own comfort?
Rome 10:17 says that faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Knowing Christ and to believe in Him is a grace, because we won’t be able to know Him without someone told us, and without Christ died for our sins. Now the question is are we going to waste that grace and live for our own comfort? Rom 10:14 says “14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Hope this reminds you and me, on our purpose on this earth, to live for the purpose of God’s kingdom.
Now, Belshazzar knew about God, he knew of how YAHWEH has shown His power to Nebuchadnezzar, he knew that YAHWEH is the true God, yet he lives as if he never knew that. He even act to do things against God. What a terrible decision that he take. God has discipline Nebuchadnezzar, and he should take and follow Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony to the whole Babylon’s kingdom that God is the one worthy of our praise because God’s kingdom is everlasting, and His works are right and His ways are just. Belshazzar neglects the good news and so God’s judgement came to him - that very night Belshazzar was killed and his kingdom is divided. Darius the Mede received the kingdom after him. That is also what happen to all people that neglects the invitation of the gospel - the TRUTH. All of our days once again are numbered, and we live because God sustain us.
We learn through chapter 1 to 5, that our God is sovereign: He is omnipotent (all powerful), He is omniscient (All knowing), and He Omnipresent (All present) - nothing escape Him.
Let this passage, reminds us that we ought to pray for the unreach, for all the people that has not believed in Jesus Christ, we are ought to share what we know through our life, and live in faith - in obedience to God.
Coram Deo,
Paul Hartono
Comments