Daniel Speaks to Us Today Series
By Greg Johnson
November 1, 2006
Daniel Chapter 5
In Daniel chapter 4, we see how God humbles the proud. In Daniel chapter 5, we see the end result of pride and what comes upon those that refuse to be humbled.
About 20 years passed between Daniel chapter 4 and Daniel chapter 5. King Nebuchadnezzar is gone and King Belshazzar is co-king with his father, Nabonidus. At this time in history, while King Belshazzar is partying, the Med-Persian Army has approached Babylon and are right outside the city gates. In King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the image in Daniel 2, the Med-Persian empire is represented by the chest and arms of silver that comes into power when the great Babylonian empire falls.
There are lessons for us to be learned in Daniel chapter 5. It speaks loud and clear to us in our day.
PRIDE CAUSES A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY
The Med-Persian army is at the gates of the city and Belshazzar, full of arrogance and pride, throws a party. (Daniel 5:1-4 NIV) "King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. {2} While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. {3} So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. {4} As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone."
Belshazzar is not a bit alarmed that the Med-Persian army is at the city gates. He believes that he is invincible. His faith is in his abilities as king of the greatest empire and in the fortified walls that surround Babylon. His faith is not in God. He defies the One True God in his actions of drinking wine out of vessels that God has sanctified for His use and purposes. He utilizes that which God has declared sacred for personal gain. Instead of praising the One True God, he leads those in attendance in praising gods of material in which he built his buildings and empire.
This speaks loud and clear to us today. Those in our day have built edifices utilizing gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. They think they are safe within what they have built, but the enemy is standing outside seeking to steal, kill and destroy. We are finding that safety is not found anywhere today accept in Christ. No building is safe. Homes are not safe. Federal buildings are not safe. School houses are not safe. Churches are not safe.
The proud look for safety in what they have built and accomplished. They revel in what they have done. The proud have taken what God has declared sacred and have used it for personal gain. The enemy of their soul is at the door and they refuse to honor the One True God. Instead, they promote their self and their abilities.
GOD DETESTS PRIDE.
Pride destroys individuals. Pride destroys nations. Pride is always selfish, self centered and self promoting. Pride always leads to the neglect of people; the poor and the oppressed. This is why God detests pride; He loves people.
Belshazzar was partying with one thousand of his “nobal” friends, while destruction was at the gate. His pride blinded him. He didn’t care about the thousands of people in the city that was oppressed and poor. God’s heart was for those in the city. Belshazzar’s heart was for himself.
THE PROUD DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL.
(Daniel 5:22-28 NIV) ""But you his son, O Belshazzar, 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} "This 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.""
God had given Belshazzar King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4) as an example of how to humble one self before a Holy God. Belshazzar was blinded. He could not understand the handwriting on the wall.
God has given us many examples throughout His Word and throughout history. He has given us the Bible. God has given the hand writing on the wall. The humble have seen and understand the hand writing on the wall just as Nebuchadnezzar had seen and understood in Daniel 4. The proud, like Belshazzar, see but do not understand. They continue to live in pride and refuse to humble themselves.
THE END RESULT OF PRIDE IS DESTRUCTION.
Pride always ends in destruction. Pride destroys individuals and pride destroys nations. God’s Word says (Daniel 5:30-31 NIV) "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."
Historians and archeologists have discovered that the Med-Persian army came into the city without a fight. The oppressed and the poor in the city opened the city gates and let the opposing army in while the proud were partying and having a good time. Death came to Belshazzar that very night. Pride will always end in destruction.
Beloved, may we understand the handwriting on the wall. May we understand God’s Word that He has given us. May we humble ourselves and always serve God and others instead of our self. May we live to bring relief to the oppressed and the poor, the sick and the needy all around us.
As true believers, we have been baptized into Jesus Christ by the Spirit. We are in Christ. There is no pride in Christ. There is not even a hint of pride in Christ. Those found in Christ, live their life for Christ and for others. They freely give of their selves. They willfully minister at the point of need in the power of the Holy Spirit. They never retire from ministry. They never give up even though the needs of others are so great and plentiful. They know that they can make a difference in their day in someone and in someway. They are giving of their selves so that others may find life and live; live not only now, but for eternity around the throne of God. Continue to decrease so that Christ may increase in you! Continue to stay humble before God and man. May His grace and mercy rule in your life and shine through how you live.
