SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
7/17/2013 9:12 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
Belshazzar-Judgment Defied PT-2
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Daniel 5:2-4
Message of the
verses: In yesterday’s SD we looked
at Daniel 5:1 and remarked about the indifference of Belshazzar, and now will
move on to look at verses 2-4 in this SD.
Irreverence (Daniel 5:2-4): “2
When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the gold and silver
vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was
in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines
might drink from them. 3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken
out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and
his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank the wine
and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.”
It had been a while since Nebuchadnezzar had conquered
the people of Judah and when a king conquered a nation during that time in
history they would go into the temple of their god or gods and take things from
it and then put it into the temple of their god or gods. They did this in order to show that their god
was greater than their opponent’s gods.
The thing the Babylonians did not understand is that it was in the will
of God for them to conquer the children of Israel, for God was bringing
punishment upon them because they were not following Him.
Now we see in this section of Scripture that Belshazzar
was defying God by bringing out the articles that Nebuchadnezzar had brought
back from Jerusalem that were found in the temple and were used to worship the
Lord with. If we go back to the book of
Exodus we will see that God gave orders to Moses to make different articles
that would be used to worship Him, and it was some of the articles that
Belshazzar was using to drink his wine from.
I think that it is safe to say that these articles were not used in this
manner before.
Belshazzar knew how special these articles were and he
knew that his grandfather had proclaimed on different occasions that the God
whom the Jewish people worshiped was the one true God and the entire nation
should reference Him, so it is unclear whether or not Belshazzar was doing this
because he was already drunk or just to defile the Lord. At any rate he did it and would pay for it
with his life. Not only were they
drinking their wine from these cups that were used to worship the Lord with,
but they were praising the gods of stones and wood in using them, and this was
another nail that they were putting in their coffin. Dr. Wiersbe writes in his conclusion to this
section by stating “But people can defy the will of God and blaspheme His name
only so long, and then the hand of the Lord begins to move.” Belshazzar will see the hand of the Lord
moving and he will be frightened out of his mind very shortly.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: “Ga. 6:7 Do not
be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also
reap.”
My Steps of Faith for Today: Proverbs 3:5-6.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 46:1-6
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though
the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the
sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its
swelling pride. Selah. 4 There is a
river whose streams make glade the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the
most high. 5 God is in the midst of her,
she will not be moved, God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations make and uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He
raised His voice, the earth melted.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “Jacob” (Genesis 27:6).
Today’s Bible
Question: “Which book stresses the
thought that faith without works is dead?
Answer in tomorrow’s SD.
7/17/2013 9:40 AM
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