SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/16/2013 7:02 PM
My Worship Time Focus:
Belshazzar—Judgment Defied
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Daniel 5:1-4
Message of the
verses: In today’s SD we will begin
to look at the fifth chapter of the book of Daniel as promised at the beginning
of the month. The fifth chapter of
Daniel is a very interesting chapter as in it we see the end of the Babylonian
Empire, the head of gold as seen in Daniel chapter two. It happens very suddenly and in it we will
eventually look at how its end can compare with the position that the United
States is in at this time in its history.
Babylon was judged for its sin, its many sins and we will name them at
some point in our study of this fifth chapter of Daniel.
As we follow the outline that Dr. Wiersbe has in his
commentary we will look at the different persons who are involved in this
chapter with Belshazzar being the first.
Let us first look at some of the history of Babylon to see how it was
that this man Belshazzar came to power:
“The great King Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B. C. and was succeeded by
his son Evil-Merodach, who reigned for only two years. His brother-in-law Neriglissar murdered him in
560, usurped the throne, and ruled for four years. Then a weak puppet ruler ) Labashi-Marduk)
held the throne for two months, and finally Nabonidus became king and reigned
from 556 to 539. Historians believe
Nabonidus was married to a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar and was the father of
Belshazzar. Nabonidus ruled the
Babylonian Empire but Belshazzar; his son was coregent and ruled the city of
Babylon.”
End note from Dr. Wiersbe: “At least twenty-three years elapsed between
Daniel 4 and Daniel 5, and Daniel 7 and 8 occurred during those years in the
first and third years of Belshazzar’s reign (7:1; 8:1). From the king’s dream in chapter 2 and the
vision in chapter 7, Daniel knew the succession of empires and that the Medes
and Persians would conquer the city.” We
must remember that the book of Daniel is not written in chronological order,
and the key to understand when each chapter is taking place is the first verse
of each chapter.
Indulgence (Daniel 5:1): “1 Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.” As we look at the history that surrounded this day that we are studying, the fall of the Babylonian Empire, we see Belshazzar giving a great party and getting drunk. Why would he be doing something like this when the army of the Medes and Persians were surrounding the great city of Babylon? The city walls were 87 feet wide and over three hundred feet high. The Euphrates River ran through the city, giving it an unlimited supply of water, and the city encompassed some fifteen miles of land so they had a lot of food, actually twenty years worth of food. The people felt safe where they were, but Psalm 33:10-11 says “10 The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.”
As we look at this feast that is going on during this
last night of the Babylonian Empire we can think of 1John 2:15-17 “15 Do not love the world nor the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh and
the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the
Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who
does the will of God lives forever.” We
can also look ahead to what will take place in the tribulation period and how
once again Babylon will be destroyed.
The book of Revelations gives two chapters in the destruction of
Babylon, for there are two kinds of Babylon’s, the religious type and the
political type of Babylon.
We will continue to look at these first four verses in
the next SD.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: It is good to
know that God is in charge and has a plan not only for the nations, but for
individuals like me.
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 the mountains slip into the heart of the
sea; 3 though the waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at is
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 made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He
raised His voice, the earth melted.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “Rome” (Acts 28:16).
Today’s Bible
Question: “Who was the son that helped
his mother deceive his father?
Answer in tomorrow’s SD.
7/16/2013 07:52 PM
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