Daniel
5 – Feast of Belshazzar
Belshazzar’s
drunken party has a notorious place in history. The royal celebrations of a
conquering dynasty became a final gasp before defeat. Belshazzar set his tables
that night with the precious items taken by the Babylonians’ victorious armies.
Among those silver and golden bowls and cups were many taken from God’s temple
in Jerusalem. Those dedicated utensils were filled with party wine. God’s
property was dishonored.
While
the king and a thousand of his officials engaged in a drunken bash at the royal
palace, the invading army of the Medes and Persians surround the city. At the
high point of the festivities, the fingers of God wrote a message of judgment
on the wall of the palace. The message indicated that the Babylonian Empire
would fall to the Medes and Persians that very night. History records the fact
that the invading army diverted the course of the Euphrates River, tunneled
under the walls of Babylon, and took the city without any resistance. In their
state of drunkenness, Belshazzar and his officials were incapable of resisting
the invaders.
Most
drug or alcohol abusers discover sooner or later that their surrender to those controlled
substances renders them defenseless. Their decision-making abilities suffer
badly. Choices that appear wise through a drunken haze or drug-induced high
often prove tragic. Temporary sobriety usually provides more of an opportunity
to survey the disaster than to repair what has been damaged or lost. Right in
the middle of enjoying everything he thought he had, Belshazzar awoke to
discover he had nothing. His life went from unmanageable to unlivable in one
night. He lost both the kingdom and his life.
Countless
others have followed Belshazzar’s way of life. They may not have had as much to
lose, but they lost it all anyway. Self-abusive lives like Belshazzar’s always
end sadly. But those who surrender to God and live for Him receive a gift of
eternal life that they can never lose. They never have to face the handwriting
on the wall.
Please
read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.
If
you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.
Nelson’s
Quick Reference Commentary. J Vernon McGee Thru the Bible
Dr.
David Jeremiah Study Bible.
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