READ: Dan. 5:12–24: … you … have not humbled your heart …
Daniel is summoned to interpret the writing on the wall. But before doing so, he first rebukes King Belshazzar for his terrible sin of pride and arrogance against the Lord.
Belshazzar is especially guilty, because as a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar, he knew the history. He knew how his predecessor had been humbled for the same sin —reduced to an animal— until he acknowledged God as the Most High. Only after that did Nebuchadnezzar’s kingship return.
Daniel says in verse 22: “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them.
And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.”
Belshazzar knowingly and publicly committed these grave sins against God. He had no excuse.
In this story, God also speaks directly to us in our time. The Babylon of old is a model for the Babylon of today—a godless, adulterous society, as referenced in Rev. 17. John writes (in vs.4,5): “with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. … having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations … On her forehead was written: ‘And on her forehead a name was written: mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth’”
In what ways do you recognize this situation in our time?
Sing: Ps. 7:2