The Writing on the
Wall, Part 2
But YOU Have not
Humbled Yourself . . .
This devotional is
the second of a 2 part series based on Dan. 5.
"But you his son,
O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew
all this." (Dan 5:22-23)
Poor Belshazzar.
He has just witnessed the supernatural appearance of a
hand that writes with its finger on the wall! He is
frightened, to say the least! To the point that the
Bible says: "His face turned pale and he was so
frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs
gave way." (Dan 5:6) He calls in his wise men,
but to no avail. Finally, Daniel is summonsed.
Now, if you had read
this story for the first time, you might wonder why God
was so harsh on someone who was not His worshipper.
I mean, we serve a merciful God. Why would he expect
reverence from a pagan idol worshipper? I mean,
wasn't Belshazzar an innocent ignorant of God's ways?
But Daniel clears up
this question. When Daniel is brought before the
king, unlike the others in the room, he shows no fear.
Though promised riches for reading the words on the wall,
Daniel pushes these aside. He begins his narrative
by giving Belshazzar a history lesson, reminding him of
how God had manifested Himself in the life of his father,
Nebuchadnezzar (See Dan. 5:18-21). Then the history
lesson turns into a rebuke: "But you his son, O
Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you
knew all this." (Dan 5:22)
Why was Belshazzar
judged harshly? Because he had already experienced
God through his grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar! He
had ample opportunity to learn about God, to learn to
trust Him, even to learn to submit to Him. But he
didn't humble himself, though he knew all of this!
My friends, those
who have had no contact with God are given more chances.
But when we've been made aware, it is our duty
to obey the voice of the Lord!
Is there something
God has been asking you to do? Something God has
been asking you to let Him change in your life?
Somewhere God has been asking you to go? Someone God
has been asking you to speak to? Don't be like Belshazzar,
who despite knowing "all this", did not humble himself
before God. Do what God has asked you to do.
Go where He has asked you to go. Speak to that
person He has asked you to speak to. But above all,
trust Him to work out all the details!
Do not fall into the
trap of Belshazzar, my friends! May it never be said
of you, as it was of him, "But you . . . have not
humbled yourself, though you knew all this." (Dan
5:22-23)
Love in Christ,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart,
Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets (
www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/ ), Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org ,