The Arrogance and Pride of Belshazzar that caused him all

The Arrogance and Pride of Belshazzar that caused him all.

In Daniel 5, we read of King Belshazzar giving a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles. He gave orders to use the cups from the temple in Jerusalem to drink the wine from. As all of them drank from the cups, they also worshipped the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. It was utter disrespect towards the true and living God. Firstly, he did not deem the cups from the temple as sacred. Secondly, while drinking and indulging in his revelry, he worshipped idols.

Because of this, God's judgement came heavily upon him. The fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall. This caused great fear in the King, who then asked all his wise men to interpret the writing and whoever could do so would be made third highest ruler. However, none could interpret. As the days go by, the King became more and more frightened.

The Queen remembered that none could be compared to Daniel and how he interpreted the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar, his father. Hence, Belshazzar called him in to interpret the writing promising honors for him if he manages to do so.

Daniel was thus called in. He obey the King's command to interpret the writings but not before first proclaiming that he had no interests at all in the riches and honor promised to him. He knew that the ability to interpret the writing came from God and not himself. He also did not want to defile himself with the money. He had overcome greed.

When Daniel saw the writing, he knew what it mean. He begins a harsh rebuke to Belshazzar. Telling him about his father's previous majesty and power, but when he became arrogant and hardened with pride, God stripped him of his glory and turned him into a mad animal like man till he acknowledged that God is the true sovereign one.

But Belshazzar though having knew all these, have not humbled himself but instead worshipped idols and disrespected God. To words to Belshazzar are thus the words of judgement, that God has number the days of his reign and will bring it to an end. He is judged to be sinful and his kingdom will be given to the Medes and Persians.

That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.

Learning Lessons:

- Remember the lessons of our fathers.
- Do not be arrogant and prideful but acknowledge that God is sovereign over all.