Text: Daniel 5

Dear Brethren,

THE PATIENCE OF GOD
God had been most patient with Nebuchadnezzar. He taught the king on 3 separate occasions who He really was. Do you remember those occasions?

1. When King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about a giant statue of himself. Daniel 2

2. When the King made a gold statue and forced people to bow to it . Daniel 3

3. When the King had a dream of a great tree being ordered to be chopped down by watchers. Daniel 4

On all these occasions, Nebuchadnezzar was given an understanding of how puny man really was, and how Great God was!

However, Belshazzar had not mastered these lessons that his father had to learn in the most humbling way! God patiently sought to show Belshazzar also that He was far greater than the "gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone" (Daniel 5:4) that he had praised in his drunkenness.

A GREAT AND TERRIFYING FEAR
Belshazzar had displayed a great deal of arrogance when he called for the sacred vessels of the Temple of Jerusalem to be brought out, to be used as mere drinking vessels. He now found that his …

" …countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him,
so that the joints of his hips were loosened
and his knees knocked against each other…"
Daniel 5:6

Belshazzar was gripped by a fear that he had never known before! God must have planted His fear into his heart, and he trembled before Him now!

CALLING OUT THE "THINK TANK"
Like Nebuchadnezzar his father, Belshazzar had his team of "astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers" (Daniel 5:7). The king promised great rewards for anyone who could interpret the meaning of the handwriting on the wall. "Now all the king's wise men came, but they could not read the writing" (Daniel 5:8). Belshazzar was going to be humbled by the Lord, as his father was!

"A MAN IN YOUR KINGDOM IN WHOM IS THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLY GOD" Daniel 5:11
What a wonderful reputation Daniel enjoyed! What a testimony of the strength and worth of his life! The Queen told Belshazzar that if he ever wanted to understand the meaning of the handwriting on the wall, he would have to ask for Daniel. God's Spirit was in him. It was that obvious.

What a challenge to be seen to be filled with the Holy Spirit!

Prayerfully,                                                                             

Pastor Charlie

First released 1st July 2001, © Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore