Main Idea: The God who holds our breath is worthy of all honor.
A Look at the Text:
Years passed by, and the leadership of Babylon had changed during that time. Today’s text opens with a new king on the Babylonian throne, Belshazzar, although he was ruling alongside his father, Nabonidus.[1]
Belshazzar decided to host a great feast for over one thousand guests (Dan. 5:1). In addition to the feasting was much drinking, where the partiers enjoyed wine from the vessels of gold that were plundered from Yahweh’s temple in Jerusalem (Dan. 5:2-3). During the party, the Babylonian gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone were extolled (Dan. 5:4).
Then, suddenly, a human hand miraculously appeared and wrote a message for the king on the wall (Dan. 5:5). A message that turned the party into a nightmare, as the king didn’t know what it said (Dan. 5:6-9).
In response, the queen told the king of Daniel, the dream-interpreter who had formerly helped Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 5:11-12). He was one who had the spirit of the gods within him and could give the king an answer (Dan. 5:11,14).
Daniel was summoned, and Daniel interpreted the writing.
First, Daniel recounted how the Most High God had given to Nebuchadnezzar greatness, glory, and majesty and subsequently humbled him for his pride (Dan. 5:18-21). Yet, Belshazzar, knowing these things, didn’t humble himself (Dan. 5:22). Even more, as he was honoring his manmade gods, he was using the golden vessels that belonged to the very God who had humbled the king’s predecessor (Dan. 5:23).
Tragically, the God who held his very breath was not honored by the king (Dan. 5:23. As a result, God sent him an unwanted message: the days of his kingdom were numbered and would be brought to an end, and the kingdom would be given to the Medes and Persians (Dan. 5:24-28).
While Belshazzar proceeded to honor Daniel for his interpretation (Dan. 5:29), it didn’t overturn the prophetic message. That very night he was struck down, and Babylon would be no more (Dan. 5:30-31).
Bringing it Home:
Human beings have a natural bent towards pride. It’s easy for us to take credit for the blessings of God in our lives. We work hard for what we have. The gifts, talents, or abilities that we possess are the result of our hard effort and diligence to practice.
Yet apart from God, we would have no breath to begin with. Apart from His present sustaining of not only the whole cosmos but of our very lives, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish a single thing! As the Lord Jesus once so powerfully asserted, “Apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).
King Belshazzar learned quickly that the Most High is not only the living God in contrast to his idols, but He is the very life-source for humanity. Our breath is held in His hands.
As such, we must be diligent to honor Him. To glorify Him. To give Him the praise that is due to His name, for while we may accomplish much in our own eyes, if He didn’t first give us breath, none of it would be possible.
Challenge:
Do I see myself as truly helpless apart from God?
[1] John H Walton, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament): Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009), 542.