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THE HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL
(Daniel 5)
…Security, like
never before, is on the mind of Americans. Ever since 9/11 we have attempted to
insure our national and __personal__ security with all sorts of efforts.
Most of these are good and helpful, but we must always remember that our trust
is not in these devices or people…rather our __security__ is only ever in
the Lord.
…Yet, most have a
false sense of security when thinking about __God__. Most think they are
okay. Jonathan Edwards addressed this false security in his famous, “Sinners in
the hands of an __angry__ God.” Note some of his words:
…Daniel
5 reveals a King of Babylon who was also filled with a false sense of security.
Even though the Persian army had surrounded Babylon, her walls were great. She
had food enough for
__20__
years. Was this enough for the king to feel secure? God was going to judge him
and within
__24__
hours the great empire would be over.
THREE
INSIGHTS AS WE OBSERVE GOD’S JUDGMENT FALLING UPON SINFUL MEN.
Reminding us, “you can run, but you cannot hide from Him.”
I.
We, like this evil
king, can live with a __false__
sense of security. (vv1-12)
A. At this time, Babylon was
the greatest most beautiful city in the world. It was believed by all to be
impregnable.
1.
Earlier, the
Persians had defeated the Babylonian army and captured the king. They had
captured all of the surrounding area of Babylon, and their armies had surrounded
the city itself.
2.
The enormous
__walls__
and towers, along with food stock that would last for many years, all inside
felt secure. It had never fallen.
B.
This night was the evening King Belshazzar had planned his drunken feast… while
drunk, he ordered the temple vessels from Israel to be brought in and used.
1.
This
banquet was to show his contempt not only for the
__Persians__
but also for God. At least his grandfather, Neb, had never stooped this low.
2.
It was
in this situation that God used a __hand__
to write His message of judgment to this king. (v5) At this, his false sense
of security began to crack as it always does. He was so frightened that he fell
to the floor. (v6)
3.
Remember, God is not just far away…He is right
__here__.
C.
Again, not one of the scholars could interpret God’s message. (vv8-12)
II.
We, like Daniel, need
to be deliver God’s Message of judgment to lost sinful men and women. (vv13-29)
…this is
__not__
our message, it is God’s.
A.
Daniel is now well into his 80’s. He has lived for the Lord all of his days
right in the middle of evil Babylon. Yes, it is possible!!!
1.
He is brought
before this young king. (v13)
2.
He does
not need to be __bribed__
to tell the truth. (vv15-16)
3.
He
faithfully delivers the message of judgment to the king. (vv17-24)
…”the One who holds you in His hand…sent this hand to give you a message.”
B. Daniel
tells the meaning of the writing: (vv25-28) Daniel’s face reflected the deep
__peace__
of God. This is God’s judgment upon the king:
1.
Mene,
Mene…You are __numbered__
(indeed). Your days are numbered and up…
2.
Tekel…You
are weighed and found to be wanting…light.
3.
Peres…Your kingdom is __divided__
and given…to “divide” is to destroy.
III. We
see again,the absolute certainty of God’s Judgment. (vv29-31)
A.
It was October 12, 539 BC, that very night while they were feasting and dancing,
the Persians entered the city by __lowering__
the Euphrates River with a canal diverting the water to a lake. They entered
the city and found that the walls were
__not__
even protected by soldiers. What false security…. They took the city and
killed the king…
B. Nebuchadnezzar
had been given a year to repent, this king was
__not__
given another day…
C. God
brought Babylon to her end, according to His Word, and she would never be again.
D. Babylon
had conquered Jerusalem, destroyed its temple, killed its people, yet the last
official act of Babylon was to __honor__
one of these captives. “God has the
__final__
word.”
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