It's right there. It's right there.
That means we're praying hard.
Church, let's open up our Bibles to the book of Daniel once more.
The book of Daniel. If you've been in business with us or have been with us over the past several weeks,
you know we've been walking through the book of Daniel chapter by chapter.
We're almost to the end of the first half. We broke it up into two halves.
We have the narrative sections in chapters 1 through 6.
Then we're going to pause as we go through some psalms for the summer before we get to some of the scary stuff in verses 7 through 12.
Right now we're in chapter 5 of the book of Daniel.
When you found that in your Bibles, I ask, would you stand in honor of the reading of God's word, Daniel chapter 5?
King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar, his father,
had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought,
that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.
Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem.
And the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.
They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace,
opposite the lampstand.
And the king saw the hand as it wrote.
Then the king's color changed and his thoughts alarmed him.
His limbs gave way and his knees knocked together.
The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers.
The king declared to the wise men of Babylon,
Whoever reads this writing and shows me its interpretation
shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck
and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Then all the king's wise men came in,
but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed and his color changed and his lords were perplexed.
The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords,
came into the banqueting hall and the queen declared,
O king, live forever.
Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.
There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.
In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom
like the wisdom of the gods were found in him.
And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father the king,
made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,
because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams,
explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel,
whom the king named Beltshazzar.
Now let Daniel be called and he will show the interpretation.
Then Daniel was brought in before the king.
The king answered and said to Daniel,
You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah,
whom the king, my father, brought from Judah.
I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you,
and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me
to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation,
but they could not show the interpretation of the matter.
But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems.
Now, if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation,
you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck
and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Then Daniel answered and said before the king,
Let your gifts be for yourself and give your rewards to another.
Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king
and make known to him the interpretation.
O king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar, your father,
kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.
And because of the greatness that he gave him,
all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him.
Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive.
Whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled.
But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened,
so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne,
and glory was taken from him.
He was driven from among the children of mankind,
and his mind was made like that of a beast,
and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys.
He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven,
until he knew that the most high God rules the kingdom of mankind
and sets over it whom he will.
And you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart,
though you knew all of this.
But you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven.
And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you,
and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines,
have drunk wine from them.
And you have praised the gods of silver and gold,
of bronze and iron and wood and stone,
which do not see or hear or know.
But the God in whose hand is your breath,
and whose are all your ways,
you have not honored.
Then from his presence the hand was sent,
and this writing was inscribed.
And this is the writing that was inscribed.
Many, many, tekel and parson.
This is the interpretation of the matter.
Many, many, God has numbered the days of your kingdom
and brought it to an end.
Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.
Paris, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Then Belshazzar gave the command,
and Daniel was clothed with purple,
a chain of gold was put around his neck,
and a proclamation was made about him
that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
That very night,
Belshazzar, the Chaldean king,
was killed,
and Darius the Mede received the kingdom,
being about 62 years old.
The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the word of our Lord endures forever.
Would you pray with me?
Lord,
we thank you for your word.
We thank you for the gift that it is to us,
and we pray now as we open it,
as we seek you in it,
Lord, would you humble us?
Would you lead us to praise you and honor you as you deserve?
We pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
You may be seated.
Amen.
Well, Daniel chapter 5 begins with a little bit of a shock, doesn't it?
King Belshazzar is now on the scene,
and as you read this,
you kind of wonder,
well, what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar?
Last chapter,
we were discussing King Nebuchadnezzar,
his restoration.
He was doing well.
He had been humbled,
but brought back to right relationship with the Lord,
and you wonder,
well, where did King Nebuchadnezzar go?
Well, Daniel doesn't tell us.
He just goes from one king to another,
Nebuchadnezzar,
and now to Belshazzar,
and it's jarring for us,
but I think it's also helpful for us
in order to illustrate the point of the book of Daniel.
We're five chapters in now,
and I hope that you're starting to get the big picture of Daniel's book.
Daniel's aim is to teach us about the kingdom of man
and the coming kingdom of God.
He's teaching us about God's place
as the sovereign ruler of all things
and our place as God's people,
our place as citizens of his kingdom
who are exiles here in the kingdom of man.
That's the point of the book of Daniel.
In fact, if you want to know what the book of Daniel is about,
the word king or kingdom appears 150 times in these 12 chapters.
That's a good clue to us about what this book is about.
The kingdom of man, it comes and goes.
It takes many different shapes,
many different forms,
different rulers come,
and different rulers go,
but ultimately, in the kingdom of man,
nothing really changes.
The book of Daniel, it spans seven decades.
Daniel, who we first met as a teenager in chapter 1,
he's in his 80s now,
here in chapter 5.
Time has come and gone.
There's a new king in place.
Everything has changed,
but nothing has changed,
and that's exactly the point.
Here in chapter 5,
we meet the new boss,
same as the old boss.
What we see
is that that same ugly sin of pride
and disregard for the true king of kings
that characterizes the kingdom of man
in every place and in every age
has cropped up yet again.
What we see, especially here in chapter 5,
is the truth that,
in the end,
God will judge all human pride.
I'll say that again.
The point of chapter 5
is to teach us that,
ultimately,
God will judge all human pride.
So this morning,
what I want us to see here
in Daniel chapter 5
are four characteristics of human pride.
Four characteristics of human pride.
First,
pride ignores reality.
Pride ignores reality.
I think it might be helpful here
in this first point
to provide some historical context
for what's happening here in Babylon.
So zoom out of these pages
just for a moment.
Let's look to the pages of history.
The pages of history tell us
that Babylon fell to Cyrus of Persia
in October of 539 B.C.
King Nebuchadnezzar,
he died in 562 B.C.
And so if you're doing the math,
we're at least 20 to 30 years
removed from the events of chapter 4
by the time we come here to chapter 5.
Now, I know that it says
that Nebuchadnezzar is Belshazzar's father
here in the text.
It says that in verse 2,
verse 11,
verse 18.
But the word there
that's translated father,
it can also be translated,
I think it's probably better translated,
as predecessor.
Predecessor.
It doesn't necessarily
have to mean biological father.
It's a predecessor.
And so again,
the pages of history,
back this up,
historical records tell us
that after Nebuchadnezzar came,
I'm going to brutalize these names,
okay,
so just be forewarned.
After Nebuchadnezzar came
Amal Marduk.
He was assassinated.
And after Amal Marduk
came Neraglisar,
who died without any real explanation.
And then after Neraglisar
came Labashi Marduk,
who was overthrown.
And then the people
who overthrew Labashi Marduk
set up Nabonidus as king.
And Nabonidus had a son,
and his name was
Belshazzar.
And it was during the reign
of Nabonidus,
with Belshazzar his son,
as sort of a second in command,
the functional king,
that the empire of Babylon
fell to Cyrus
and to the Persians.
Now,
that historical lesson
might not mean anything
to you at all,
other than to place
what we're reading
here in actual human history.
This is God's perspective
of God's plan,
of God's work
in human history.
Now,
apparently,
it was almost unthinkable
that Babylon
would actually ever fall.
It was thought
to be indestructible.
It was well protected.
It was strong,
and it was secure.
So much so
that an ancient Greek historian
named Xenophon,
I don't know why
these guys can't have
normal American names,
but here we are.
Xenophon,
who recorded Babylon's fall,
he said that
Babylon was
well protected
from a siege,
and it had plenty
of resources of food
and drinks
stored away,
so Belshazzar felt
he could take pride
in his security.
And again,
interestingly enough,
Xenophon,
in his historical writings,
tells us that
right before
the fall of Babylon,
they threw
a giant,
drunken orgy.
Okay?
Now this is the context
that we're dealing with here.
So it's in this context
that we come to verse 1,
and verse 1 tells us
that King Belshazzar
made a great feast
for a thousand
of his lords
and drank wine
in front
of the thousand.
What kind of king
does this?
His city is under attack?
His people
are in danger,
but he completely
disregards the reality
of the situation,
and he chooses
just instead
to throw a giant party
and just eat
and drink
and celebrate
as if nothing
could ever stop
the party.
As I read this,
and as I studied
this this week,
I thought of the story
of the Titanic.
You know the story
of the Titanic.
The Titanic
was billed
as the unsinkable ship.
It's this giant,
supposedly indestructible vessel,
and so they filled it
with over 2,000 passengers,
and they set off
onto the ocean
to eat and drink
and party
until all of a sudden
what happens?
They hit an iceberg,
and the ship
begins to sink,
and this unsinkable ship
that took nearly
three years to build.
It sunk all the way
down into the depths
of the ocean
within less than
three hours.
And apparently,
if you read
the eyewitness accounts
of the sinking
of the Titanic,
the musicians
on the ship
continued to play
their music
the entire time
as the passengers
jumped and filled
the lifeboats.
And you can read
testimonies
from the survivors
who described
just how strange
it was to hear
the music
continue to play
and the party
continue to go on
even as the ship
sank into the ocean.
Yeah,
it seems strange
to us,
doesn't it?
You know,
almost unimaginable.
It's hard to imagine
throwing a party
and being so unaware
of the dangers
around us,
doesn't it?
But the fact is
that this is exactly
how people
who don't know
the Lord
go about this life,
isn't it?
The godless
worldview
thinks that
all there is
to do
is eat
and drink
and be merry
for tomorrow
we die.
You only live once.
Live it up.
Life is one big party.
I'm going to live my way.
I'm going to do
what I want.
I'm going to satisfy
whatever desire I have.
I'm going to go to bed.
I'm going to wake up
and I'm going to do it
all again
tomorrow.
The godless
worldview
thinks wrongly
that life is just
one big party
and that we are
indestructible.
But there's a word
for that.
You know what it is?
It's pride.
Pride
completely
ignores
the reality
of the situation.
It's a dangerous
and a reckless
way to live.
But we need to understand
why it's so dangerous
and that's our second
point this morning.
Second,
it's because
pride
offends
the Lord.
Second,
pride
offends
the Lord.
This is the danger.
This is the iceberg
in the water.
This is the danger
that we face
with our pride.
Pride is dangerous
because our pride
is sinful rebellion
against a holy
God.
Look there to verse 2
with me.
Belshazzar throws
this party.
He begins to
drink himself drunk
with a thousand
of his closest friends
but then he goes
a step further
and verse 2
says that
when he tasted
the wine
he commanded
that the vessels
of gold
and of silver
that Nebuchadnezzar
his father
had taken out
of the temple
in Jerusalem
be brought
that the king
and his lords
his wives
and his concubines
might drink
from them.
So they brought
them in
and verse 4
says that they
drank the wine
out of these
holy vessels
and they began
to praise
these false gods
gods of gold
and of silver
and of bronze
and of iron
and of wood
and of stone.
This is
deeply
irreverent
and offensive
to God.
Now we don't have
holy objects
like this anymore
right?
But it might be
a little bit
if I can make a parallel
it might be a little bit
like throwing a party
and somebody needs
some coasters
and you don't have
any coasters
and so instead
of using
an actual coaster
you say
well go grab
that Bible
over there
and rip off
a few of the pages
and put that down
and set your drink
on top of that
and we'll drink
on top of
the word of God.
This is
disrespect
and disregard
for God
and his ways.
These holy vessels
were meant
to be set apart
for use
in the temple
in Jerusalem.
Only the priests
could use
these holy vessels
and only in the temple
and only after
consecrating themselves
not because there's
anything special
really about
the objects themselves
but because
these objects
were set apart
for holy use.
These objects
were intended
for holy use
in the worship
of the one true God
but here
they're used
like solo cups
at a party.
Not only this
they're used
in direct connection
with idol worship.
It says they drank
from these holy vessels
and they praised
the gods of gold
and silver
and bronze
and iron
and wood
and stone.
This is a direct
assault against
the Lord.
What we need
to understand
is that
that's what
pride is.
That's what pride
does.
This is how pride
works
and it's deeply
offensive to the Lord.
Now of course
you may say
I would never
disregard
a holy object
like this.
We don't really
have these
holy objects
and I would
never
ever be so prideful
as to profane
a holy thing
like this.
Well
listen to what
Paul says
in 1 Corinthians
chapter 3
verse 17.
He says
if anyone
destroys
God's temple
God will
destroy him
for God's
temple
is holy.
You understand
that?
Let me read
that again.
If anyone
destroys
God's temple
God will
destroy him
for God's
temple
is holy.
Now listen
to this.
He says
and you
are
that
temple.
Do you hear
that?
You
are
that
temple.
You
Christian
are
the
temple
of God.
By faith
in Christ
his
Holy Spirit
dwells
in you.
You
are a
holy
vessel.
You
are set
apart
for
holy
use.
You
are
intended
to be
used
for
the
honor
and
the
glory
of
the
Lord.
You
are
much
more
sacred
and
profound
than
any
holy
object
in
the
Old
Testament.
God's
own
spirit
by faith
in
Christ
dwells
in
you.
So
no
we
may
not
ever
drink
wine
from
a
cup
intended
for
holy
use
but
Paul
says
you
are
the
temple.
Don't
profane
his
temple
by being
sexually
immoral
with your
body.
Don't
devote
your
hands
and your
feet
and your
energy
to
worthless
things.
Don't
commit
idolatry
by fixing
your heart
and your
mind
on created
things
rather than
the
creator.
All
of
these
are
direct
assaults
against
our
holy
God.
And
all
of
these
things
they
flow
downstream
from
pride.
This
is
offensive
to
our
Lord.
Belshazzar's
behavior
is
offensive
to
God
and
so
now
what
we
see
is
that
God
does
something
about
it.
Look
there
to
verse
5.
It
says
immediately
the
fingers
of
a
human
hand
appeared
and
wrote
on
the
plaster
of
the
wall
of
the
king's
palace
opposite
the
lampstand.
Apparently
the walls
of
Babylon
were made
out of
white
gypsum
which
would
have
made
a
perfect
blank
canvas
for
this
hand
to
write
a
message
for
Belshazzar.
And
so
the
king
sees
this
mysterious
hand
as it
wrote
in
verse
6
it
says
that
I
just
have
in
my
mind
this
image
of
a
cartoon
character
who's
just
terrified
his
legs
are
shaking
his
limbs
are
loose
and
literally
the
phrase
there
his
limbs
gave
way
literally
that's
translated
the
knots
of
his
loins
were
loosed
y'all
think
about
that
for
a
minute
the
knots
of
his
loins
were
loosed
it
means
that
the
king
is
so
afraid
probably
so
full
of
alcohol
he
sees
this
divine
hand
riding
on
the
wall
and
he
soils
himself
he's
humiliated
this
is a
humiliating
moment
for
the
king
and
at
this
point
the
party
is
officially
over
now
imagine
the
scene
of
a
college
party
you're
going
to
have
to
use
your
imagination
I
know
none
of
y'all
have
ever
been
to
anything
like
this
use
your
imagination
as
best
as
you
can
but
you
know
that
there's
plenty
going
on
here
that
shouldn't
be
happening
everything's
good
everybody's
having a
good time
the music's
on
we're
dancing
we're
drinking
we're
having
fun
and then
all of
a
sudden
the
lights
turn
on
the
music
stops
you
look
up
towards
the
door
and
you
see
the
police
have
arrived
at
the
party
the
party
is
over
at
this
point
right
why
because
a
higher
authority
to whom
you
will
have
to
give
an
account
has
shown
up
at
the
party
and
you
begin
to
count
off
all
the
ways
that
you
know
that
you're
guilty
and
you
begin
to
realize
that
I
have
done
wrong
somebody
higher
and more
powerful
and more
authoritative
than me
has come
and I
am going
to have
to talk
to them
about
everything
I've
been
doing
and they
realize
here
that
they're
busted
the thing
is
he should
have
known
better
right
he should
have
known
better
but that's
the third
characteristic
of pride
here
third
pride
never
learns
pride
never
learns
I
wonder if
you notice
how similar
the stories
of
Nebuchadnezzar
and Belshazzar
have been
you notice
those similarities
Belshazzar
has done
exactly
what
Nebuchadnezzar
did
just like
Nebuchadnezzar
they both
saw a
divine
message
just like
Nebuchadnezzar
they both
called in
all the
wise men
of Babylon
to come
and interpret
the message
just like
Nebuchadnezzar
he offered
them up
all these
rewards
and honors
for anybody
who could
interpret
the message
and the
interpretation
and just
like what
happened
with Nebuchadnezzar
the wise men
were they
successful
no
they
failed
in interpreting
the message
they don't
know what
to do
but it
says that
the queen
remembered
something
verse 11
she said
there's a
man in
your kingdom
in whom
is the
spirit
of the
holy
gods
and
king
Nebuchadnezzar
promoted
him over
all these
wise men
that you're
listening to
because he
was able
to understand
dreams
and interpret
riddles
and solve
all sorts
of problems
why don't
you go
get
Daniel
so he
did
verse 13
it says
Daniel was
brought in
before the
king
and the
king
says
none of
my men
have been
able
to help
me
but I
I've
heard
that
you're
able
and if
you can
verse 16
says
I will
honor you
clothe you
with purple
and you'll
get a gold
chain around
your neck
and I'll
make you
the third
ruler
in the
kingdom
but look
how Daniel
responds
verse 17
he says
let your
gifts be
for yourself
and give
your rewards
to another
nevertheless
I will
read the
writing
to the
king
and make
known to
him
the
interpretation
O king
the most
high
God
gave
Nebuchadnezzar
your father
kingship
and greatness
and glory
and majesty
and because of
the greatness
that he gave
him all
peoples
nations
and languages
trembled
and feared
before him
whom he
would
he killed
and whom
he would
he kept
alive
whom he
would
he raised
up
and whom
he would
he humbled
but when
his heart
was lifted
up
and his
spirit
was hardened
so that he
dealt
proudly
he was
brought
down
from his
kingly
throne
and his
glory
was taken
from him
this is
last week
he was driven
from among the
children of
mankind
and his
mind was
made like
that of
a beast
and his
dwelling
was with
the wild
donkeys
he was
fed
grass
like an
ox
and his
body
was wet
with the
dew
of heaven
until he
knew
this is
the point
that the
most high
God
rules the
kingdom
of mankind
and sets
over it
whom he
will
that was
the lesson
God taught
Nebuchadnezzar
from last
week
God is
ultimately
king
not
you
why is he
telling all
this to
Belshazzar
it's because
Belshazzar
hasn't learned
the lesson
he knew all
of this
but history is
repeating itself
here and he
should have
known better
verse 22
it says
you his son
Belshazzar
have not humbled
your heart
though you
knew all of
this
but you
have lifted
up yourself
against the
Lord of
heaven
and the
vessels of
his house
have been
brought in
before you
and you
and your
lords
your wives
your concubines
have all
drunk wine
from them
you've praised
the gods
of silver
and gold
of bronze
and iron
and wood
and stone
which don't
see or hear
or know
but the true
God
the true
God
in whose
hand is
your breath
the true
God
in whose
hand is
all your
ways
the true
God
who raised
you up
to this
position
and the
true God
who can
bring you
down
you have
not
honored
him
in other
words
you haven't
learned a
thing
you've heard
the quote
those who
fail to learn
from history
are doomed
to repeat
it
right
Belshazzar
hasn't
learned
a thing
from history
there's a
similar quote
the German
philosopher
George
Hegel
he says
the only
thing that
we learn
from history
is that
we learn
nothing
from history
and Belshazzar
sadly
proves that
to be true
as well
church
what I want
us to
understand
is that
the only
reason why
we don't
learn
anything
from history
is because
of our
pride
doesn't
learn
why
because pride
knows
a pride
a prideful
heart
cannot
be
taught
one of
the
hallmarks
one of
the
trademarks
of pride
is an
unteachable
spirit
it's an
unwillingness
to learn
from others
it's a spirit
that puts
yourself above
everybody else
and says
I know
better than
you
I can't
learn from
you
I know
more than
you
and it's a
spirit that
doesn't want
to learn
from the
mistakes
or the
victories
or the
experiences
of others
it says
that would
never happen
to me
I wouldn't
make that
same mistake
I would
never do
what they
did
I'd never
say what
they did
that never
happened
to me
I'm above
what's happened
to them
pride
doesn't
learn
but humility
humility on the
other hand
understands that
we are
not
above
them
as we
read this
passage
humility
ought to
understand
that you
and I
are not
above the
same prideful
sin as
Belshazzar
here in this
passage
you and I
are not
above the
same pride
that ran
through
Adam
that ran
through
Israel
that ran
through
Nebuchadnezzar
that ran
through
Belshazzar
that same
spirit
of pride
runs through
every single
one of us
we have to
understand this
we have to
humble ourselves
to learn
from the
experiences
of others
especially
those that
are recorded
from us
by the
word of
God
himself
this is
why Paul
tells us
in 1 Corinthians
chapter 10
he says
these things
these Old
Testament
things
the experiences
of Israel
these things
took place
as examples
for us
that we
might not
desire evil
as they
did
do not
be idolaters
as some
of them
were
as it
is written
the people
sat down
to eat
and drink
and rose
up to
play
we must
not indulge
in sexual
immorality
as some
of them
did
and 23
thousand
fell
in a
single
day
we
must
not
put
Christ
to the
test
as some
of them
did
and were
destroyed
by serpents
nor grumble
as some
of them
did
and were
destroyed
by the
destroyer
now
these
things
happened
to them
as an
example
but they
were written
down
for our
instruction
on whom
the end
of the
ages
has come
do you hear
what he's
saying
all of
these
things
that have
happened
in human
history
all of
these
workings
of God
throughout
the pages
of scripture
are written
down
for our
instruction
that we
might
humble
ourselves
and learn
and not
repeat
the mistakes
that they've
made
because
if we
don't
humble
ourselves
church
we'll
soon
find out
that
fourth
the
fourth
and
final
characteristic
of
human
pride
fourth
pride
ends
in
judgment
all
pride
ends
in
judgment
there
to
verse
24
with
me
says
then
from his
presence
the hand
was sent
and this
writing
was
inscribed
and this
is the
writing
that was
inscribed
many
tekel
and
parson
you know
there's
so much
depth
of what's
written
here
there's
meaning
on top
of meaning
on top
of meaning
on top
of meaning
there is
a quadruple
entendre
really
of what
is being
written
here
I don't
possibly
have the
time
to
unpack
all of
it
for you
this
morning
but Daniel
gets
right to
the heart
of it
he says
many
God
has
numbered
the days
of your
kingdom
and he's
brought it
to an end
the party
is over
and it may
look
from a human
perspective
like a
like a human
takeover
here by
Cyrus
but this
message
is intended
to show
you
God
is showing
you
that
he
is
bringing
judgment
upon
you
why
because
tekel
you have
been
weighed
in the
balances
and found
wanting
that's
a terrifying
thought
isn't it
you know
a lot
of
religious
systems
are
built
on this
idea
of
some
sort
of
cosmic
scale
of
good
and bad
that if
you just
do enough
good
to outweigh
the bad
then you're
okay with
God
but if
you don't
if you do
more bad
than good
and the
scale tips
against you
then you're
in danger
with God
you're not
in good
standing
with God
and let me
just tell
you that
is not
Christianity
at all
that's not
how this
works with
God
at all
the Bible
tells us
that if
you even
have the
slightest
little grain
of sand
of sin
against you
dripped onto
that cosmic
scale of
justice
it is
totally
weighed
against you
if you
have one
tiny
sliver
of pride
in your
heart
you are
not
okay
with
God
you are
found
wanting
before
a
holy
God
and the
same
judgment
could be
read
against
us
that all
of us
have
sinned
and fallen
short
of the
glory
of God
all of
us
have
earned
judgment
for our
sin
that's
what
pride
is
leading
us
toward
our
pride
which
all
of
us
every
one
of
us
is
guilty
of
it
only
leads
to
judgment
and
here
God
writes
on the
wall
to tell
Belshazzar
his time
has
come
now
verse
28
your
kingdom
is
divided
and
is
given
to
the
Medes
and
the
Persians
that's
the
message
Daniel's
done
it
again
hasn't
he
verse
29
says
that
Belshazzar
he
gave
the
command
against
Daniel's
wishes
and
he
clothed
Daniel
with
purple
he
gave
him
a
chain
around
his
neck
he
made
him
the
third
ruler
of
the
kingdom
Daniel
was
promoted
but look
what
happened
to
Belshazzar
verse
30
says
that
very
night
Belshazzar
the
Chaldean
king
was
killed
and
Darius
the
Mede
receives
the
kingdom
being
about
62
years
old
and
we've
seen
this
play out
before
haven't
we
but
once
again
we
get
this
picture
this
foretaste
of
what's
to
come
as
God's
people
endure
God's
people
are
exalted
and
God's
enemies
are
brought
down
and
God's
enemies
are
judged
Belshazzar's
pride
earned
the
judgment
and
the
wrath
of
God
and
it
came
quickly
didn't
it
the
night
began
with
a
party
and
it
ends
with
a
new
king
and
a
new
phase
of
the
kingdom
of
man
meet
the
new
boss
same
as
the
old
boss
I
want
to
point
this
out
to
you
I
wonder
if
you
noticed
this
that
the
story
of
Nebuchadnezzar
and the
story
of
Belshazzar
are
so
similar
so
many
similarities
they
shared
the
same
sin
of
boastful
pride
did
you
catch
that
but
did
you
catch
the
difference
between
the
two
stories
Nebuchadnezzar
was
prideful
he
boasted
sinfully
against
a
holy
God
and
how
did
God
respond
to
Nebuchadnezzar
how did
God
respond
to
him
God
showed
him
mercy
this
was
last
week
the
Lord
showed
mercy
to
a
prideful
sinner
he
humbled
him
and
he
restored
him
to
his
right
mind
and
he
gave
him
a
heart
to
praise
the
Lord
and
he
used
him
to
proclaim
his
greatness
to
every
tribe
tongue
and
nation
God
was
merciful
to
the
pride
of
Nebuchadnezzar
but
look
what
happens
with
Belshazzar
the
same
sinful
pride
the
same
offense
against
a
holy
God
yet
immediately
God
strikes
him
down
in
judgment
no
restoration
no
mercy
no
seven
periods
of
time
no
tomorrow
to
repent
did
you
catch
that
why
does
one
get
mercy
and
the
other
get
judgment
if
this
seems
harsh
to
you
or
unfair
to
you
I
think
Daniel
would
remind
us
that
God
doesn't
owe
anyone
mercy
God
is
well
within
his
rights
to
judge
our
sin
God
does
not
owe
anyone
mercy
God
does
not
owe
any
sinner
one
more
second
of
breath
one
more
second
of
life
one
more
experience
of
joy
or
pleasure
he
doesn't
owe
you
one
more
tomorrow
to
repent
I
don't
know
why
God
chose
to
be
merciful
to
Nebuchadnezzar
but to
judge
Belshazzar
I
don't
know
the
sin
was
the
same
I
don't
know
why
one
gets
mercy
and
one
gets
judgment
that's
God's
prerogative
I
don't
know
but it
tells us
in Romans
chapter 9
doesn't
he
I
will
have
mercy
on
whom
I
will
have
mercy
and
I
will
harden
whom
I
will
harden
that's
his
choice
not
mine
what I
do
know
is that
all
sin
deserves
judgment
no one
is owed
mercy
so we
shouldn't be
shocked
we
shouldn't be
shocked
that God
judges
Belshazzar's
sin
even
immediately
for his
sin
we should
be shocked
that God
showed
mercy
to
Nebuchadnezzar
we should
be shocked
that God
is patient
towards us
and that he
shows sinners
like us
mercy
for our
sin
we should
be amazed
by the
patience
and the
loving kindness
of God
towards sinners
but we
shouldn't
expect
his
patience
to last
forever
and we
shouldn't
presume
upon the
patience
and the
kindness
and the
forbearance
of God
what does
Paul say
his
kindness
is meant
to lead
you to
what
to
repentance
church
this passage
is a
warning call
to those
who are
walking
in sin
it is a
warning call
to those
who are
walking
in pride
we fool
ourselves
to think
that tomorrow
I'll get
right with
God
give me
one more
day
give me
one more
hour
give me
one more
party
and then
I'll get
right with
God
we are
not
owed
tomorrow
we should
not presume
upon the
kindness
mercy
and the
patience
of God
his
kindness
is meant
to lead
us
to
repentance
we need
to learn
the lesson
from
Belshazzar
church
that you
can choose
to live
your life
like it's
one big
party
but the
party
will not
last
forever
the time
will come
when every
one of us
will stand
before a
holy God
and we
will be
called
to account
before him
and if you
are still
in your
sin
you will
be found
lacking
but here's
the good
news for
us
church
God
himself
has
provided
a way
to escape
his
judgment
this is
the gospel
this is
the good
news of
the gospel
God
himself
has
provided
a way
for us
for sinners
like us
to escape
his wrath
against our
pride
and our
sin
make no
mistake
our pride
will be
judged
it must
be judged
God
is just
all sin
will be
judged
but we've
been given
a way
of escape
the judgment
against our
sin
it can either
come against
you
fall upon
you
or it can
come against
Christ Jesus
in your place
it can fall
upon you
the wrath of
God
and the
justice of
God
against your
sin
can come
upon you
tomorrow
today
next week
next year
I don't
know
when
or
Christ
Jesus
can take
your place
as a
substitute
for your
sin
if you
would
escape
the wrath
of God
if you
would
escape
the judgment
of God
against your
sin
there is
only
one
way
turn
to Christ
Jesus
the gospel
is the good
news
that the
son of
God
himself
has come
to bear
the wrath
of God
against
us
against
our
sin
that he
endured
the punishment
that we
have earned
that he
humbled
himself
to bear
the penalty
for our
pride
and now
he lives
and reigns
in resurrection
to offer
eternal
life to
any
sinner
who would
come to
him in
faith
that's
good news
for us
isn't
it
friend
this
story
began
with a
party
and it
ended
in
judgment
and for
many
that's
the way
they
treat
this
life
the
perfect
description
of where
their
life
is
headed
but it
doesn't
have
to be
that
way
for the
believer
we know
with confidence
that in
the end
Babylon
the great
will be
judged
and at the
end of the
story
the last
chapters
of the
book
of
Revelation
it shows
us
that in
the end
when Christ
returns
all of
God's
people
those who
have
repented
of their
sins
and trusted
in Christ
Jesus
whose sins
have been
paid for
at the
cross of
Christ
all of
God's
people
will join
in a
party
called the
wedding supper
of the
lamb
and we
will eat
and we
will drink
and we
will celebrate
and we
will worship
we will rejoice
in what Christ
has done
for us
to the
glory of
God
for the
rest of
eternity
that's
what's
ahead of
you
Christian
you will
want to
be at
that
party
do not
let your
pride
keep you
from coming
to him
let's
pray
Lord we
long for
that day
when Christ
will come
and we
rejoice
and praise
you
for the
work of
Christ
on the
cross
to pay
for my
sin
to pay
the wrath
of God
against my
pride
Lord we
pray if there
are any
here who
don't know
you who
are still
walking in
sinful rebellion
against you
Lord would you
humble them
now that they
might cast
themselves
completely
trusting in
Christ alone
for their
salvation
and Lord we
pray
Father that
we would
live each
day today
in light of
that day
when the
Lord will
return and
make all
things right
we love
you
we pray
this in
Jesus name
amen