IRRATIONAL

IRRATIONAL

Belshazzar was the king of Babylon. He was perhaps the most powerful man on earth. He worshipped many pagan gods such as Anu, Marduk, Tiamat, Kingu, Enlil, Nabu, Ishtar, Ea, Enurta Etc., Etc. Etc. His father, Nebuchadnezzar, had discovered by experience, however, that there is a God in heaven more powerful than any earthly god. He is the “Living God” and is different from idols made of silver, gold, bronze, and iron. This Living God had given Daniel the interpretation of dreams that pagan priests could not receive (Dan. 2:28-49; 4:19-27). This all powerful God in Heaven had delivered Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego from a fiery furnace (Dan. 3:167-30). This All Knowing God had even caused Nebuchadnezzar to live like an animal and eat grass like an ox until he knew that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men (Dan. 4:31-33). On more than one occasion Nebuchadnezzar had issued decrees extolling the virtues of this One True God Who is superior to any other god (Dan. 3:29; 4:34-37). BELSHAZZAR KNEW ALL THIS and yet decided to deliberately insult this One True God. At a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles he ordered that the sacred vessels stolen from the Temple of God, be used to praise the gods of “gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone” (Dan. 5:4). He knew better but he did it anyhow. It was totally irrational!

THAT’S WHEN A SLEEVELESS HAND WROTE HIS DOOM IN UNFORGETTABLE LETTERS ACROSS THE WALL! “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN”.

When none of his pagan wise men could interpret these words, his queen reminded him of Daniel who served the One True God. Please read carefully these inspired words of Daniel the prophet: “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes. “But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. “This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin. “Here is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians . . . THAT VERY NIGHT BELSHAZZAR KING OF BABYLON WAS SLAIN AND DARIUS THE MEDE TOOK OVER THE KINGDOM ...” (Dan. 5:18-31).

Yes! The actions of Belshazzar were irrational and stupid. He knew better, but he insulted God just the same. He placed more value on earthly gods of silver and gold rather than worshipping the Eternal God Who offers eternal rewards which moth and rust cannot corrupt and thieves cannot break through and steal. On the last day of his life Belshazzar was weighed in the balance and found wanting. I fear there may be a little bit of Belshazzar in all of us. What if this were the last day of your life? What have you done today to honor the God of heaven? There are 168 hours in a week. How many hours this week did you spend in worshipping God and preparing to meet Him? You know you are going to die and meet God, is it not totally irrational to be like Belshazzar and die honoring earthly gods of gold, silver, wood and stone? It’s not too late! Like the thief on the cross you too can be remembered when Jesus comes in His Kingdom! DON’T BE IRRATIONAL!