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Daniel Chapter 5 is the record of the last days of the Empire of Babylon.

The message of Daniel Chapter 5 is similar to the message which God gave to David duPlessis - "God has no grandsons". It is as simple as that. Godliness cannot be inherited. It does not follow that if your parents and grandparents loved God - that you will love God.

We have to come to Jesus Christ ourselves - as individuals. We can lead others - and pray - and set the example - but ultimately each man and woman has to accept or reject Jesus Christ.

In one night, Belshazzar lost everything his grandfather had built up. Through a single act of defiance against God, things went terribly wrong and suddenly too.

Have we not seen this happen? People have thought they could have a little rebellion - just a little game of disobedience - and in the middle of the game when they thought they were going to win - they saw the writing on the wall - the result - and they had lost.

Firstly - Belshazzar got the worse of drink. He is the Emperor of Babylon.

It is October 539 B.C . - Belshazzar is a playboy prince. He is in this large banqueting hall, and the walls are made of white plaster. Opposite the king’s platform there would be a niche to hold a large candelabra - to shed light. There would be 1,000 people in this hall - it was half the size of a football pitch - and a party went wrong.

Have you ever seen things go wrong at a party? When he gets a bit of drink in him inhibitions go down - and sometimes go altogether - and you want to do things for kicks - for excitement - for thrills. The Feast gets out of control.

Belshazzar wants to something bold and brassy and naughty - and he remembers what he has seen - the cups from Jerusalem - "bring them". He wanted to use these cups to toast his gods.

I am told there can be a thrill about being blasphemous.

We must never be blasphemous and sacrilegious - just to see if we will get off with it - we won't. O this is so popular on television just now.

He is dabbling with something which has a kickback - yes, there are kicks but they can be surprising and sore. They praised false gods as they drank from the Temple cups.

Verse 5 – We have here four words that changed the world. Suddenly - fingers appear - how would you have felt? He watches - he has pushed God too far - he goes to pieces. Imagine the hush falling upon the thousand guests. He was shaking and shouting - "Bring me someone who can tell me what all this means." The party is going terribly wrong.

The Persians had invaded the country - and they were at the very gates of Babylon. Belshazzar is holding this orgy which has gone so wrong. The fingers have gone but the words remain. He tries to bribe the men - try - try - try. But they did not know who had sent the message.

This book can be so dull and boring - I'm told - to men and women who do not know the person who sent it.

Know Jesus - get to know Him better - get to know the Father through Jesus - and make friends with the Holy Spirit - and remain in the vine - stay in Christ.

Verse 10 – The Queen mother comes to the rescue. Is this Nebuchadnezzar's widow? The first words are identical to those of Nebuchadnezzar about Daniel.

She sees the king - "pull yourself together" - there is a man who can tell.

Daniel is around 86 now - ah, there is no retirement for the servants of God. God brings him back into the centre of things. We can always suddenly be raised up by Jesus. We need to remember that. Daniel is around 93when he is called to enter the lion's den.

Perhaps we have to face and go through these severest tests of our faith in our last years. Come through it like Daniel and people will talk about it for years to come - and they will give the living God praise and glory.

Verse 13 – Daniel is venerable - aged - calm - collected - experienced - and he has to come into this chaos. Daniel does not tell him what it means to begin with - but firstly preaches about his folly and stupidity. You have been unwise - silly - you have been warned - have you not the lessons following what happened to your father, before he came to God?

We too get warnings - and we can overlook these warnings - for instance about drugs.

Verse 22 – You knew all this, and you have lived as though you have learned nothing.

Verse 23 – This is what the Bible thinks about other religions - gods who cannot see - hear - or understand.

If you ever think you will get away with things - if ever you dare to think that that you will not get caught or found out - just remember what happened to "Belshazzar"!

And call upon Jesus Christ for mercy and forgiveness – and do it right away.

“Compassionate God – we look to You for mercy and forgiveness – help us to live clean lives – pure lives – holy lives – that prevent us from being stupid and silly. Lead Your Church in the narrow way – and so keep us safe and guarded and guided. Teach us from this passage – keep us ever aware of the subtle deceptive dangers and traps into which we can so easily fall. Come Holy Spirit – strengthen and equip us for the battle – in Jesus’ name. Amen.

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

Charaktocracy, Part 2