Scripture to Read: Daniel 5:17–30
In Daniel 5:17–24, God used Daniel to remind Belshazzar of God’s work in Nebuchadnezzar’s life and how God humbled Nebuchadnezzar when Nebuchadnezzar got arrogant and boasted about Babylon being his kingdom which he had built. God led Daniel to tell Belshazzar this in Daniel 5:22–23, “Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, 23 but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not glorified.” Even though Belshazzar knew all that had happened to Nebuchadnezzar, he chose to live in complete defiance of God. Therefore, God sent the hand to write His message to Belshazzar. In Daniel 5:25–28, we find the interpretation of what was written. God clarified that Belshazzar’s time was about to end, and the kingdom he thought was his would be “divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” God hates pridefulness. God tells us in 1 Peter 5:5–6, “…all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” We must constantly choose humility.
Challenge & Application
• How did God use Daniel in the life of Belshazzar?
• What was Belshazzar’s problem, and why is this something we must avoid at all times?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!