Belshazzar

AN 5{It is no uncommon weakness in the child of God, that the non-reception of the truth by others leads him to question it. Aroused to the apprehension of the coming of the Lord, he is chilled by the torpor and indifference of those about him. This sensibility to external impression may arise, because walking too little in the power of individual communion. The Spirit's witness through the word is the fullest persuasion; and we depart from His guidance when the heart asks for collateral testimony. But the word of God has obvious teaching in this respect. "All scripture is given by inspiration." The antediluvian world was heedless of the preaching of Noah. "They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all." So in Sodom, when Lot went out and spake unto his sons-in-law, which married his daughters, and said, "Up I get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked 'unto his sons-in-law" (Gen. 19:14¹⁴And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. (Genesis 19:14)). Indifference to the testimony of God, and the warnings of His word, betokens the proximity of judgment. We who believe in the speedy advent of our Lord, will do well to take heed that nothing from without, or even from within, distract the attention from the solemn cry, " Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!" The warning brought many into active service, and drew them outside the camp, bearing the reproach. The word reached their consciences. They sought to be prepared. But fellowship has its snares as well as its blessings. Much of joy, and no little of danger. Individual energy may give rise to corporate fellowship; but the latter may decline into individual apathy. Association may deaden, as well as revive.

The position which God gave to many of His people in our day, was taken when escaping from a chaos of confusion. They had light, and a measure of faith, and this insured a blessing. Sympathy of soul with others about the Lord (unless the eye is kept single), may degenerate into sympathy with one another, and unity occupy the soul instead of the object of union; and thus individuality be crushed for a season-conscience seared, and the torpor of others, affect ourselves. "But the word of God is quick and powerful." Blessed that it is so!

It is a solemn narrative which is brought before us in the judgment of Belshazzar. A tragic drama in human history! Portraying in vivid colors the careless world on the brink of ruin. Ages have rolled on in unbroken succession, striking events have occurred in the annals of mankind; but so concise a narrative of haughty pride, on the verge of destruction, is hardly paralleled.

Belshazzar had positive warning, and this was disregarded. "A more convenient season" (Acts 24:25²⁵And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25)), is the plea of some; a pressure of engagements, the apology of others. Sudden destruction is the doom of procrastination. "Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed" (Prov. 13:13¹³Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. (Proverbs 13:13)). The habit of good may be gradual in attainment, the habit of evil gradual in its development; unlooked-for results occur in both. "Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?" At one time, we may blush at the thought; at another be hardened for the act. "Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins."

The prophet Daniel brings home to the conscience of Belshazzar, that he had slighted reproof and scorned instruction. In verses 18 and 21, God's dealings with Nebuchadnezzar are noticed, and the summary in verse 22, " And thou, his son, O Belshazzar, Nast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this." How effectually does this short notice unravel the history! How it recalled to remembrance the marvelous dealings of the God of Israel with his predecessor on the throne, in the person of Nebuchadnezzar! Surely the chart of his life was retraversed in that moment of agony. How quickened his memory! How vivid the past! The mysterious ways of Jehovah! His singular power! His arm of protection thrown over his captives in Babylon! In bondage, yet occupying a palace! Hated and despised, yet respected and powerful! Mixed up with the nation, yet dwelling alone! The seed of the patriarchs, expelled their inheritance, because they had broken God's covenant, yet preserved and exalted because of God's promise!

Gorgeous splendor surrounded the youth of Belshazzar. The Chaldean empire, with Babylon for its capital, had just reached the zenith of its glory. A succession of conquests, under renowned leaders, and the permission of God in His providence, had brought the then known world, to the feet of the dynasty of Babylon. The head of gold was significant of this. Doubtless the education of Belshazzar had regard to his position and destiny. Near the of this greatness, events were sufficiently green in man's memory to rouse emulation. A stirring time gives birth to active energies. The symbols of empire and trophies of victory had not faded with age. Power was consolidated; and the struggle to obtain it, unforgotten as yet, and remembered to give joy, amid the security which success had accomplished. The empire was won, and won for Belshazzar.

Imagination has no place in the records of Scripture. The facts are so full they occupy space in the heart of a man, and coloring them is only to crowd in what is needless. Yet the youth of Belshazzar, and his mind in his youth, would not lack culture. Chaldean historians would bring before him the records of his race, and their contests with Israel. Stern battles had been fought, victories won, and defeats sustained. Sudden panic in the moment of triumph! A summons to halt, in the same breath with the charge to advance! Mysterious power destroying whole hosts in a night! This and far more, the prince would hear in his boyhood, and Eastern coloring would give a charm to the narrative. Then, there was the cleansing of Naaman the leper, the siege of the prophet in Dothan, the defeat of Sennacherib, and the midnight alarm of the Syrian camp in the days of Ahab. Men can afford to amplify danger, when they have succeeded in overcoming it, and gather fresh reasons for triumph in the resolute resistance and determined valor, they had finally subdued. But more to the purpose in the life of Belshazzar is recorded in the chapter before us.

The children of Israel, of the blood royal of her kings, were inmates of the palace of Nebuchadnezzar. Strange wisdom was theirs. To tell of the past is human; to foretell the future, divine. The Chaldean sages were baffled; the youth of Israel triumphed. The dream of Nebuchadnezzar had departed from, him (chapter 2)—the impression remained. Yet who could bring it fresh to his memory? The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said-O There is not a man upon earth that can skew the king's matter" (verse 10); but God revealed it to the seed of His chosen (verse 19). Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night-vision (verse 46). And " the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and worshipped '; and " the king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a Revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret" (verses 48 and 49). Surely Daniel found that " in God's favor was life, and His loving-kindness better than life." The captives were lords in the king's household.

The 3rd chapter of Daniel records the triumph of Israel over the image of gold which Nebuchadnezzar the king set up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. The furnace was prepared for the destruction of the witnesses of Jehovah. Yet the guards, who essayed to cast them bound into the fire, were consumed by the heat of the flames without; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, were uninjured within. These marvels would have their influence, on the mind of Belshazzar: the conscience of youth is tender, and easily impressed. But the prophet's voice in the hour of his judgments revealed his awful impenitence-" And thou, his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this"!

But more striking still was the humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar the king. Surrounded by greatness, untaught by his dreams, uninstructed at the furnace, unhumbled by all, he boasted in his glory, as if he alone had achieved it, and magnified his possessions, as though he were sole architect of his fame. Chapter 5:29-" At the end of twelve months Nebuchadnezzar walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" " While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, 0 king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee" (verses 32 and 33). Verse 34-" And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation." Thus God wrought on the mind of the first representative of Gentile power. The head of gold was taught to tread softly in the position of empire. In himself both the moral and the precept. It might be when his hair had grown gray he instructed Belshazzar. How marvelous the lesson-not less so the instructor. The might of Jehovah had given him dominion, and when seated in dignity he had neglected to own Him. The power of God had visited him in chastisement; yet, marvelous loving-kindness, it was not to crush him. He had lifted himself against God, and assumed His prerogative. God condescended to chasten, and then to restore; He bruised, that He might heal; He suffered him to become as a beast, that (humbled and lowly) he might henceforth remember he was but of dust. And his understanding returned, and he gave God thanks, and blessed the King of kings and Lord of lords. And Belshazzar, his successor, was instructed in this; but, alas! in the words of Daniel, " he did not humble his heart, though he knew all this."

There, are gradations in evil. But Scripture is silent on the career of Belshazzar, until the curtain is withdrawn in the chapter before us. He had given reins to his lusts. Impatient of restraint, like an impetuous steed, he took the bit in his mouth, and disdaining admonition, rushed on in the frenzy of pride. He would be served with the vessels which were consecrated to the worship of Jehovah. In the folly of his heart he would be as God. But the moment of triumph was the hour of judgment. "Did any ever harden themselves against God and prosper."

"Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the sooth-sayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and skew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then came in all the king's wise men: hut they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied" (Dan. 5:1-9¹Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. ²Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. ³Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. ⁴They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. ⁵In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. ⁶Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. ⁷The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. ⁸Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. ⁹Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. (Daniel 5:1‑9)).

Solemn moment I anxious expectancy absorbed the mind of the king-the mysterious hand and mystic writing disturbed his revels. The music was still-the guests breathless-fear upon all. Their impious effrontery was awed by the finger of God. The inebriate became sober, the dread of judgment was stronger than the fumes of the wine. The careless were attentive, the jocund still, and the quiet of the grave reigned in the chamber of revelry. The hand-writing upon the wall accomplished this. The rumor spreads (verses 10, 11, 12): " Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet-house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live forever." That voice sounds strangely on the ears of the monarch. She had hurried to the scene of festivity, forgetful of all but the terror of him, whose steps she had guarded in infancy, and now saw trembling, though crowned with a diadem. Who should shed light on the characters, who should explain their purport? "Then was Daniel brought in before the king." The man of God who had given the warnings, which had passed unheeded, was now called in to read the sentence of judgment on the eve of execution. Large gifts were promised as if in remembrance that he had been neglected. The dignity of office was proffered, royal power proposed. Strange inconsistency of man. To give like a king in the hour of terror, helpless to all that he needed! (ver. 13-24).

" And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it. TEKEL; thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain."

" How was he brought into desolation as in a moment" (Psa. 73:19¹⁹How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. (Psalm 73:19)). How different the end of the believer! " Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory" (v. 23). There is intimate connection between the book of Daniel and the Revelation of St. John. Evil is developed in both, and judgment follows; much of the one is matter of history now, much in both remains for fulfillment. As has been remarked by another, the first six chapters of Daniel give us power in the hands of the Gentiles, and their conduct in possession of it. In the book of Revelation we have the fact, that the Gospel amongst the Gentiles would end in utter corruption, and the testimony of our Lord to the judgment of the nations, and the call of his people to be separate would be disregarded, and men seek to improve it, and find a home in it. Luke 19:12, 13, 14¹²He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. ¹³And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. ¹⁴But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. (Luke 19:12‑14).-" A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return." The faithfulness. of his servants in his absence depended upon the assurance of his return; the character also of their service upon their estimate of his character. In Mark 2:18¹⁸And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? (Mark 2:18) the question was asked of our Lord, " Why do the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall-they fast in those days." The return of the Lord was to be the hope of the church. The measure of faithfulness in testimony depended upon the brightness of this hope: His love brought him into the world, where he was set at naught and crucified. His people are given him out of the world, left here to witness of the grace which was ready to pardon the vilest sinner, but also of certain judgment on the impenitent. "When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels in. flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:7⁷And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (2 Thessalonians 1:7) and 8).

The coming of the Lord will surprise the world, as the flood did its inhabitants in the days of Noah, or the destruction of Sodom in the days of Lot. It will be as unlooked for as the change from the banquet in the palace of Babylon to the midnight slaughter of Belshazzar, and the transfer of the kingdom to Darius the Mede. And this judgment will take place when the iniquity is at its height. Repeated testimonies superciliously disregarded. The cry " Behold He cometh!" the subject of merriment! " There shall come scoffers in the last days, walking after their own lusts and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?" (2 Peter 3:3³Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (2 Peter 3:3)). And Jude declares, " There shall be mockers in the last time" (ver. 18). Let not then the non-reception of the truth by others lead us to doubt it, but the rather, seeing Scripture speaks of the coming of Christ surprising a careless professing people and a guilty world, " Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thess. 5:6⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:6)).

W.