Ben Stuart continues through Daniel 5, where we will see God’s judgment come to pass on an arrogant king. He also emphasizes the warnings in this chapter that we can then apply to our own lives to encourage us to pursue the Kingdom of God above all else.
Key Takeaway
When we humble our hearts and understand the reality of who we are in relation to God, we can become someone God can use to build His Kingdom.
There is a fascination within us about the judgment of God. We long for judgment among the unrighteous.
We see in this chapter that when a nation gets stronger—it gets arrogant. And when it gets arrogant, it moves toward sensuality.
In God's kindness, He can use people to humble us, as He used Daniel to humble King Belshazzar.
He reminds us that we are what we are because He gave us everything. He disciplines not out of ego but out of love. He knows we need to worship Him.
Instead of humbling himself, King Belshazzar defied God and worshiped the gods he could control because he didn't want to submit to God. He knew, and yet he ignored, exalted, desecrated, disregarded, and was culpable.
So, the writing is on the wall. King Belshazzar's days are numbered, he's been weighed and shattered.
God rules over man's fates, gives common grace to all, and raises kingdoms and people by His power. Even so, humans have free will.
God will allow sin to continue; don't mistake His patience for impotence. He is strong, but He is loving and slow to anger. Yet, he's not idle in His threats.
We are made in God's image, and by His grace, we are saved through faith.
When we see where we've fallen short, and our kingdoms fade, we begin to learn about what it is to be a person who lives for His Kingdom, power, and glory that won't fade.
Quote
"King Belshazzar defied God and worshiped the gods he could control because he didn't want to submit to the God that controls him. He knew, he ignored, he exalted, he desecrated, he disregarded, he is culpable. He knew enough to seek God and he didn't."
Ben Stuart
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Ben Stuart Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.
