Tuesday 30 October 2007
- Bible Book:
- Daniel
"You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which you do not see or hear or know; but the God in whose power is your very breath, and to whom belong all your ways, you have not honoured." (v.23)
Background
The book of Daniel is one of the 'apocalyptic' books of thebible - a tradition in which dramatic visions and theirinterpretation feature strongly. 'Apocalyptic' means revealing whatis hidden. It was probably written down in the first or secondcentury BC, when the Temple had been destroyed by AntiochusEpiphanes. But it draws on earlier stories of a prophet calledDaniel.
Daniel 5 gives us insight into how a kingdom as wealthy, vast andpowerful as the Babylonian Empire could fall.
In the midst of a festival, King Belshazzar is seen using thesacred vessels of gold and silver from the Jewish Temple to drinkfrom. God, through Daniel's interpretation of the writing on thewall, pronounced doom on the empire, and after a few hours,destruction came.
For years critics have said that the book of Daniel was inaccuratebecause they believed Belshazzar never existed - that there was nohistorical record of such a man. However when archaeologistsdiscovered what is called "The Nabonidus Cylinder," historyacquired its first known record of Belshazzar. Approximately 36years old at the time of Daniel 5, Belshazzar was decadent,dissolute, idolatrous, immoral, impious, and unworthy to rule.Although he was a co-regent with his father Nabonidus, Belshazzarwas sitting in the seat of royalty the night Babylon fell.
The story condemns in the most dramatic way Belshazzar's misuse ofthe Temple vessels, and worship of idols. The story of howBelshazzar's inescapable fate is revealed has given us the phraseabout 'reading the writing on the wall'. Even the most wealthy andpowerful can be brought to nothing.
Those who devote themselves to honouring wealth, power and materialthings, rather than the living God, stand under the judgement ofGod, which will ultimately be made clear.
To Ponder
In what ways are we tempted to praise the createdrather than the creator?
What aspects of your life give honour to God?
Is there anything that you aware of in your dailylife that does not bring honour to God?
Allow the phrase, "God in whose power is yourvery breath" draw you into praise.