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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
September, 1935
POSITIVELY THRILLING is the SEPT, number of “PROPHECY” the monthly edited by Keith L. Brooks. Forty pages literally packed with rapid- fire articles on God’s movings in the earth. Most remarkable issue yet pub lished. 10c in stamps. Foui* months’ trial, 25c; $1 year. You should read it. BROOKS PUBLISHERS 2003 Addison W ay, Los Angeles, Calif. U n io n l e s s o n h e l p s on the International Uniform Lessons are ROOTED in the BIBLE # # # Free from denominational bias or sectional flavor, Union publications can be used with fiafety in any Sunday school. P ractical Thousands of schools are find* ing them unusually helpful / ime- and interesting. They may Tried be the answer to the Lesson Help problem in your school. Writetodayforfree specimens American Sunday-School Union 1816 C h e stn u t S t. ! P h ila d e lp h ia . Pa. I ndividual C ommunion S ervice Send tor Folder end SPECIAL OFFER at low prices. Tray and 86 glasses $6.50 up. Extra Glasses (1.00 dozen. Collection and Bread Plates. Pastor’s Sick Outfits, etc. THOMASCOMMUNIONSERVICECO., Box m ï Lima,Ohio Orÿaniiafion S Raise M one y E A S I L Y WITH MY COOPERATIVE ■¡91 SELLING PLAN r . • inspiring • • •
Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting . . . . Thy kingdom is di vided, and given to the Medes and Per sians” (vs. 24-28). Thus the rise and fall of empires are accomplished by the sov ereign action of God and not by the armies of men. These are important verses and should be given careful study. The justice of God’s action is apparent. “God hath num bered thy kingdom”—the decision was not reached hastily. There was an e x a c t weighing of every evidence, and the re sultant judgment was true and just. God’s judgments are fully explained, and the reasons for them are set before those up on whom they fall. There will never be any voice raised: in eternity against the righteousness and justice of any act of God. All will then be seen to have been wrought out with equity and truth to the smallest detail. As a judgment upon Belshazzar, his po sition, possessions, and opportunities were given to another (v. 28). We are remind ed of the words of our Lord, “Take there fore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents” (Matt. 25:28). Every man is given talents by the Lord, and these gifts are to be used for the Lord’s glory. When they are used other wise, or are neglected, the talents and the opportunity to use them are both taken away and given to another. It is an eternal principle that what is used for God in creases, and what is not used for Him dis appears. Points and Problems 1. Is Belshazzar a historical character? Daniel calls him the “king of the Chal deans” (v. 30). But the ancient historian Berosus gives a list of the Babylonian kings with no mention of him, and the critical charge used to be that Daniel was mistaken. Worse than that, assuming the late date assigned by the critics, the writer of Daniel did not even know his history! But archaeology has vindicated Daniel by digging up inscriptions which speak of one “Bel-shar-usur, the first-born son, the offspring of the heart of Nubuniad.” And Nabuniad, according to Berosus, was the last king of Babylon. 2. But why is Belshazzar called "king of the Chaldeans”? The answer is inter esting. Nabuniad had two sons, one, Nabuniad II, the other, Bel-shar-usur. These two sons were made sub-kings under their father, the former son ruling at Haran, the latter at Babylon. Thus there is no contradiction between Berosus and Daniel. Nabuniad the father was the last of the dynasty which ruled oyer all the Babylonian empire.’ But Daniel is also right in speaking of Belshazzar as “king of the Chaldeans,” for he did1rule con temporaneously with his father. 3. The above archaeological evidence sheds light on the rather curious statement that Daniel was made “third ruler in the kingdom” (vs. 16, 29). According to the inscriptions, Nabuniad II died in the ninth year of his father, possibly killed by the Persian Cyrus. In the trio of kings, the father would be first ruler, Belshazzar as the first-born would be second, and Na buniad II would be third. The death of Nabuniad II left vacant the third place in the triumvirate, and thus it could be awarded to Daniel for his service in read ing the writing on the wall. The Word of God is verbally accurate. 4. But does not Daniel refer to Nebu chadnezzar as the father of King Belshaz zar? (cf. 5:18). Nabuniad was Belshaz-
II. R efreshing B elshazzar ’ s M emory (18-21). First, the king was reminded of what God had given to Nebuchadnezzar, his “father” (vs. 18, 19). Dr. C. I. Scofield says: “Nebuchadnezzar was ‘father’ of Belshazzar in the Biblical sense that David is called ‘father’ of Jesus (Lk. 1:32). Bel shazzar was probably a grandson.” It was not Nebuchadnezzar’s ability but God’s grace that had exalted this ruler to the high place of world dominion that he had occupied. Second, the king was reminded of what had befallen Nebuchadnezzar (vs. 20, 21). Nebuchadnezzar’s heart had been lifted up in pride, and he had refused to recognize from whom his power had come, and for whom he held his high place. In his pre sumption, he had imagined that both his place and possessions could be used for himself alone, without obedience to the God who gave them. For this presump tion, Nebuchadnezzar had been driven forth from the presence of men, to live and act like a beast “till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men.” When a man forgets God, that man becomes as a beast—whatever the out ward appearance may be. In passing, it may be said that the experience of Nebu chadnezzar is the only sort of “evolution” to which the Christian can subscribe. The change did not require long ages for its accomplishment. God spoke, and a man became a beast; and God spoke again, and a beast became a man. III. R ebuking B elshazzar ’ s A ctions (22,23). Belshazzar, like Nebuchadnezzar, had allowed his heart to be lifted up by pride (v. 22). Even with all the light that Bel shazzar had concerning his predecessor’s transgression and punishment, Belshazzar fell into the same wickedness that Nebu chadnezzar had known. “Thou . . . hast not humbled thine heart” (v. 22). This was Belshazzar’s passive sinfulness. Thou “hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven” (v. 23). This was his active sinfulness. Belshazzar had committed sacrilege by using for his own purposes the vessels which he knew were made for the worship of God alone. He had gone further and had used these vessels of God for the praise of false gods. In so doing, he had entered, openly and consciously, into the realm of idolatry. He had gone still fur ther and had wholly rejected the God “in whose hand thy breath is.” Belshazzar had been exalted by God to his high place in the kingdom, but he had not only ignored God’s sovereignty, but had also attempted to dethrone Him. In honoring false gods, Belshazzar had rejected the true God. Belshazzar had carelessly “drunk wine” from the vessels dedicated to the worship of Jehovah. Similar intemperance is seen today when bodies or faculties that should be devoted to God are used for purposes other than those for which they were given. IV. R ejecting B elshazzar ’ s R eign (24-28). The word “then” is important (v. 24). In spite of all that God had done for him, in spite of all the pleadings and warnings He had given him, and in spite of all the patience wherewith He had dealt with him, Belshazzar did not yield to God. “Then” the sentence went forth, and the announcement appeared upon the wall: “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it [brought it to an end] . . .
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