T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S to hold the balance and His Word to he the standard. King Brennus, when the gold was being weighed for the cap tive’s ransom, threw his heavy sword into the too-light scale, meaning that the mighty arm that wielded it was on the side of the defenseless. On the day of judgment the Almighty. Christ will throw His cross into the scale where the soul of the penitent believer is being weighed, placing His infinite worth and weight over against the sinner’s demerit and unworthiness. Acquittal will take the place of condemnation. God will put His balances behind His back and take the believer to His bosom. FRIDAY, July 14. 1 Tim. 5:21-25. Divine Scrutiny. The Scriptures assert that God is a Qod of knowledge and by Him actions are weighed. Solomon declares that all the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weigheth the spirit. Indifference to spiritual things, living for pleasure alone, the enthronement of appetite and passion are especially dis pleasing to God and He visits signal and severe judgments upon them. God is ■ especially strict in reckoning with those in places of power. Belshazzar had be trayed bis high office and had been false to his trust. The higher the position, the greater the responsibility. It used to be thought that the king could do no wrong. A king is responsible beyond his subjects. Office is a serious thing and official sins are heinous in the sight of God. and man. Another count in the indictment against Belshazzar was his disregard of Providential warnings. Daniel charged him with this neglect. He shut his eyes to the Divine reproof, set. at naught the Divine counsels and thereby increased his condemnation. SATURDAY, July 15. Rom. 13:1-8. The Sin of Sacrilege. Belshazzar’s sins are not confined to Belshazzar’s circumstances. We may see around us today the same careless and contemptuous disregard for the re sponsibilities of office and sanctities of spiritual things. What is it hut a desecration of holy things when the functions of God’s holy church are per verted to extend the Shibboleth of a sect? When church membership is used as a passport to good society, when the Christian pulpit is used for personal display, what is this but a profanation of holy things? Belshazzar was a heathen prince with none of the light and privilege that is given to us. If he
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was weighed and found wanting in the just balances of God, what verdict may we expect? “ ’Tis the hand of Gpd on the wall, Shall the record be ‘found wanting’. Or shall it be ‘found trusting’ When the hand is writing on the wall?” Sunday,. July 16. Matt. 11:20-30. Graded Penalties. Better be a heathen with heathen surroundings like Belshazzar than to be a heathen under the hallowed influences of Christianity. On this principle Jesus placed Chorazin, Bethsaida and Caper naum underneath Tyre, Sidon and So dom in perdition. This was because of their greater light and higher privileges. If ‘Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin” stands written over against those who neither- knew nor did their duty, what stands over against those today who know what duty is, but do not do it? It is now the day of grace and forbearance. Judgment seems to linger and to be far removed, but it is surely on the way. The thunder of Divine wrath will be heard rolling through the heavens and then the last great prayer meeting of Rev. 6:15-17 will be held. MONDAY, July 17. Daniel 6:4-10. Daniel and the King’s Decree. The life of a good man is a standing rebuke to bad men. Daniel’s enemies knew him to be a man of prayer. They shaped their proposed law to capture ' the king by his vanity and entrap Daniel through his fidelity to God. No higher compliment could be paid to Daniel. Darius was weak and vain and unfit to rule,' otherwise he would have sought the motive and reason for such a decree. A child could not ask bread of his father, a friend might not ask a favor of a friend for a month under penalty of being thrown to the lions. Vanity blinded the king’s eyes to this mon strous tyranny. Daniel knew that this was only planned for his destruction, yet without the least hesitation or the slightest attempt at concealment, he kept on praying. His windows >were open toward Jerusalem and three times a day his voice was heard in prayer and in thanksgiving. TUESDAY, July 18. Daniel 6:16-23. Daniel and the Lions. Daniel’s enemies hastened to the king with their report. Daniel had broken the law of the land. He must be thrown
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