T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S is a jealous God. When He uses any of us, He wants the glory. If there is any thing despicable in the sight of God it is the parading of one of His servants, the glorification of himself in the pres ence of God. This is a Satanic snare and we are all subject to it and it be hooves us to use practical methods every day in order to give him the glory for all things. (1 Cor. 4:7) “For who maketb thee to differ from another? and what hast thon that thou didst not receive? now If thon didst re ceive It, why dost thon glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” Belshazzar had had before him an object lesson in Nebuchadnezzar. God had taught him through seven years of humiliation that he was only His vassal. This lesson should have been sufficient. But Belshazzar despised the lesson. He ignored the warning. He was more guilty than his father, and his arrogant pride, his sacrilege, his honor of false gods, demanded a punishment commen surate with the offense, and Daniel brings him to the bar of God. He stands as the prosecuting attorney rep resenting Heaven’s court. He reads the indictment, (vs. 22, 23) “And thon his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thon knewest all this; , ^ But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concu bines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast, praised the gods of sliver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God In whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorifled.” He had been weighed. His course had been fully considered. 'A ll the facts were recorded. Satanic pride had possessed him. He had presumed upon God’s favor. He had rejected God’s way of life, as illustrated in his father’s life. He had set God at naught. He had descended to the lowest depths of transgression, of sin, and of iniquity. He was found wanting. There was nothing to his credit. There was no ex cuse. He had rejected the light. His soul was darkened. He had neglected his opportunities.
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The sentence: He was found guilty. His kingdom was taken from him, di vided and given to the Medes and Per sians. Another is to take his throne. The sentence was followed by swift exe cution. That night he was slain. Pity the teacher who cannot make this lesson burn into the hearts of schol ars, whether they be saints or sinners. God keeps hooks. There is a life record of each of us. We must all ap pear before the judgment seat of Christ, __believers at Christ’s second coming; unbelievers at the Great White Throne. We must all be weighed,— privileges, opportunities, conditions all will play a part. Believers will he rewarded ac cording to their works. Unbelievers will he sentenced and judged according to their light and privileges. The be liever’s position in heaven is fixed ac cording to his faithfulness here, and the sinner’s position is fixed according to his opportunities here. A lesson for preachers, teachers, and scholars is here, big with meaning. The sentence is immutable for us all. The story is recorded for us. The handwrit ing is on the wall. The Judge is at the door. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Even a king is known by his doings, whether his ways are right. (2) There is a message for all mien in the writing on the wall. (3) There is a judge and jury and judgment awaiting us all. (4) God’s scales are so adjusted that thoughts as well as actions weigh. (5) There will he a silent but unim peachable witness in the written record. (6) God is no respecter of persons. Be sure your sin will find you out. (7) The sinner’s sentence will he weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. (8) The sentence of the saint will be— “ Joy forevermore.” -
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