In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how King Nebuchadnezzar was humbled to the point of eating grass with oxen for seven seasons, and afterward he said, “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase”, and in chapter five and verse one of his book Daniel said, “Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords” where we read,
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords,
and drank wine before the thousand.
The verse reads, “Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, …” Daniel began with the words, “Belshazzar the king” or “Belshazzar whose name means ‘Bel protect the king’ and was the grandson of King Nebuchadnezzar and the royal ruler and leader of Babylon at the time of its fall” “made a great feast” which means “performed, executed and wrought a massive and abundant banquet with food” “to a thousand of his lords” or “toward one thousand of his, Belshazzar’s, nobles and princes”. Daniel shared how “Belshazzar” who was the new royal ruler and leader of Babylon put on a huge banquet for one thousand of his nobles.
The verse goes on to say, “… and drank wine before the thousand.” Daniel continued with the words, “and drank wine” which means “and imbibed fruit of the vine” “before the thousand” or “in front and in the presence of his one thousand nobles”. Daniel shared how Belshazzar not only provided food at his massive banquet, but he was drinking from the fruit of the vine in the presence of his one thousand nobles.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel about another “King” who rose to power in Babylon. “Belshazzar” was the grandson of “Nebuchadnezzar” and the son of “Belshazzar” who reigned in the fields with the troops while his son “Belshazzar” ruled from Babylon in the palace. These men were co-reigning in Babylon, and this story concerns the son “Belshazzar” who held the banquet for his one thousand nobles. While feasting, “Belshazzar” began to imbibe fruit from the vine in front of his one thousand nobles, and we shall see how this affected his mindset. God wants our mind to be upon Him, and because He knew our tendency is to align with sinful behavior, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide His Holy Spirit to lead us into His truthful ways and empower us to live in keeping with His desire for our lives.
Next time Daniel shares how Belshazzar, “commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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