In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Belshazzar was greatly troubled because he saw a hand writing on the wall, and when his wise men were unable to tell him what the writing said or what it meant, he said to Daniel, “I have heard of you, that you can make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if you can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, you shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom”, and in chapter five and verse seventeen of his book, Daniel shared how he told King Belshazzar, “let your gifts be to yourself” where we read,
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
The verse reads, “Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another;” Daniel began with the words, “then Daniel answered” or “at that time Daniel whose name means God is my judge replied and responded” “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” “before the king” or “in front and in the presence of the royal ruler and leader, Belshazzar”, “let your gifts” which means “allow and permit your, King Belshazzar’s, presents and offerings” “be to yourself” or “exist and be kept by your, Belshazzar’s, own self”, “and give your rewards to another” which means “and grant, bestow and assign your, Belshazzar’s, prizes, recompense and purse to someone else”. Daniel shared how he responded to King Belshazzar by telling him to allow his presents be kept by his own self and given to another person.
The verse continues, “yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.” Daniel added the words, “yet I will read the writing” which means “however, nonetheless and nevertheless I, Daniel, shall read the engraving and inscription” “unto the king” or “to the royal ruler and leader, Belshazzar”, “and make known to him” which means “and expose, inform and reveal to him, King Belshazzar” “the interpretation” or “the rendering and meaning”. Daniel shared how he would read and give the meaning of the handwriting on the wall to King Belshazzar without the gifts being given to him.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how he refused the rewards offered by King Belshazzar for reading and interpreting the writing on the wall. Daniel would not be bought or paid for services which God gave to him. God wants us to use His gifts in His Kingdom, and when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us opportunities through His Holy Spirit to bless other people in the world with the blessings He has given to us.
Next time Daniel shares how Daniel tells King Belshazzar, “the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom”, 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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