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 not able to tell him what the writing said or what it meant, he called for Daniel who said, “O you king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor. And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appoints over it whomsoever he will”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-two of his book, Daniel told King Belshazzar “you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart” where we read,
And you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this;
The verse reads, “And you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, …” Daniel began with the words, “and you his son” or “and you, Belshazzar, his, Nebuchadnezzar’s, grandson”, “O Belshazzar” which means “O Belshazzar whose name means ‘Bel protect the king’ and was the king of Babylon at the time of its fall” “have not humbled your heart” or “have in no way or manner abased, put down or subdued your, Belshazzar’s, soul and mind”. Daniel shared how he told King Belshazzar, King Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, that he in no way subdued his own soul and mind.
The verse goes on to say, “… though you knew all this;” Daniel continued with the words, “though you knew” which means “in spite of the fact that you, Belshazzar, were aware, informed and understood” “all this” or “each, every, the whole and everything about King Nebuchadnezzar”. Daniel shared how he told King Belshazzar that he did not bend himself low even when he was aware of all that happened to his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how he directly confronted what King Belshazzar did wrong. Even though he was aware of his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar’s prideful behavior that was cut down and removed from his throne, King Belshazzar acted in a prideful manner. When we humble ourselves before God, He will exalt us, and before we receive the salvation that God gives through His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross and to be raised from the grave after three days, we must humble ourselves, repent of our sins and put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”. Let all who read these words never have need to be confronted for their pride and simply submit themselves to Jesus who remains ready to exalt the lowly in heart. (See Matthew 11:28; 1 Peter 5:6)
Next time Daniel shares how he tells King Belshazzar, “you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven”, 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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