You Have Lifted Yourself Up - Daniel 5:23

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 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 you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-three of his book Daniel told King Belshazzar “you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven” where we read,

But have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you, and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine in them; and you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your  ways, have you not glorified:

The verse reads, “But have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you, and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine in them;” Daniel began with the words, “but you have lifted up yourself” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover have raised and exalted your own self, Belshazzar” “against the Lord of heaven” which means “in opposition to the God within the sky, atmosphere and sidereal heaven where God dwells and other spiritual beings”; “and they have brought the vessels” or “and they, the entourage at Belshazzar’s festival, carried in the sacred implements” “of his house before you” which means “belonging to his, the Supreme Deity Jehovah’s, habitation, abode and dwelling place”, “and you” or “and you, Belshazzar”, “and your lords” which means “and your, Belshazzar’s, nobles and princes”, “your wives” or “your, Belshazzar’s, female spouses”, “and your concubines” which means “and your, Belshazzar’s, mistresses”, “have drunk wine in them” or “have imbibed fruit of the vine within them, the vessels from the Supreme Deity’s dwelling place”. Daniel shared how King Belshazzar exalted himself in opposition to God in “heaven”, and he and his entourage also carried forth the sacred worship implements within his home where he, his “lords, wives and mistresses” imbibed the fruit of the vine within them. 

The verse continues, “and you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your  ways, have you not glorified:” Daniel added the words, “and you have praised” which means  “and you, Belshazzar, gave laud and adoration to” “the gods of silver” or “the deities pertaining to silver metal”, “and gold” which means “and gold metal”, “of brass” or “pertaining to bronze or copper”, “iron” which means “iron ore”, “wood” or “timbers and trees”, “and stone” which means “and rock”, “which see not” or “that are without vision and sight”, “nor hear” which means “and are without audible faculties, perception and vocal understanding”, “nor know” which means “no and not in any way certify, inform or teach”: “and the God” or “and the Supreme Deity” “in whose hand your breath is” which means “within whose hand of power, might and authority your, King Belshazzar’s, breathing exists”, “and whose are all your ways” or “and within whom exists each, every, the whole and every one of your, Belshazzar’s, happenings and doings”, “have you not glorified” which means “you, King Belshazzar, have in no way or manner magnified or honored”. Daniel told King Belshazzar that he gave adoration to the deities pertaining to “silver metal, gold metal, bronze, iron ore, timber and rocks”, and those deities did not have sight, hearing or understanding, and he did not realize his very “breath” was in God’s power. He also told him he in no way or manner gave laud and adoration to the Supreme Deity Jehovah God.  

When we think through Daniel’s words in this verse, we learn how he told Belshazzar that he rebelled against Jehovah God by exalting himself instead, and he was so presumptuous that he had people bring the sacred implements from God’s worship place so he and his entourage could imbibe fruit of the vine from them. He also gave laud and adoration to false gods made with “silver, gold, brass, iron, wood and stone”which were unable to see, hear or know. He failed to realized God held his “breath” in His hand, and he did not give adoration to Jehovah God in any of his doings. This is not the way God wants us to be. God knew we have sinned, and that sin separates us from a personal relationship with Him. For this reason He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we give Him adoration and honor in everything we do. 

Next time Daniel shares how he tells King Belshazzar “then was the part of the hand sent from him”, 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".