290. DAN 5:30. BELSHAZZAR

Dan_5:30. Belshazzar

"In that night was Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, slain."’97Dan_5:30.

The long-suffering of God is strikingly displayed in his conduct towards the vilest of mankind. Even when men have become impiously and daringly profane, he has been slow to punish, and has given extended time for repentance. He would not allow the Amorites to be punished, until the cup of their iniquity was full. See also his dealings with Pharaoh, Manasseh, Nebuchadnezzar, and also with Belshazzar, whose doom is specified in the text.

Let us,

I. Offer some Remarks on the History and Character of Belshazzar.

Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, and monarch of the magnificent kingdom of Chaldea. Babylon, its metropolis, was one of the most splendid cities in the world. Belshazzar’s character was distinguished,

1. For idolatry.

Whatever reformation might have been effected by Nebuchadnezzar, it is clear that its effects were now obliterated, and Belshazzar was found among the patrons of the heathen god.

2. For sensuality.

He had a great number of wives and concubines. Spent his time in banqueting, revelling, &c.

3. For daring impiety.

Took the vessels of the Lord’s house, and profaned them by drinking out of them, at a scene of infamy and intemperance, when his princes, and wives, and concubines, were assembled See ver. 1, &c.

Notice,

II. The Events of the Night referred to in the Text.

"That night," so emphatically noted in the text, was,

1. A night of carelessness and dissipation.

At a time, too, when the renowned Cyrus, with his powerful army, was at their gates. Sinful pleasures infatuate the mind; produce apathy and recklessness.

2. A night of dreadful, supernatural foreboding.

See the company assembled in the banqueting-hall of the palace. The king elevated; the sparkling goblet passing round. Nothing heard but singing, dancing, and revelry. The whole is suddenly interrupted. The king sees the appearance of a man’s hand upon the wall’97his conscience appals him’97his knees smite each other’97his whole frame trembles’97his countenance is changed’97the mirth is interrupted. Fear comes upon the company as a whirlwind, &c.

3. A night of solemn consultation.

The wise men and soothsayers are called in. Great rewards promised to the man who can interpret the writing. The queen called in, and recommends the consultation of Daniel, vers. 10-12. Daniel appears The reward offered to him, which he rejects, vers. 14-17. He then declares his wickedness and impiety, ver. 22. And thus passes to the dreadful sequel.

4. A night of dreadful interpretation.

Mene, thy days are numbered, thy course ended, thy career finished. Tekel, weighed; the balance against thee. Holiness, truth, virtue demand thy punishment. Upharsin; thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians Even now the army is passing through the bed of thy river.

5. A night of fearful doom.

The city taken, the revellers destroyed, and Belshazzar slain! In the events of this night we see,

(1) The immutability of God’s word. Two hundred years before it had been clearly and fully predicted. Isa_13:17, and Isa_45:1, Isa_47:1. See 1. 1, and Isa_51:5, &c.

(2) That there is no security against the displeasure of God. Dignity, wealth, arms, combinations are all fruitless, &c. "Who had hardened himself," &c.

(3) The way of pleasure is the way of death. It steels the conscience, intoxicates the soul, ripens for ruin, &c.

(4) Let the careless sinner be admonished, and reflect on the certainty of his ruin, unless he repent of his wickedness, and seek mercy.

(5) The day of trial and doom will come to every man. Happy all they who will be able to give up their accounts with joy, and not with grief.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS