0280. Daniel's Endictment: (C) Thou Hast Lifted Up Thyself
Daniel’s Endictment: (C) Thou Hast Lifted Up Thyself
"Thou his son, O Belshazzar, * * hast lifted up thyself against the God of Heaven" (Dan_5:22-23).
Belshazzar had lifted himself against the God of Heaven in two respects.
1. He had brought the vessels of the Lord’s House into his banqueting hall, and had drunken out of them.
2. He had praised "the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, neither hear nor know."
Oh, the arrogant pride that consumed Belshazzar!
This was the devil’s chief appeal to Eve. "Ye shall be as gods."
This was satan’s sin. "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness."
This will mark the antichrist’s spirit. "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped."
Why is it that men, refusing to humble themselves, will exalt themselves above the God of Heaven?
This spirit of self-exaltation is the spirit of the age. It is this lifting up of one’s self above the God of Heaven, that leads the race, on the one hand, to dethrone Christ from His Deity and make Him mere man; and, on the other hand, to exalt man and make him God.
The deism of man is becoming more and more popular.
"The sum of this arrogant cry is found frequently expressed in verse, of which we give a sample:
"Not throned above the stars of night,
Here in America, we must see,
The love of man to man,
A new world, republican,
A Christ not superhuman,
Reborn, in man and woman."
It is the old cry of "Away with Christ, give us Barabbas!"
The Lord is coming one of these days. When He comes, then these haughty Belshazzars will be brought low. Then will men "enter into the rock and hide in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty." "The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down. And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day."
"And the day of the Lord shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low, and the Lord alone shall be exalted, in that day" (Isa_2:12).
Belshazzar’s spirit of pride and arrogance may dominate the man of this world, and he may lift up himself against the God of Heaven, but God will bring him down, even as He brought Belshazzar down.
"Pride cometh before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR