Warriors Arise: January 22, 2021
Daniel 5:1-5 (NKJV) Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. 2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. 5 In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Fingers, of a man's hand, appear! Nothing else, just fingers. It wasn't a prophet of God walking into the grand feast and speaking forth God's word. It was just fingers. Can you imagine? There is nothing good about that!
The king saw this with his own eyes. No one had to tell him; he saw it. When God wants to get our attention, He will. Belshazzar was so arrogant in his command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. But he just didn't have them brought to the grand feast for a display of his father's teasures and the greatness of his conquests. Belshazzar had the vessels that were dedicated to God distributed to his lords, wives, and concubines. They relished in the moment of being the conquerors, because that is all it was, a moment.
God responded. God will not be mocked especially by someone in such high power over a nation, someone who knew of God but didn't live in relationship with God.
Every other nation around the world had gods made of gold and silver, thinking the bling would bring them some kind of luck. Every other nation around the world crafted gods out of bronze and iron that only gave them a false sense of security. Every other nation around the world whittled and then worshipped gods of wood. None of these gods has life. None of these gods has power. None of these gods have a soul or heart or mind. They were lifeless; therefore they couldn't bring them luck or strength, or wisdom, or a future of hope.
Only the Living God, who created heaven and earth, could could bless them and fulfill the blessing He bestowed upon their life.
Only God, who formed man and fashioned woman, could give strength to overcome their adversary.
Only God, who knows the beginning from the end, can give wisdom to lead us into triumph over the deceiver.
Exodus 20:1-6 (NKJV) And God spoke all these words, saying: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Belshazzar knew this about God. Maybe he couldn't learn from his grandfather's mistake. He had been arrogant. That is not good. God dealt with his grandfather severely.
Daniel 4:30-33 (NKJV) The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” 31 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” 33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
Belshazzar knew this happened to his father. Maybe the wine got to his head but because judgement was already coming it would seem he didn't learn from his father's mistakes. Maybe he felt he could be arrogant also and God would give him a second chance like He had done for his father.
Daniel 4:34-37 (NKJV) And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
God chose to restore Nebuchadezzar but his grandson did not learn from his arrogance. We might call what happened to Nebuchadezzar a coming-to-Jesus-moment. After God cast him out of his own kingdom, he recognized God Most High. Then Nebuchadezzar knew he was not god but God is real, relevant, and to be respected.
Those who choose to repent of their sin and choose to live committed to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord need to make sure their children not only know of their former life of sin but how God brought them back from a life of arrogance, disrespect, and disaster. Too many present their "glory days" of reckless behavior and sinful desires as a trophy to achieve. Then they wonder when their children run to sin, explain their arrogance as a license to bully, and dishonor those in authority. This is not to condemn anyone but to encourage you to share what Jesus saved you from and how God has restored you to your destiny.
I wonder if Nebuchadezzar shared his coming-to-Jesus moment with his grandson Belshazzar. Could this night have been different for Belshazzar? Did Belshazzar even care what happened to his grandfather? Maybe he was too arrogant to think that what happened to his grandfather wouldn't happen to him. Maybe he thought his grandfather was still crazy. It doesn't really matter. Belshazzar refused to honor God and then he saw fingers writing on the wall. That was not good.
Father, I ask for You to come and speak to each one of us. I pray we would have courage to admit our sins to our children rather than glory in them. Jesus sacrificed His life for each one of my sins. I dishonor Him when I revel in my good ole days of sin and arrogance. I pray for specific times to share not my sin but how to teach my kids to see You and take the opportunity You provide to get away from sin. I pray for myself and my children to see when the enemy has lured us to a place of sin and that Jesus is there showing us how to get out. I ask for boldness to reveal specific parts of my past to my children that will keep them from living out their own sin. I do not want to share my sins so they think they should out-do me. I want to share my sins to expose how the enemy lures us with his lies and how our flesh can desire what is going to hurt us. I ask for my kids to see where my sins have cost me even though You brought me out. Nebuchaddezzar had to live like a wild animal for a period of time, a time not as king nor with the luxuries of a king. I want my kids to see what I missed because of sin. I want them to see a life of sin has a cost; it steals and takes from us. It never gives us what our heart truly desires. I pray for our country to see embracing the freedom of the flesh and the lies of the enemy will only cost us greater than it ever gave to us. I pray for the American people to recognize another's sin is not a license to sin further. God wants us to be free from sin and embrace His ways, blessings, and wisdom not to be imprisoned by our sins rejecting His ways, blessings, and wisdom. I pray for America to return to Christ. I pray we will not be overtaken by the sins of our leaders. I pray we will recognize God's desire for us to put away our sin and live in the righteousness of Christ. I pray we would not try to out-do one another in our sin causing a curse upon our people and our land. I pray for the American people and our government leaders to have their own personal coming-to-Jesus moment and recognize You are God and there is no other, in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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