Warriors Arise: February 9, 2021
Daniel 5:22 (NKJV) But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this.
Daniel was not giving Belshazzar the opportunity to plead ignorance. Daniel laid it out and Belshazzar is responsible for what he knows. He knows how God dealt with his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar. He knows how the kingdom was stripped from him in a matter of minutes. He knows from his own grandfather's mouth how he lived. He knew God restored his grandfather as king of Babylon. Yet, Belshazzar did not humble his heart. He did not make room for God to instruct his life. He did not honor God in any way.
Daniel is not playing. When the people of God recognize God's hand of judgement coming, there is no time to play around. Maybe if he shot it straight without any fluff, Belshazzar will humble his heart. Maybe Belshazzar had forgotten and Daniel is trying to remind him. But Daniel's sting at the beginning of verse 22 would indicate that Belshazzar still is unmoved in his heart by the history lesson.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18 (NKJV) But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We cannot continue to live in sin when we know the truth. We are responsible for what we know. It is not about right or wrong living. Am I doing everything right is the wrong impression of our relationship with God. My eyes remain focused on my husband because I spend time with him, notice and respect the things he does for me and our children, and listen and come along side of him to see his dreams fulfilled. Therefore, because we daily develop and grow our relationship I do not entertain the thought of another.
God is someone who wants to spend time with us. He wants us to know Him. He wants us to respect all he has done for us and our families. He wants us to come along side him to see His dreams fulfilled here on earth. When we embrace knowing God, in this way, sin is not something we entertain.
Those who do not know God are living with a veil over their minds. They are blind to the truth. When they will not acknowledge the miracles God is doing in their lives; they are blind to see the miracle God will do. I may bring this up when we get further into what happened later that night for Belshazzar, but I want to make a relevant point. Belshazzar did not acknowledge what God had done for his grandfather nor what God told Him through Daniel because he was blinded by his pride, thinking he was above what God was telling him. His arrogance, the veil of arrogance hooded his eyes from seeing and his mind from comprehending the warning. He could have led all who were in his dwelling in repentance but he didn't. Based on Scripture, God tells people His judgement ahead of time, to give them the opportunity to repent (i.e. Nineveh).
We are responsible for what we know. The things God teaches us He wants us to apply to our lives and to live out loud. There is no time to ponder or to put it on the shelf. He tells us when we need to know. There is a reason He chose that specific time to speak to us in a way we could understand. When we honor God we will receive what He has said and apply it to our lives immediately. We are to live on God's timetable not try to make God fit on our's. When He says it is time for a change, we embrace that change immediately. His timing is for our best outcome.
Belshazzar knew all God had done through Babylonian history and the life experience of his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar. But Belshazzar chose to reject what he knew and it cost him his life and the lives of the people of his kingdom. People throw around their "knowledge" of God. It makes me think, if they have to talk like that they are really showing what they don't know about God. God is to be honored and revered. He is to be trusted and followed. Because He is God and there is no other. You are responsible for what you know.
Father, I do not want to know of You, I want to know You. I want to know Your wisdom and understand You ways. I want to hear Your voice and follow Your plan for my life. I pray for You to speak to me and direct my path. I pray I would be faithful to the plans You have for me. I pray I would listen to those You send into my life to speak wisdom and even correction. I pray I would listen and heed what they are saying. I pray I would repent and make the change in my life. Open my ears so I can hear You. I know what You say I need. I ask for You to guide me in the path You have for me and if I wander call me back 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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