Two stories in the book of Daniel are familiar to most of us. The story of the three Hebrew children spared from the fiery furnace and the story of Daniel saved from the lions are favorites of most children.
Both stories reflect the power of Jehovah, and both attest to the strong faith these men possessed even in captivity. They serve as great examples to us of how strong our faith needs to be when we might be faced with trials and tribulations.
There are two other stories that show God’s power, and both serve as reminders to us of how quickly things can change when we put too much confidence in ourselves and not enough in God.
Nebuchadnezzar was the powerful king of Babylon. Because of the sins of the people of God, they were given into the hands of the Babylonians. The young men who were handsome and smart were taken into the palace to learn the language and develop understanding in the field of science. The three cast into the fiery furnace, and Daniel were among those chosen.
After Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were saved from the fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged there truly is a God in heaven. God provided Daniel with the ability to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, and the king said this of Daniel’s God: “Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret” (Daniel 2:47 KJV).
When Nebuchadnezzar had another dream, he again called for Daniel. This time the dream was personal. Daniel revealed that because of the king’s arrogance, God would drive him into the field where he would eat grass and live with the beasts of the field. This was his punishment for taking credit was his successes and power. The kingdom was taken from him; but in the end, he praised and honored God (Daniel 4:28-37).
Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, then ruled over Babylon. He too was arrogant and chose to dishonor the God of heaven by serving wine at his drunken feast in vessels his father had brought from the temple of God.
During this feast, the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote on the wall in the king’s palace. The words written by the fingers were unfamiliar to King Belshazzar.
Daniel was brought in to interpret the words written on the wall, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. The interpretation is found in Daniel 5:25-28. “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. They kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
That night King Belshazzar was killed and Darius, the Median, took the kingdom. This was the fulfillment of a dream King Nebuchadnezzar had and was interpreted by Daniel.
What significance do these words have for us? Would God say of us, “You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting”?
Those are the words He will say to those whom He calls unprofitable servants in Matthew 25. If we fail to serve our fellowman, we fail to serve our Lord.
These are the words He will say to those who live their lives like the rich farmer in Luke 12:16-24. This farmer refused to share his great wealth and said to himself, “What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat drink, and be merry’.”
Paul, in his writings to the young preacher Timothy, said, “The Lord knows those who are his, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” II Timothy 2:19-21.
Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar refused to humble themselves in obedience to God. Their actions were weighed and found to be unacceptable.
When we fail to humble ourselves, serve others, and acknowledge the awesomeness of God, we too will be weighed in the balances and found wanting.
Sandra Oliver