Weighed and Found Wanting – Dan 5
Belteshazzar was a fool. He knew what was true and right and he ignored it. Not only did he ignore it, but he also revelled in his ignorance. He was aware of all that God had taught Nebuchadnezzar and how God had humbled him (v.22), yet Belteshazzar pridefully threw a big party to worship the gods of silver, gold, brass, iron, wood, and stone!
The very night of his drunken party, the Persians were outside the gates, diverting the Euphrates River, about to take the city. Instead of leading his people, he was feasting and drinking.
All the festivities halted when a hand suddenly appeared and wrote on the wall. He was troubled by the hand – perhaps his conscience! Once again the wise men of the land could not interpret, so Daniel was called for. The meaning of the writing on the wall: “Your kingdom has been numbered. You are weighed in the balances and found wanting. Your kingdom will be divided.”
And so it was. That night his kingdom fell. He lost everything. He partied to the last minute and regretted it.
How foolish we can be as well. Men live their lives like there is no God until their time comes. And then it’s obvious they fall short and they will stand before the true God. May we humbled ourselves before God today and serve. May we not foolishly ignore what we know to be true. May we not be partying while the enemy sits at our gates.