10/11/26
Rev. Clint Smith
Sermon Direct Link
How many of us have shared this familiar saying with children and young people: “You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choices”? We all make choices, whether right or wrong, and those choices often bring consequences. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that our actions matter and that God holds us accountable for our decisions. King Belshazzar arrogantly defied the God of Heaven and soon faced the consequences of his sinful actions.
Belshazzar prepared a magnificent pagan feast for a thousand of his nobles. Under the influence of wine, he commanded that the gold and silver vessels God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to take from the temple in Jerusalem to be brought into the banquet hall. These sacred vessels, set apart for the worship of the Lord, were used by the king and his guests in a feast that celebrated false gods. Belshazzar and his guests drank from them while praising their gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. His actions were not merely an act of drunken foolishness; they were a deliberate display of arrogance and contempt for the God of Israel. Exodus 20:1-7
At that very moment, the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the palace wall. The king’s countenance changed, his thoughts terrified him, and his strength failed. Overwhelmed with fear, he immediately summoned his wise men and promised great rewards to anyone who could read the writing and explain its meaning. Yet none of the king’s wise men could read the writing or interpret its meaning. Their failure revealed the limitations of Babylon’s wisdom and set the stage for God to reveal His message through His servant Daniel.
The queen entered the banquet hall after hearing the commotion. She reminded Belshazzar of Daniel, a man in whom the spirit of the holy gods had been found during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. She recalled Daniel’s extraordinary wisdom, understanding, and ability to interpret difficult matters, and she urged the king to summon him. Daniel was gifted by God. Daniel 1:17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-14
Daniel was likely around eighty years old when these events occurred, based on the commonly accepted chronology of his life, although Scripture does not give his exact age. Despite having served several kings and experienced God’s faithfulness throughout his life, Daniel remained available for the Lord’s purposes. His example reminds us that our calling to serve God does not expire with age or change with our circumstances. Whether young or old, we are to remain faithful and willing to serve whenever God gives us an opportunity. Galatians 6:6-10