The God Who Gives Titles
Contents
Text: Daniel 5:17-28
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The Old Testament records the history of Israel. In addition, various events in the Old Testament are closely connected with world history. In the history of the world, the history especially connected with the Old Testament is the event in which the nation of Assyria was destroyed by the nation of Babylon. This event influenced many parts of the Old Testament. Assyria was originally a country north of the Tigris River. This country first appeared in human history around 2300 B.C. After that, around 1000 B.C., they defeated the Hittites in the Bible and the Hittites in world history with the first iron civilization and became a hegemonic nation in the Middle East. Also, the nation called Babylon originated in Mesopotamia and started out as a small city-state. However, in 612 B.C., the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was attacked and destroyed. So, after 1700 years of appearing in human civilization, Assyria disappears into history. However, this new country called Babylon, which has emerged as a powerful force in the Middle East, will be destroyed in 539 in less than 100 years.
Today Daniel 5 shows how Babylon fell. After King Nebuchadnezzar died, his son Belshazzar became king of Babylon. One day, I was enjoying a party with a lot of people in the royal palace, when suddenly a strange hand appeared on the wall and I started to write. However, not only the king, but also the scholars and scholars from Babylon could not read or interpret the text. When the king panicked because of the writing on the wall, the king's wife said: “O king, there is someone in this country who can recognize the letters. There is a man named Daniel, who came to this country as a prisoner of Israel, but was loved by the previous king. Call on Daniel, and Daniel will interpret the letter.” So in Daniel 5:16, Daniel stands before the king. The king orders Daniel to interpret the writing on the wall, promising him a purple robe, a gold necklace, and a third place in the hierarchy. But Daniel didn't want those costs.
And interpret those letters. First of all, the words “Mene Mene Tegel Ubarshin” and “Mene Mene” mean, “The years of your kingdom were calculated by God’s hands, but the fact that Mene appeared twice means that it was definitely counted.” ‘Tekel’ means that you, King Belshazzar, have weighed in the balances of God for what you have done so far. “It’s about how good you have done and how bad you have done.” After that, the word ‘woo’ is the word ‘and’. And ‘Barzin’ will be divided. had a meaning.
The important thing here is that there will be an end, just as there was a beginning of Babylon, which destroyed a great nation called Assyria. The Bible tells us that our death is also appointed for man, and after that comes judgment. In this way, Babylon, which has emerged as the strongest in the Middle East, will also be judged by God.
In the same way, we started 2009 on the first day of the new year and lived until today. The end of 2009 is just around the corner. Please remember that God also weighs what we have lived through for a year.
Today, before Daniel reads the letter before King Belshazzar, he tells the story of King Nebuchadnezzar. King Nebuchadnezzar, who had grown Babylon into a new powerhouse in the Middle East, became extremely proud. As Daniel put it, ‘someone was arbitrarily raised, someone was arbitrarily killed, someone was arbitrarily exalted, and someone was arbitrarily humbled’. God humbled such King Nebuchadnezzar, stripped him of all his rights, and made him suffer like an animal in the field. Only after repenting before God and being thoroughly humbled was he able to ascend the throne again. Daniel, who tells this story, warns King Belshazzar, 'How can you commit the same mistake while knowing your father's mistake and its consequences?'
Over the past year, we have been learning and gaining knowledge about the Word of God. However, I want you to look back on how much you feared God with our heartfelt hearts. That is the way not to repeat the mistakes of history.
The second thing God weighs is the king's laziness. On a fictional day, the king invites the great dignitaries and holds a feast and spends them in bliss. Not being able to get out of the pleasure of hedonism can be called laziness to never do anything you don't like. What we realize over the course of a year is that spending money carelessly is also a waste. But wasting time is also a huge waste. We can also see God judging the lazy and wasting time.
Third, King Belshazzar, who was drunk and in a good mood, brought in rare cups or vessels that were used only for sacrifices to God brought from the temple in Jerusalem.
One thing we should remember is that because King Nebuchadnezzar captured Israel and brought the Israelites to Babylon, did the God they serve also become captives to Babylon? Even God did not become a prisoner of King Nebuchadnezzar. Please remember that just because we are exalted in the world does not in any way exalt us above God.
Please look back on how much you feared and revered God during this period as 2009 ended. God is a God who weighs the things we have done. In the name of the Lord, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will humbly glorify God in the few days remaining and become believers who welcome the new year 2010 with a new heart.
2010-01-09 17:08:16