READING: Daniel 7:1-8:27, Daniel 5:1-31
It must have been quite a feast. The king, Belshazzar, invited 1000 of his nobles, and they shared much wine together. In fact, they drank from the holy vessels the Babylonians had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. Under the influence of the wine, they reveled in their worship of their gods. Their gods were false ones made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone (Dan 5:4), but the king and his company worshiped them anyway.
God, however, announced through Daniel’s dream interpretation a coming judgment on the king for his arrogance—and Belshazzar was killed that very night. Position and prestige he once held could not stop his demise. Political power vanished under judgment. Partying turned to grief. Living for the temporary gave way to facing eternity. All of it happened quickly. . . . and the Babylonian gods the king worshiped had no power to intervene. It’s all tragic.
Lest we leave this story in an age gone by, though, I suspect most of us know folks who are following their own gods, living up life, and ignoring the reality of eternity. Some know the story of the gospel and are choosing to ignore or deny it, but millions have never even heard the story. With an unexpectedly final heartbeat, they, too, could be facing judgment. How we must pray . . . and how we must share the good news with others today!
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are you praying for anyone today who’s partying through life and ignoring God? If not, is there someone for whom you should start praying?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, help me to speak good news to those living for only today’s pleasures.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Daniel 6:1-28, Daniel 9:1-27, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-11, 1 Chronicles 3:17-19
