From the old testament, there is an example of a king "who cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers" after seeing the fingers of a man's hand writing upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote on the wall. As a consequence, the king's countenance changed and his thoughts troubled him.
So the king spake, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon -- "Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied [perplexed]." (Daniel 5:7-10)
So the king spake, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon -- "Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied [perplexed]." (Daniel 5:7-10)
In this situation, the king had called on the so-called experts of the world to interpret his dream, but because these were of the world, they could not do so, even with the much celebrated enticements offered to them by the king. Note that these included astrologers, the Chaldeans (considered the wise and influential intellectuals of that time -- with Chaldean often being synonymous with Babylon in the scriptures) and the soothsayers of that day. In another scripture, magicians are also mentioned when speaking of a similar experience with the king's father.
Note (for purposes of clarity) that God called Abraham out of Ur of Chaldeans so that he (Abram/Abraham) would follow God -- Genesis 11:27-31; Genesis 15:7; Genesis 17:5, 15; Genesis 20:12; Genesis 22:20, 23; Genesis 24:15; Genesis 17:15; Genesis 16:1-2; Acts 7:2-8; Genesis 10:19 but I digress.
In enters the queen who by reason of the words of the king and his lords spake, saying, "O king, live forever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed. [For] there is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods [which we know to be the Spirit of the One and Only Holy God]; and in the days of thy father [forefathers] light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods [God] was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king [I say], thy father made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers ... for as much as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazar. Now let Daniel be called and he will shew the interpretation." (Daniel 5:11-12)
Note (for purposes of clarity) that God called Abraham out of Ur of Chaldeans so that he (Abram/Abraham) would follow God -- Genesis 11:27-31; Genesis 15:7; Genesis 17:5, 15; Genesis 20:12; Genesis 22:20, 23; Genesis 24:15; Genesis 17:15; Genesis 16:1-2; Acts 7:2-8; Genesis 10:19 but I digress.
In enters the queen who by reason of the words of the king and his lords spake, saying, "O king, live forever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed. [For] there is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods [which we know to be the Spirit of the One and Only Holy God]; and in the days of thy father [forefathers] light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods [God] was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king [I say], thy father made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers ... for as much as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazar. Now let Daniel be called and he will shew the interpretation." (Daniel 5:11-12)
There is more herein to share from this particular old testament account and how the text is translated to reflect the queen's multiple gods perspective but the part that I desire to focus on this day is whether we as believers in Jesus Christ truly hear from the Spirit of the Holy God which dwells within our hearts --the Holy Ghost -- or do we (like this king) tend to garner our wisdom and knowledge from the world/earthly.
Certainly, this king sought all those who professed to be wise and intellectual at the societal level and yet, he found no understanding for the words that were written on the wall -- MENE, MENE, TEKEL, U PHAR SIN. (Daniel 5:25) The revelation did not come from those elevated into positions of intellectual authority in the earthly realm, as clearly evidenced by the king's frustration and displeasing demeanor -- wherein he was unable to receive any answers. And, as stated, it was only when the queen had mentioned Daniel -- a man dwelling in the king's kingdom, in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God dwelling -- that an understanding of the dream was eventually realized.
Herein, the queen points to the man in whom dwelt the Spirit of the Holy God. Whether she heard of the story of the king's father and Daniel, or had heard of Daniel from other accounts is inconsequential in terms of the point I am hoping to make. You see, we live in the world. If this were one of our leader's situation, wherein the fingers of a hand had written a message on a wall, and had actually seen the hand writing, would that leader call on us for our wisdom and knowledge that only comes from the Lord?
Moreover, is the Light that is Life -- Jesus -- who lives within our hearts shining brightly enough so that others can see us -- as a city lit up on a hill? Given the times in which we live, and the number of prophecies that are being fulfilled, this is a good question -- because our lamps need to be filled and overflowing with oil ... and burning! There needs to be a witness and testimony for others to see -- the Spirit of Jesus within our hearts shining brightly in a dark place.
But too often -- sadly -- we look for men's counsel -- the intellectuals and those performing lying wonders (instead of mighty wonders) and in so doing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ becomes compromised and/or diminished. For the sake of peace and institutional organization, we compromise the gospel -- in a similar fashion to what Jesus speaks of in His parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16. In so doing, we fall short of Jesus' wise counsel -- and our life giving prayer that is so necessary -- for the Lord to give us this day our daily Bread.
Like the king, we look for worldly sources to our questions rather than searching the scriptures, as one approved unto God for clarity and truth. But this needs to change. We need to begin to declare Thy Name unto those in our community, and how Jesus purchased us in His own precious blood so that we could be saved, and that Jesus heals, and Jesus satisfies the very essence of our being when we respond to His invitation.
To that end, we need to repent, and be water baptized in the precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins so that we too can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-47) We need to understand that this same Jesus whom ye/we have crucified is both Lord and Christ.
In this current dispensation of grace, we have been called to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with thankfulness and rejoicing -- teaching the essence of His kingdom to our children and to those who are afar off. Indeed, Jesus has called each and every one of us to fulfill His will that He placed in our hearts whilst we were still in our mother's womb.
Thus, as believers sanctified through Thy truth -- Thy Word is truth -- we need to openly profess to those that are lost that God willingly became our Saviour (Acts 2:36) After His kindness and love, God purchased us with His precious holy blood. (Titus 3:4-7) That Jesus is the Lord of glory who came forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) Jesus is God manifest in the flesh as a Saviour. (I Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:4-7)
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself so that our sins could be forgiven. Don't be like the king who put off worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords until it was too late. Today is the day of salvation. Today, if you hear His voice calling, please respond in your heart. Find a new testament, and start reading His Word. Make notes, and be thankful that you have stepped into the fold wherein we have a Shepherd who truly understands our infirmities.
His Name is Jesus! Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending, King of kings and Lord of lords.
And, to bring the king's situation full circle, we learn -- sadly -- that when Daniel was finally able to interpret the writing that was written -- MENE (God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it) TEKEL (thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting) PERES (thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians), Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was slain that very night.
Stand in the offering plate.
Certainly, this king sought all those who professed to be wise and intellectual at the societal level and yet, he found no understanding for the words that were written on the wall -- MENE, MENE, TEKEL, U PHAR SIN. (Daniel 5:25) The revelation did not come from those elevated into positions of intellectual authority in the earthly realm, as clearly evidenced by the king's frustration and displeasing demeanor -- wherein he was unable to receive any answers. And, as stated, it was only when the queen had mentioned Daniel -- a man dwelling in the king's kingdom, in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God dwelling -- that an understanding of the dream was eventually realized.
Herein, the queen points to the man in whom dwelt the Spirit of the Holy God. Whether she heard of the story of the king's father and Daniel, or had heard of Daniel from other accounts is inconsequential in terms of the point I am hoping to make. You see, we live in the world. If this were one of our leader's situation, wherein the fingers of a hand had written a message on a wall, and had actually seen the hand writing, would that leader call on us for our wisdom and knowledge that only comes from the Lord?
Moreover, is the Light that is Life -- Jesus -- who lives within our hearts shining brightly enough so that others can see us -- as a city lit up on a hill? Given the times in which we live, and the number of prophecies that are being fulfilled, this is a good question -- because our lamps need to be filled and overflowing with oil ... and burning! There needs to be a witness and testimony for others to see -- the Spirit of Jesus within our hearts shining brightly in a dark place.
But too often -- sadly -- we look for men's counsel -- the intellectuals and those performing lying wonders (instead of mighty wonders) and in so doing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ becomes compromised and/or diminished. For the sake of peace and institutional organization, we compromise the gospel -- in a similar fashion to what Jesus speaks of in His parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16. In so doing, we fall short of Jesus' wise counsel -- and our life giving prayer that is so necessary -- for the Lord to give us this day our daily Bread.
Like the king, we look for worldly sources to our questions rather than searching the scriptures, as one approved unto God for clarity and truth. But this needs to change. We need to begin to declare Thy Name unto those in our community, and how Jesus purchased us in His own precious blood so that we could be saved, and that Jesus heals, and Jesus satisfies the very essence of our being when we respond to His invitation.
To that end, we need to repent, and be water baptized in the precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins so that we too can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-47) We need to understand that this same Jesus whom ye/we have crucified is both Lord and Christ.
In this current dispensation of grace, we have been called to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with thankfulness and rejoicing -- teaching the essence of His kingdom to our children and to those who are afar off. Indeed, Jesus has called each and every one of us to fulfill His will that He placed in our hearts whilst we were still in our mother's womb.
Thus, as believers sanctified through Thy truth -- Thy Word is truth -- we need to openly profess to those that are lost that God willingly became our Saviour (Acts 2:36) After His kindness and love, God purchased us with His precious holy blood. (Titus 3:4-7) That Jesus is the Lord of glory who came forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) Jesus is God manifest in the flesh as a Saviour. (I Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:4-7)
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself so that our sins could be forgiven. Don't be like the king who put off worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords until it was too late. Today is the day of salvation. Today, if you hear His voice calling, please respond in your heart. Find a new testament, and start reading His Word. Make notes, and be thankful that you have stepped into the fold wherein we have a Shepherd who truly understands our infirmities.
His Name is Jesus! Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending, King of kings and Lord of lords.
And, to bring the king's situation full circle, we learn -- sadly -- that when Daniel was finally able to interpret the writing that was written -- MENE (God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it) TEKEL (thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting) PERES (thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians), Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was slain that very night.
Stand in the offering plate.
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