SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/18/2013
8:42 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The
Lord-Judgment Declared
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Daniel 5:5-9
Message of the
verses: Dr. Wiersbe wrote at the end
of his introductory commentary on this fifth chapter of Daniel the
following: “We shall look at the persons
involved in this drama and see how they related to the plan of God.”
Look at the Wall (Daniel. 5:5): “5 Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand
emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of
the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing.”
The following verses all have the words “The finger of
God” in them: “Ex 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh,
"This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he
did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Ex 31:18 When He had finished
speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the
testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God. De 9:10
"The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written by the finger of
God; and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken with you at the
mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. Lu 11:20
"But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of
God has come upon you.”
I suppose that because of motion pictures and computers
that the drama of this event does not seem as real as it did when it happened,
but can you stop and think a bit about sitting in your house and all of a
sudden a hand comes out of nowhere and begins to write a message to you? As we will see latter on the kings knees
began to nock together, and I suppose this would be our reaction too. We mentioned in an earlier SD that part of Daniel
is written in Aramaic, and both Aramaic and Hebrew read from the right to the
left. It may have been written in Hebrew
and that is why the so called wise men could not read it.
Look at the king (Daniel 5:6-7): “6 Then the king’s face grew pale and his
thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints went slack and his knees began
knocking together. 7 The king called aloud to bring in the conjurers, the
Chaldeans and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon,
"Any man who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to
me shall be clothed with purple and have a necklace of gold around his neck,
and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom.’”
We see this reaction from different heathen kings in the
Bible from time to time. Pharaoh did
this when Moses did miracles in his presence, and we also have seen this in the
book of Daniel too. These so called wise
men were not so wise in any of these situations, for they worshiped idols who
can’t speak or write or do anything like the God of heaven can do. Dr. Wiersbe writes “God had turned the
banquet hall into a courtroom and the king was about to be declared guilty.”
Look at the wise men (Daniel 5:8-9): “8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but
they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the
king. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, his face grew even paler, and
his nobles were perplexed.”
These men were as worthless in this situation as they had
been when King Nebuchadnezzar had his dream in chapter two. Even if they could read the words they could
not figure what it was that God was saying to them. I have heard that the Bible is for believers
and when someone who is not a believer reading it they will not truly
understand it. They are reading someone
else’s mail in a language they don’t understand.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I desire to
listen to the Lord when He speaks to me through His Word or through a message
given by a Pastor, or even in different circumstances.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Proverbs 3:5-6.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 46:1-6.
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear
though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of
the sea; 3 though it’s waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its
swelling pride. Selah. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad
the city of God, the dwelling place of the most high. 5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be
moved, God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations make and uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He
raised His voice, the earth melted.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “James.”
Today’s Bible
Question: “What was Naaman’s physical
problem?”
Answer in tomorrow’s SD.
7/18/2013 9:13 AM
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