March 14 – Belshazzar – Daniel 5
Belshazzar is going to be king of Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar, his father. Belshazzar is going to make the tremendous mistake of blatant rebellion against God. He brings the golden vessels from the temple of Jerusalem to drink out of them, and praise their false gods. The message on the wall reveals God’s judgment on Babylon as the Medes and the Persians will conquer mighty Babylon.
An interesting notation in verse 2 should be a warning and challenge to all of us fathers. Belshazzar’s father could have helped him to avoid this terrible mistake, instead of enabling his son to commit this act. Verse 2 specifically mentions that Nebuchadnezzar was the one to take the vessels out of the Temple. His failure to rectify his mistake of taking the vessels, was the stumbling block that enabled his son, Belshazzar, to make his mistake.
