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Notes on Sermon Preached at PCF on 19 February 2012

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Reference: Daniel 5

We have all head the experience of planning for a great day that we have known about in the future. It may have been a wedding, or the anticipated arrival of a baby. Or maybe it is an unwelcome event, like an operation. Either way, we are all familiar with the idea of preparing for a day that is in the future.

Today’s question is – “are you ready for the biggest day of your life?” – that is the day when you will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will pass judgement on your life. Whoever we are, however old we are, the biggest day of our life is in the future for us. What do we need to do to get ready?

1. An Idolatrous Sovereign

We have moved on from the days of Nebuchadnezzar, who finished his days acknowledging and serving the God of Daniel. Belshezzar, his successor (not necessarily his son, probably a descendant rather than a son) has not followed in his footsteps. This is a lesson for us: there is no guarantee that our descendants will serve the same God that we do – it takes fresh miracle of grace every time.

The King has a banquet for all his wives, nobles and concubines. This is not hospitality or generosity – this is spectacular showing off! It is the way that Kings demonstrated their authority and power. To his arrogance the King now adds blasphemy – using the sacred items captured from Jerusalem to bolster his authority (in effect shaking his fist at the God of Israel) and idolatry, worshipping false Gods. There is no reason to suppose here that Belshazzar is acting out of character. He is in fact showing his true colours. This is an idolatrous king who will merit the judgement of God.

Notice how false worship is what characterises idolatry. We may well say that such idolatry does not exist today. But whenever anyone worships any God other than the true God they are committing the same error as Belshazzar. False religion is idolatry just as worshipping the moon is idolatry.

It is very interesting that Apostle John finished his first letter to the churches with the injunction “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” Why would he do this? Surely the reason is that the Christian is prone to fall into idolatry. This is possible when we understand that idolatry exists whenever we put anything – no matter how good – ahead of God. Career, money, sex, family –all are candidates to be put ahead of our God. May God help us to keep ourselves from idolatry.

2. An Impossible Sight

Belshazzar’s arrogance does not go unnoticed in heaven. In full view of all his guests a hand appears and writes four words on the wall. The King – the proud arrogant swaggering King – is reduced to a trembling jelly in the face of the miraculous presence of the God who he has defied.

We can be sure that all those who have defied God will have the same experience of facing the living God. No matter how sure of themselves they may appear, no matter how powerful, all will have to face God on their own.

We may well ask: why does God not move miraculously more often to show himself to unbelievers? Surely if people saw this sort of thing they would believe. The amazing thing is that they would not! The fact is, that as Paul says in Romans, there is enough evidence for anyone to believe: “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1)

There is no excuse at all not to believe in the God of the Bible. There is enough evidence to convince any objective, unbiased and honest seeker. That is why the Psalmist says: “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God”

The day will come when we stand before God and he reveals himself in all his splendour. But though it will come as a liberation to many it will come as a terror to others. Are you ready?

3. An Inspired Spokesman

The scene is set. There is a problem to be solved and none of the King’s wise men has the answer. As has happened in the past the answer is obvious: send for Daniel!

Yesterday’s man?

The Queen (possibly the Queen Mother – even Nebuchadnezzar’s widow, possibly?) tells the King about a legendary character called Daniel who had helped the great Nebuchadnezzar in the past. It seems from this that Belshazzar was not particularly aware of Daniel. This is an interesting line of thought to consider. Daniel had been very prominent in the past – now he was no longer so prominent. He had entered late middle age, and was, it would seem, yesterday’s man. But the fact was that his most glorious days were still to come! We are never finished our work in the Kingdom of God!

“Don’t shoot the messenger”?

The customary way of treating a man who brings bad news is to kill him – hence the saying “Don’t shoot the messenger”. The king overcomes that fear by promising huge reward to whoever can interpret the writing. Nevertheless Daniel takes a huge risk by being so blunt about the message. Are we prepared to tell the truth, no matter what risk to ourselves?

Totally incorruptible

Daniel’s rejection of the rewards available to him show the integrity that has marked his life. What an example for us to follow!

Totally fearless

And when Daniel comes to deliver his message he does so by giving a round condemnation of the King’s conduct which tool true prophetic courage. Are we prepared to deliver the full gospel to those around us – which includes the consequences of failing to respond to the gospel?

The writing on the wall

The words on the wall were Aramaic and would not have been a mystery to those who saw it. What was a mystery was the interpretation of the writing. Most people can read the Bible and understand the words – but the interpretation of the words belong to God.

“Mene” – the king has to realise that that days of his life and kingship were numbered. Like Pharoah’s dreams years previously, the fact that it came twice signified that God has firmly decided the matter and that it was imminent. All of us have to realise that whatever position we may reach in life, it has an inevitable end point. We have to live in the light of the fact that it will come to an end and that we will be held accountable for it.

“Tekel” – the ultimate terror for all those who have rejected god is that they will be judged by him. And the Verdict that “you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting” is the most horrific judgement that will befall any of us. The day will come when the most brutal of dictators will be told that they have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. How could we respond to that without fear?

But wait – is it not also true that we have all been found wanting? “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” The fact is that we all need a saviour who lived a perfect life on our behalf and who took the consequences of our sin. Thank God for Jesus, and that the worst of sinners can escape the judgement that is their due by trusting in the saviour.

“Parsin” – the worst thing that could befall an ancient tyrant was to lose his throne. To lose it and to have it divided was a humiliation, and to lose it to your enemies was unthinkable. God is not mocked. Heaven sees how we respond to him.

4. An Inevitable Sequel

The consequences are immediate and dramatic. God does exactly what he says he will do – that very night. God will judge exactly as he says he will. Are you ready for that day? The only way to be ready for it is to fly to the protection offered us freely by Jesus and to urge everyone else to do the same.

Are you ready for the biggest day of your life?

John MacDiarmid
February 2012

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Notes on Sermon Preached at PCF on 5 February 2012

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Reference: Daniel 4

When we meet up with an old friend who has changed since our last meeting – maybe they have lost weight, or adopted a new dress style – we may well ask them “whatever’s happened to you?” Hopefully that is what we were asked shortly after we became a Christian. People who meet us again shortly after we become a new creature in Christ should be asking, or at least thinking, ”Whatever’s happened to you?”
The main human character in today’s passage is Nebuchadnezzar, the King of the Babylonian empire. The King was the Hitler or Stalin of his day. True, he could be magnanimous towards his conquered foes, but only because it was good politics. He was ruthless, egocentric and cruel. Yet here we have him saying:
“How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.”
And
“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.”
Extraordinary! What on earth has happened?
The fact is that Nebuchadnezzar has had dealings with God. This should cause us great encouragement. There is no one, absolutely no one, who is beyond that reach of God. God can reach those who we think are unreachable. You may well say that the King doesn’t deserve to be saved. That is quite true – but neither do any of us!

Three Strikes and you’re out!

In baseball terminology the term “three strikes and you’re out” means that you get three chances to get it right. This is certainly true of the King here. In Daniel 2, he had the supernatural revelation of his dream by a young Daniel. Although the King responds by honouring Dnaiel and promoting him, and he acknowledges the existence of the God of Daniel, he does not bow the knee to him he remain proud and defiant. Strike One!
In Daniel three the amazing story of the three young men who defied the Kings command and were rather be thrown into the furnace rather than worship any God other than the God of Yahweh, touches Nebuchadnezzar – but not to the extent that he is prepared to worship him. Strike Two!
It is extraordinary the extent to which God is prepared to go to get his man. You might expect that having heard twice from God in the most remarkable and unmistakeable way, Nebuchadnezzar had had all the chances he was going to get. But God’s patience, it would seem, is far beyond that which any of us would expect. Nebuchadnezzar is about to get a third chance.

Last Chance Saloon

We read that Nubuchadnezzar was “contented and prosperous”. We can often imagine that those who are rejecting God must be miserable and unhappy. In fact the opposite may be true. Often the one who is standing defiantly against God is, as the King here, “contented and prosperous”. The enemy leaves them alone – they are no threat to him. But God is about to get to work. The dream the king has is terrifying and the king can have no rest until it is explained to him. In the middle of contentment, God speaks.
And we see the combination of the supernatural voice of God with the voice of his spokesman. Daniel, with compassion and courage, yet again is willing to put himself at great risk for the king to hear the word of God. It is worth pausing to consider this: Daniel had seen his nation destroyed by this man, yet he was ready to challenge the king to repent. So the king has yet another chance to repent and get his life in order. Will he take it?
Nebuchadnezzar has no less than one year to respond to the word of the Lord. It is reminiscent of the two years that David had to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit after his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. Yet at the end of the year he remains unchanged, as he surveys the hanging gardens of Babylon and says: “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
And God, effectively, says: “Strike three!”

God’s Merciful Judgement

God’s action in Nebuchadnezzar’s life follows immediately upon the heels of the King’s arrogant claims The contents of his dream are carried out to the letter. One can not accuse God of not warning him!

1. Motivated by Compassion

We must remember that all God’s dealings are motivated by compassion. God wishes to save this man and has given him oppornuity and opportunity to respond. When he has not done God moves from speaking to doing.

2. Decisive

God’s action is severe, painful and humiliating. There is no limit to what God is prepared to do in order to have his way in our lives,

3. Measured

Notice how from the very beginning God knows that timescale that will be required for the king to respond to his discipline. God has measured every burden.

4. Redemptive.

The action that God takes is not designed to punish the king – but to redeem him.

5. A Happy ending

…and God intends to bring the situation to an ending that will result in the king’s blessing and salvation. Historians believe that the king lived only a year or so after this event. What an end to his reign there must have been.

Application

So what are we to learn from this story?

1. As Christians?

We can be encouraged that God is able to work in the lives of all those who we may regard as impossible. That includes our loved ones who are showing no sign at all of surrendering to God. When God works in the loves of those we love – don’t get in the way!
And we can also be challenged to be like Daniel – to be prepare to be used by God to speak to those who God is working in – including saying things that they don’t wish to hear

2. As Backsliders?

There really is no excuse for backsliding. It is a kind of insanity to know about God but to refuse to bow the knee to him. God will continue speaking, until the day it is imposisble for you to hear him. Then he will take whatever action is necessary to get you to serve him. Much better to respond to his voice than his discipline.

3. As Unbelievers?

CS Lewis described God as “the hound of heaven”. When God is on your case, you won’t get away.

Wherever we are , God will, speak to us to move us forward. Let’s respond to that voice. If we do not, God loves us far too much to allow us to get away with rebellion indefinitely. As Nebuchadnezzar concludes: “And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”
Let’s humble ourselves, before He humbles us.
This is the last we hear of the mighty tyrant from Babylon. We may assume that the rest of his reign was marked with submission to God. In the next chapter, we discover that, sadly, this example was not continued by his son.

But that’s another story

John MacDiarmid
February 2012