Daniel chapter 1 - 5 is the history of God operating on the Earth through the Babylonian empire. (The golden head from the image in chapter 2). Daniel and his friends are certainly older by now because Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson is the ruler. However, we are brought back to the lesson in chapter 1. We see again Daniel being offered the dainties of Babylon. The king Belshazzar is living it up with the lords of the land. They’ve got food and wine and women and are having a feast, enjoying all the pleasures that Babylon has to offer. They even retrieved utensils from the king’s treasury made of gold that were dedicated for use in God’s temple in Jerusalem. "They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and of silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone." (Daniel 5:4) Today, if we are not careful, we can find ourselves lost in the pleasures that this world is offering. Even Christians are often found engaging in the cares of this life, occupying themselves with what is afforded by this world, mingling that which has been sanctified and set apart for his purpose (their life) with the pleasures of this world. God has a word for Babylon. He has already spoke to them through Daniel, through his 3 companions and even through Nebuchadnezzar! The word of God was prevailing over Babylon. Now God interrupts their party. His hand wrote on the wall a message etched into the plaster. Belshazzar saw the hand writing on the wall. He literally saw Gods word and what was going to happen to him as a result of his debauchery. Daniel was called to interpret Gods word and in exchange for doing so guess what he was offered? Pleasurable position and riches of Babylon. He refused! Belshazzar died that night and we see the beginning of the Medo-Persian empire (the silver arms and chest of the image in chapter 2). Daniel, once again, stands for God and not Babylon. Oh saints the hand writing is already on the wall. God has already spoken to us in His Word regarding what He’s going to do in these last days. Are we going to wait until what He reveals has us shaking in our boots?That I fear May be too late! Do not allow that which is set apart for His use, your life, to be used by the enemy. May the Lord draw us away from the temporal pleasures of Babylon in these last days and may we heed His word according to what he has already written, and may we have a ready testimony for Him on the earth as we see His coming draw near.
