“How do you know when your number is up?”
Introduction:
For Belshazzar it was too late. He had mocked God for the last time. What led to his demise? It was “too late” for Belshazzar, but it may not be too late for you. Please heed this message!
The handwriting was on the wall. The old prophet, Daniel, was brought in to interpret the message. The interpretation was that God would not prolong the days for Belshazzar’s kingdom. His number was up. He was weighed in the balances and found wanting. His kingdom would be taken from him and the nation of Babylon would be divided between the nations of the Medes and the Persians.
How do we know when our days are numbered?
Our days are numbered when:
1. We lose respect for the enemy.
Belshazzar thought that their no way that his enemies would ever defeat him. His father, King Nebonidus, was out fighting the enemies of Babylon. Certainly his earthly father would protect him.
Even if the Medes and the Persians could overcome the strength of the Babylonian Army, there was no way for them to be able to penetrate the walls of the city! These walls were looped for six miles around the city, standing 300 foot tall guarded by a 35 foot mote. One commentary mentions that there were as many as 250 guard towers on the wall. The wall itself was as wide as contemporary highway.
They had food enough food on hand to last them twenty years and the Euphrates River flowed under the city wall to give them a fresh water supply.
Belshazzar thought himself invincible. He had no respect for the enemy.
When we lose respect for our enemy, our number is up. Our enemy is the Devil and he is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We are to live sober mindedly about the enemy. Remember, we fight not against flesh and blood but powers of darkness.
How did the enemy defeat Belshazzar? During the same night that he was having his “party” that he flaunted to honor himself, they dried up his river and sent in their armies underneath the walls.
Satan wants to dry up your river too! Stay in the water of the word. Stay sober minded about your enemy!
Our days are numbered when:
2. We lose respect for God.
The Grand Father of Belshazzar was King Nebuchadnezzar. God had used his Grand Father to defeat the pride of Israel. It was King Nebuchadnezzar who had taken the Hebrew children to Babylon. He then placed the treasures from the Temple of Jerusalem under lock and key. God had humbled him time and time again. He had a great respect for the God of Israel.
Not so with young King Belshazzar. In his drunken state, he demanded that the sanctified vessels of gold that had been from the Temple of Jerusalem be brought into his banquet. They were given to his lords, to their wives, and to their concubines. He toasted the gods of gold, silver, stone and wood. And the God of Israel was angry!
Is God angry with America? What are the gods that we are toasting today? Have we no respect for the holiness of God. Are our days numbered? Is it “too late?”
Our days are numbered when:
3. We lose respect for people.
To King Belshazzar, people were pawns. He had surrounded himself with concubines. Godly men, like Daniel, were not invited to his banquet.
Our days are numbered when:
4. We lose respect for the King.
The people of Babylon looked with astonishment at their King. After seeing the handwriting on the wall, his face was pale, his loins let loose, (He soiled his pants), and his knees were knocking together. He could not stand up.
Do you realize that you and I are children of the King? That the world is looking to us for answers? Do they see your confidence in Christ, or do they see a fallen king?
Envision children. They consider their parents infallible. But sin enters the home. Their father is a drunkard. They Mother plays the harlot. The home is ruined. Their king and their kingdom has fallen.
Conclusion:
It was too late for Belshazzar. If you heed the warning of this text, it may not be too late for you!
