What can we learn from Belshazzar's fear in Daniel 5:6? Setting the Scene Belshazzar, confident in his power, profaned the holy vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 5:1–4). Immediately, “the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall” (v. 5). Verse 6 captures the king’s reaction: “Then the king’s face grew pale, and his thoughts alarmed him, and the joints of his hips gave way, and his knees knocked together.” (Daniel 5:6) The Terror That Swept the Throne Belshazzar’s fear is vivid—physical collapse, mental turmoil, public humiliation. This sudden dread flowed from one cause: a direct confrontation with the holy God he had mocked. Lessons from Belshazzar’s Fear • Pride crumbles before God’s holiness – Proverbs 16:18 reminds, “Pride goes before destruction.” Belshazzar’s arrogance was shattered in a heartbeat. • Sin’s momentary pleasure yields lasting terror – Hebrews 11:25 contrasts “the fleeting pleasure of sin” with God’s righteous standard. The party ended in panic. • God’s judgment can arrive without warning – 1 Thessalonians 5:3: “While people are saying, ‘Peace and security,’ destruction comes upon them suddenly.” • Earthly power offers no refuge – Psalm 2:10–11 calls kings to “serve the LORD with fear.” Thrones and armies could not steady Belshazzar’s knees. • God’s Word exposes the heart – Hebrews 4:12: “The word of God is living and active… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The mysterious writing cut through royal bravado. • Fear of the Lord is life-giving; terror without repentance is deadly – Proverbs 14:27: “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life.” Belshazzar’s fear drove him to magicians, not to God; thus it produced no salvation. Contrasting Human Fear and Godly Fear • Human fear: paralyzes, focuses on consequences, seeks quick relief (Daniel 5:7). • Godly fear: humbles, leads to repentance, produces wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Belshazzar experienced the first, but rejected the second. Takeaways for Us Today • Examine our hearts for hidden pride—better to humble ourselves now (James 4:10) than be humbled later. • Treat holy things as holy—worship, Scripture, and the name of God deserve reverence (Leviticus 10:3). • Cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord—a reverent awe that births obedience and peace (Psalm 111:10). • Remember the brevity of life and the certainty of judgment (Hebrews 9:27). • Run to God, not from Him—Christ bore judgment so we can stand secure (Romans 5:9). |
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