What actions demonstrate a heart that "humbled not" before God? Verse Under Study “ ‘But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.’ ” (Daniel 5:22) Actions That Reveal an Un-Humbled Heart • Rejecting the lessons of God’s prior dealings – Belshazzar “knew all” God had done to humble Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:34-37) yet brushed it aside. • Choosing pride over repentance – Pride always precedes a fall (Proverbs 16:18); refusing to bow is itself an act of rebellion. • Treating holy things as common – He drank from the consecrated temple vessels (Daniel 5:3-4), mocking what God calls sacred (cf. Leviticus 10:3). • Glorifying idols rather than the living God – He “praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone” (Daniel 5:4), exalting created things above the Creator (Romans 1:21-23). • Indulging the flesh in self-exalting revelry – A thousand nobles, wine, and excess (Daniel 5:1) showed a heart seeking pleasure, not purity (Galatians 5:19-21). • Ignoring clear warnings – The handwriting on the wall (Daniel 5:5-6) came after years of patient grace; an un-humbled heart despises correction (Proverbs 15:10). • Failing to acknowledge God’s sovereignty – Daniel reminded him, “the Most High God rules the kingdom of men” (Daniel 5:21), yet Belshazzar still refused to bend (cf. Psalm 2:1-3). The Immediate Consequences • Sudden judgment: “That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain” (Daniel 5:30). • Loss of kingdom: “Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:28). God’s patience has limits when pride persists (Isaiah 13:11). Contrast: Marks of a Humbled Heart • Remembers and learns from God’s past dealings (Psalm 77:11). • Acknowledges God’s absolute rule (1 Peter 5:6). • Treats what is holy with reverence (Hebrews 12:28). • Exalts God alone, rejecting idols (Exodus 20:3). • Welcomes correction and quickly repents (James 4:6-10). Personal Takeaway Belshazzar’s story reminds us that knowledge of truth without submission breeds arrogance. A heart that “humbled not” before God broadcasts its pride through irreverence, idolatry, indulgence, and indifference to warning. May we instead cultivate continual humility, honoring the King who alone holds our breath in His hands (Daniel 5:23). |
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