3. Of his warning —
[While Belshazzar was indulging in his impious revels, he saw a hand writing upon the wall of the room wherein he sat. Terrified beyond measure at so strange a sight, he called for all his magicians and astrologers to read and explain the words. None of them being able to explain the writing, Daniel was sent for : and he, by Divine inspiration, declared the sentence which God had thus visibly proclaimed. On any other occa- sion, if we may judge from the neglect into which Daniel had fallen, Belshazzar would have fiercely resented the faithfulness with which this prophet of the Lord had denounced his doom : but his terror had softened him for a moment ; yet not so softened him as to produce any genuine repentance in his heart. He ordered the promised reward to be given to Daniel ; but we
e Note a.
do not find that he humbled himself before God, or uttered one prayer for mercy. Scarcely was the warning explained to him, but it was executed on him, and on all his dissolute companions. Yes ; " in that night was Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, slain." As his royalty did not save him, so neither did his terror obtain for him one moment's respite. He heard, he trembled, he died. He had seen (as Daniel told him) the judg- ments that had been executed on Nebuchadnezzar, his grand- father ; and yet had not profited by that warning, or humbled himself before the God of heaven : now therefore the warning and the judgment came together : nor was any further space given him for repentance.
How differently has God acted hitherto towards us ! Many are the warnings which we have slighted ; and yet, behold, we
live! But how soon his patience may come to an
end, and a termination be put to our day of grace, who can tell? ]
Such was the season when this unhappy monarch was called into the presence of his Judge. Let us next consider, II. The instruction to be gathered from it —
Surely we may learn from this,
1. Not to provoke the Lord to jealousy — [It matters not whether, with Belshazzar, we " praise gods of wood and stone," or whether we "set up idols in our hearts:" in either case, God is dethroned ; and " other lords besides him have dominion over us." And shall we think lightly of our guilt, while in such a state as this ? or shall we imagine that God regards it with indifference ? No : " he is a jealous God : his very name is Jealousf : " and "his glory will he not give," or allow to be given " to another." Look then within your own bosoms, ye who are so addicted to the pursuits of this life as scarcely to have any time or inclination for reading the Scriptures and for secret prayer ; ye whose feelings are quickly roused when your honour or your interest are at stake, and yet are unconcerned about the honour of God or the interests of your souls ; look, I say, within, and see whether God has not reason to be jealous of you ; and whether he might not justly destroy you instantly with fire, as he did Nadab and Abihu ; or cause the earth to swallow you up quick, as he did to Korah and his rebellious associates ? Do not imagine that you are innocent, because you do not follow the practices of Belshazzar : see whether you be not living in his spirit ; and whether you are not despising God in your heart, as much as
f Exocl. xxxiv. 14.
1130.1 belshazzar's death. 51.5
he did in his actions ; and idolizing the world in your heart, as much as he did his fictitious deities in his drunken carousals? And know, that though your idolatry is less gross than his, it involves you in deeper guilt, in proportion as the meridian light of the Gospel transcends the darkness of Heathen super- stition.]