DANIEL 5
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. 19 And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.
– Daniel 5:17-21
DANIEL 5 DANIEL’S LESSONS ON PRIDE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
If anyone thinks highly of himself, he is an idolater
He will be crushed and humbled by the Lord God
Let no conceit and boasting come out of your mouth
Remember to glorify the Lord with a humble heart.
In this account, Daniel was summoned by Belshazzar to interpret the writing on the wall and in return, he promised him honor and a powerful position. Daniel wasn’t interested in all that was offered to him. Instead, he took Belshazzar down memory lane with what his ancestor, Nebuchadnezzar went through just because of his pride and idolatry. He reminded him of the fate of his ancestor when he teemed with boasting and pride over his kingdom. He was demoted to the level of animals and shunned from his people and kingdom. Before Daniel interpreted the handwriting on the wall, he prepared Belshazzar to examine himself so that he could learn from the fate of his own kin, Nebuchadnezzar. I guess the sins of their fathers have gone down to the next generations. He made the same sins of pride and idolatry against God.
REFLECTION
- How can you tie up the sins of pride and idolatry? How are they twin sins?
