TOPIC: Arrogance; National Apostasy, Over Confidence
TITLE: THE RIVER OF LIFE – How God Diverts The Plans of the Arrogant!
TEXT: Daniel 5:1 & 30
CONCISE OUTLINE
TRUTH/CONTEXT: Originally, Babylon was the city of Babel. [Genesis 11:1-9] Ultimately, it will become the Great Whore in the book of Revelation [Revelation 19:2]. The nation was used by God to punish Israel, again and again. In Revelation, it personifies the world and its wicked abominations.
The City of Babylon was built in such a way that the River Euphrates divided the city into Eastern and Western sections. The river literally flowed under its walls.
The city was about 120 stadia square (1.5 square miles) in area, with a surrounding moat and a double walled rampart (each approximately 25 feet wide by 40 feet in height; cited in NAC, p.167). According to Herodotus, Babylon was “considered impregnable”; it possessed “magnificent fortifications” and was “surrounded by a large moat” [the river supplied the moat; cited in EBC, pp.69, 70]
The fact that “the city had not been stormed by invaders in over a thousand years” may have led to overconfidence on the part of Belshazzar and his people. While the king and “leaders of government, society, the armed forces, and the priests … along with the king’s wives and concubines” … partied heartily, one of Cyrus’ commanders “diverted the waters of the Euphrates to an old channel dug by a previous ruler.” Soon the Persian army waded under the river gates and subdued the city. [Ibid.]
SURVEY THE TEXT – Daniel 5:1-30
EXPANDED OUTLINE
Clearly, Babylon and its leaders weren’t busy seeking “the Kingdom of God” or “His righteousness.” Only Daniel exemplified that quality.
In the days prior to Jesus, John the Baptist’s voice was heard to cry out, “repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”! Later, the apostles and disciples would echo the same cry to a world on the edge of destruction.
Since then Augustine, Constantine and Francis of Assisi carried on; followed by Zwingli, Huss and Wycliffe; also Knox, Calvin, Luther, Wesley, and Whitefield; next came the likes of Edwards, Finney, Moody, and Spurgeon; and now by Graham, Falwell, Land, Mohler, Smith, Laurie, Dobson, Wildmon, and others carry on the cry: “repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”!
CHALLENGE: In our day as in theirs, some listen and some don’t, but the message goes on from faith to faith.
TITLE: THE RIVER OF LIFE – How God Diverts The Plans of the Arrogant!
TEXT: Daniel 5:1 & 30
“Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Does Babylon’s fall serve as an example for our day?
….
That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain.”
CONCISE OUTLINE
TRUTH/CONTEXT: Originally, Babylon was the city of Babel. [Genesis 11:1-9] Ultimately, it will become the Great Whore in the book of Revelation [Revelation 19:2]. The nation was used by God to punish Israel, again and again. In Revelation, it personifies the world and its wicked abominations.
The City of Babylon was built in such a way that the River Euphrates divided the city into Eastern and Western sections. The river literally flowed under its walls.
The city was about 120 stadia square (1.5 square miles) in area, with a surrounding moat and a double walled rampart (each approximately 25 feet wide by 40 feet in height; cited in NAC, p.167). According to Herodotus, Babylon was “considered impregnable”; it possessed “magnificent fortifications” and was “surrounded by a large moat” [the river supplied the moat; cited in EBC, pp.69, 70]
The fact that “the city had not been stormed by invaders in over a thousand years” may have led to overconfidence on the part of Belshazzar and his people. While the king and “leaders of government, society, the armed forces, and the priests … along with the king’s wives and concubines” … partied heartily, one of Cyrus’ commanders “diverted the waters of the Euphrates to an old channel dug by a previous ruler.” Soon the Persian army waded under the river gates and subdued the city. [Ibid.]
SURVEY THE TEXT – Daniel 5:1-30
- 1-4 Holy Vessels Profaned
- 5-9 Handwriting On Wall
- 10-18 Queen Suggests Daniel; Daniel Entreated
- 17-28 Daniel Interprets Handwriting (see especially 26-28)
- 29-31 Daniel Honored; Belshazzar Defeated
EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. IN ITS DEFECTIVE DEPENDENCIES (Weapons/Wisdom) –APPLICATION: Cyrus’ army diverted the protecting waters of a great nation and its king … likewise, God will divert man’s plans, and they will fall. Only the River of Life cannot be diverted.A. The Weapons of Man –1. David’s Example –“David said to [Goliath], ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you.’”2. David’s Chorus –1 Samuel 17:45, 46a“Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.”Psalm 20:7B. The Wisdom of Man –1. Belshazzar sought to impress his guests.“God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.”2. Belshazzar sought to exalt himself.1 Corinthians 1:27“… let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position; and let the rich man glory in his humiliation … ”James 1:9, 10II. IN ITS DEGENERATE DISDAIN (Power/Possessions) –A. The Power of God –Like Herod and Ingersoll [Acts 12:21-23], Belshazzar challenged God’s authority and power.B. The Possessions of God –
“And on an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. And the people kept crying out, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.”Acts 12:21-23[LIGHTNING] Ingersoll stood on stage, shook fist at heaven, and dared God to strike him dead before he finished his blasphemous speech.
- That which is dedicated to the Lord belongs to the Lord; recall Phinehas and Hophni, the sons of Eli and their temple shenanigans.
- We belong to the Lord, “if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” [Romans 8:9], and now have the Temple and all of its utensils dwelling in us.
Clearly, Babylon and its leaders weren’t busy seeking “the Kingdom of God” or “His righteousness.” Only Daniel exemplified that quality.
In the days prior to Jesus, John the Baptist’s voice was heard to cry out, “repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”! Later, the apostles and disciples would echo the same cry to a world on the edge of destruction.
Since then Augustine, Constantine and Francis of Assisi carried on; followed by Zwingli, Huss and Wycliffe; also Knox, Calvin, Luther, Wesley, and Whitefield; next came the likes of Edwards, Finney, Moody, and Spurgeon; and now by Graham, Falwell, Land, Mohler, Smith, Laurie, Dobson, Wildmon, and others carry on the cry: “repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”!
CHALLENGE: In our day as in theirs, some listen and some don’t, but the message goes on from faith to faith.
1. GREAT NATIONS – are made by God!A nation cannot long rely on its weapons and wisdom in the absence of the protecting and sustaining hand of God; people and nations can go just so far before they call down God’s temporal wrath.
2. GREAT FORTRESSES –are made by man!
3. GREAT WEALTH – is possessed by man, but bestowed by God!
4. GREAT DEFEATS – are allowed by God –a. At an unexpected time!
b. In an unanticipated way!
c. By an unappreciated enemy!
Posts
