Daniel 5 Devotional

When Knowing Is Not Enough

“Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.”Daniel 5:23 (BSB)

Belshazzar throws a feast for a thousand nobles and, with the wine flowing, sends for the gold and silver vessels taken from God's temple in Jerusalem. They drink from them while praising gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone (5:1-4). Then the fingers of a human hand appear and write on the plaster wall, and the king's knees knock together (5:5-6).

Daniel reads the writing. First he reminds Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar, who was humbled until he acknowledged that the Most High rules (5:18-21). Then comes the charge. Belshazzar knew all of this and still did not humble himself (5:22). He praised idols that cannot see or hear, and failed to honor the God who holds his life and every step in his hand (5:23). His days are numbered, he has been measured and come up short, and that very night he is killed (5:26-30). Knowing the truth about God is not the same as bowing to it. The God who gives every breath deserves your honor now.

To think about: What truth about God do you already know but have not yet let change the way you live?