When Kings And People Repent. Part [12] 04/26/2025 (Morning thought)

Daniel 5:3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

Daniel 5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

Daniel 5:9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O thou king, the Most-High God gave unto Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor.

Daniel 5:19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

Daniel 5:21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the Most-High God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appoints over it  whomsoever he will.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

When Kings And People Repent. Part [11] 04/26/2025 (Evening thought)

Exodus 14:6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: 7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 283] Pharaoh collected his forces, “six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt,” horsemen, captains, and foot soldiers. The king himself, attended by the great men of his realm, headed the attacking army. To secure the favor of the gods, and thus ensure the success of their undertaking the priests also accompanied them. The king was resolved to intimidate the Israelites by a grand display of his power.

The Egyptians feared lest their forced submission to the God of Israel should subject them to derision of other nations; but if they should now go forth with a great show of power, and bring back the fugitives, they would redeem their glory, as well as recover the services of their bondmen.

Now, there is one more king whose doings we must examine before we close for his experience contains a very dire warning for kings and peoples of our day. King Belshazzar knew of the history of his father and the great change that took place after he was made to eat grass. He knew of Nebuchadnezzar’s repentance, and his acknowledgement of the God of heaven, and yet, he went even further by adding insult to injury, when he called for the sacred vessels of God to be used to drink wine with his concubines and counselors.

Daniel 5:2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!