There is no doubt that our culture seems to have lost a sense of accountability, morality, and reality. But we should be assured that every person, be it a king, politician, CEO, teacher, coach, doctor, or preacher will stand on the scales of judgment and give an account of what we have done with what we have been given. This truth should cause every Christian to live a life for what truly matters, a life filled with high integrity, pure motive, and a holy heart. ~ Pastor Dave
Open: Have you ever been in a situation where you knew it wasn’t going to end well? Share your story.
Read: Daniel 5; Job 31:5-6; Proverbs 16:2; Proverbs 21:2; John 5; Acts 10; 1 Corinthians 3
Discuss:
1. Who was King Belshazzar? How do actions show signs of insecurity? How does insecurity plague our current culture? In what ways do you struggle with insecurity? What are some of the reactions associated with insecurity? How can insecurity reveal your idols? In what ways do we make holy things common?
2. Where did King Belshazzar get the vessels from the Temple? What significance does this have to the story of Daniel? Describe how the events of Daniel 5 are similar to those of Daniel 4?
3. Have you ever heard the expression, “the handwriting is on the wall”? Describe the meaning of this phrase. How would you have responded to Belshazzar’s experience? Read Daniel 5:22-23. How does Daniel summarize Belshazzar’s behavior and situation? How do you see these same attitudes and actions in our society?
4. Daniel reads and explains the three terms that were written on the wall. Each word has two meanings, what are they? What unifies one set of meanings for the words? What is the essence of the overall message? Belshazzar was weighed and found light. What do we give weight to that would cause us to be found wanting?
5. That very night Belshazzar was overthrown by Persians. What do you make of the fact that God sovereignly had this foreign enemy in the wings, surrounding the palace, prepared for this moment? How mindful are you of the holiness of God? How should the expediency of God’s judgment cause us to live? In what ways should the reality of judgment both warn us and encourage us? Who will be the ultimate judge?
Pray: Take a moment to consider where you may have lost the value of holiness in your own life. Ask God to reveal those areas. Spend some time in confession and repentance concerning those areas. Pray that God would give you the strength to live for what matters and to serve faithfully as His temple.
Memorize/Meditate: For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:22-24
