“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.” DAN. 5: 30
OBSERVE the person, the event, and the season.
The person was Belshazzar. He is not easily identified in profane history, and little is said of him in the Scriptures of truth. He was (a descendant) of Nebuchadnezzar. He appears in the sacred story like a man by the way-side hung in irons. “The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot;” or if preserved, it is perpetuated in disgrace. The noticing of some persons is renown, of others is infamy. Let us so live as, when dead, we may yet speak or be spoken of to our honor and the improvement of others.
The event–he “was slain.”Though a king he yields to “the king of terrors.” I said, ye are gods; but ye shall die like men, and be as one of the princes. “Man that is in honor and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” The dwellers in dust who had once trembled before him, are represented as insulting the king of Babylon. “Art thou also become weak as we? Art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols; the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.” What a change! But observe not only his death, but the manner of it. He might have died in a good old age, and gradually, and in a peaceful bed; but he is cut off prematurely, suddenly, and violently: he was slain.
When? “That night.” What night? The night of his festivity. He had made a great feast unto a thousand of his lords; and music and dancing, and every kind or indulgence, filled the palace. How little did he suspect the vicinage or danger, or death. Marriage rites have sometimes been prevented, or immediately followed by funeral solemnities. A man has built and embellished a mansion, and prepared an entertainment to crown his wishes; but instead or taking possession or it, he has entered the house appointed for all living. Another has planned a favorite journey; but at the very commencement of it, he has been turned into the way of all the earth. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” That night was the king or the Chaldeans slain.
What night? The night or his wickedness. Festivity and intemperance and profaneness generally go together. Job therefore, though he did not oppose the feasting of his sons in each other’s house, yet feared for them; and prayed and offered sacrifices, lest they should have sinned, and cursed God in their heart. But what dreadful excess of riot was here.” Belshazzar, while 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. 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. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.” (Daniel 5:2-4) Sentence against an evil work is not always speedily executed; for God is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish. But sin has frequently been instantly punished; as we see in the case of Lot’s wife and Gehazi and Herod, and Ananias and Sapphira. And are there no instances of this now? What transgressor can be sure that he shall not die in the very act of iniquity? His breath is in his nostrils; there is but a step between him and death. A liar has dropped down dead with a lie on his lips. A swearer has called for damnation upon his soul, and the prayer has no sooner been offered than answered. Derangement also may be, in effect, the same as sudden death. “He that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
What night? The night of his visitation. “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. 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 5:5,6)” The effect at first seems remarkable, as the import of the inscription was unknown. Yet what can be more alarming than strangeness and uncertainty? But why does he not suppose that the prodigy is favorable, containing an encomium, or a promise? Conscience forebodes the meaning. But Daniel explains it clearly, and admonishes him, but unavailingly. He had been warned before. This was the last address, and not designed for his salvation. Of what use as to his moral state and disposition, were a few moments of confusion and terror, and attempted resistance or flight? And what better, for the purpose of repentance, are the hours or moments upon which many are suspending an attention to the things that belong to their peace? Death-bed alarms and prayers, and the exercises which attend them, are most likely, if useful at all, to benefit the living rather than the dead.
Oh that we were wise, that we understood this, that we considered our latter end!