This is a guest post by Brian Stenson, a graduate of Bloomsburg University and collegiate missionary with DiscipleMakers. You can find him on Facebook.
We know that in Bible study we must seek truth. But what happens if we stop there?
In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar shows the folly of finding truth without applying it to our lives. His story goes like this.
Belshazzar throws a great party. It’s just getting good, when a human hand appears out of nowhere and writes on the wall. King Belshazzar becomes greatly alarmed at this, just as any of us would. Since he cannot read what the hand is writing, he seeks out the best magicians, enchanters, and astrologers in his kingdom to interpret the words. None is able to, until Daniel shows up. The king hears of Daniel because of the sterling reputation he had with Belshazzar’s father. Daniel agrees to interpret the message; however, the news is not good for Belshazzar. Daniel tells him that God has numbered the days of his kingdom, that he has not measured up, and that his kingdom will be divided and given away.
David Fisher (2009), Creative Commons
At this point in the story, things aren’t so great for Belshazzar. But they can still get worse. Belshazzar immediately rewards Daniel for his efforts and makes him the third ruler in the kingdom. Then comes the punch line.
“That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed” (Dan 5:30, ESV).
What? That’s it? Why the abrupt ending? Where is the part where King Belshazzar begs God for mercy? Why doesn’t he repent for his evil ways? Ho
w could he not try to do something to stop this impending judgment?
Unfortunately, I often act just like King Belshazzar. He sought the truth. He worked hard to find the message’s meaning. But in the end, he did nothing about it. And the consequences were devastating.
I’m like Belshazzar when I study the Bible and come up with great applications, only to forget them a few hours later. I’m like Belshazzar when I read about seeking wisdom as silver and searching for it as hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:3-4) but sit back and enjoy my laziness instead. I’m like Belshazzar when I read God’s promises but fail to believe them, being satisfied instead to chase my own earthly security.
James warns of such behavior.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
Being doers of the word goes beyond finding great applications in our Bible study. Being doers of the word means intentionally living out the truths that the Bible lays before us. We absolutely must seek the truth. But we must not stop there. After all, Jesus didn’t.
Jesus didn’t listen to the Father and then quickly forget what he said. Jesus didn’t decide to do things his own way. No, Jesus obeyed the Father, even to death on a cross, because he knew we would fall short in our obedience. Because of Jesus, there’s hope. So when our Bible study stops short, let’s get back up, trusting in the perfect work of Jesus Christ, and strive to be doers of the Word.
Thanks; I was reading and re-reading the Prophets these days and it stroke me too, particularly with Amos. I was satisfied with my dedicated time for reading the Bible while nesting on sin when not reading… as I continue to read and re-read, He’s teaching me to hate this compromise and, although it’s hard to stop certain behaviors, I’m learning little by little to immerse my life with every bit of teaching I can receive from my reading even when this reading appears hypocrite.
BRIAN!!!
I used to be in DiscipleMakers during college!
Anyway, excellent post, application is a key part of being a believer.
This passage, I think, highlights another important lesson, in a unique way. Let’s take the part where you point out Daniel’s, “sterling reputation he had with Belshazzar’s father.” An important point to remember: Belshazzar was not the son of Nebuchadrezzar, nor was he king (he was more akin to a viceroy or regent). Later, when it talks about the death of Belshazzar, it claims he was killed by “Darius the Mede,” when in fact Cyrus of Persia took the kingdom from Belshazzar’s father Nabonidus. There are scholarly disputes as to whether “son” was used to mean “successor” and whether Darius the Mede was perhaps an alternate name for Cyrus (though I’m not aware of any good evidence for either). But, the point remains that the text in its literal sense would be historically false. Daniel in general has some historical problems, but I don’t wish to get into those here.
The point I’m trying to get at is that not only do we learn a lesson in application from this story, we learn it *despite* the historical falsity of the details in the story. Daniel 5 can also serve to teach Christians that God’s truth shines through despite the failure of our human doctrines of inerrancy. Or, to put it another way, just because something isn’t factually true doesn’t mean it can’t lead us to spiritual truths.
Anyway, great post Brian. Glad to see DCF has someone with such good insight.