Powerless

Daniel 5:4-6 As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. 5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 His face turned pale, and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
 
IN its physical structure Babylon was deemed unconquerable. Babylon covered 14 square miles and had not fallen to an invasion for 1,000 years. Around the city was incredible double wall system with a moat between the two walls. The outer wall was 87 feet thick! And get this: the wall was 350 feet high with 100 gates, plus hundreds more towers that reached another 100 feet above the walls. Unbelievable, isn’t it? Why would anyone within these walls be afraid?
    The truth is, there is no fear like that of a guilty man knowing an unstoppable force confronts his life. As the hand mysteriously writes on the wall (There is archeological evidence of the hall and where the writing could have happened.) Belshazzar’s mindset changes from prideful contempt of God to fear. A power much greater than he or his walls was in the room. Adding to his fear, Belshazzar had no idea what would happen next. The powerful king is powerless, at the mercy of the force writing the message.
    I remember many years ago when I was considering my relationship with God. I wondered, “What would life be without him? What if I decided to live ignoring his commands? What would happen if I neglected the Lord’s love and grace?” At the very thought of that kind of life, a deep fear gripped my gut. Envisioning a separation from my Lord God’s sovereign authority over my life, I felt weak in the knees. I am thankful the Holy Spirit used my gripping fear to “not be wise in (my) own eyes; (but to) fear the Lord and shun evil. (Proverbs 3:7)
    All the physical strongholds of wealth can surround us. But they are of no use when God confronts us. Isaiah 45:23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
    Receive God’s authority. Live in peace. Rejoice in your salvation.
 
2 Corinthians 5:11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.