Remember What Is Right

Daniel 5:10-12 The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “O king, live forever!” she said. “Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale! 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father — your father the king, I say — appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. 12 This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”
 
THE queen is not Belshazzar’s wife. Historical and biblical evidence indicates a queen was often the mother of a king. See for example, 1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 11:1-3; 24:12; Jeremiah 13:18. Many feel she was Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter; and thus, she would have personally witnessed Daniel’s role in helping her father come to know the omnipotent, omniscient God. The queen has not been part of the evening’s drinking party. Perhaps she knew a more devout life. With her experience and wisdom, this good mother comes to help her son.
    You wonder, don’t you, what has happened to Daniel. Why did Belshazzar not know him? What had happened to Daniel’s influence over the king and his leadership of the wise men? I think, though, we do know the answer. We watch a new president take office, and no advisors remain from the previous president. A new generation comes into power, and the previous leaders are considered irrelevant. New leaders want new people around them. Fresh ideas are necessary for change!
    Or are they? Perhaps the new generation should hold onto the good lessons learned. Do you wonder how different Belshazzar’s life would have been had he sought and followed Daniel’s counsel? Might Babylon have thrived many more years as its leaders worshiped God only?
    What about the church? Do our leaders learn from past lessons on the good ways to follow God’s truth? Or do they believe more in their own “better” way? How about your own life? What do you do with lessons from those who have lived before you? How do you treat Scripture’s teaching? Are you seeing how God you can open your life to God’s purpose for you? Are you learning what is good from good leaders? Do you understand the power of Jesus’ true way into a full life? Or might you think there’s a better way?
 
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.