One of my favorite books in the Bible is the book of Daniel. This man of God tread down the serpent and acted as counsellor, watchman and interpreter of God in the courts of the Kings during his days. He served one of the most cruel king ever born of woman, Nebuchadnezzar. He also served Darius the Mede as well as Cyrus the great. During one instance in his service to the house of Nebuchadnezzar, when his son was already ruling in his place, a finger appeared suddenly on the wall. Lost of words and shaking what do those signs mean, Belshazzar called Daniel’s help who then interpreted the words for him. Just as this man of God ministered by interpreting events at that time, and seeking zealously to understand events during the last days, God’s prophets are called to do the same thing today, be the voice of God in the midst of troubles, storms and brewing destruction over the earth. Because the office of the prophet are for those whom God called to prophesy and speak for the Lord what they see, and hear from heaven, the Church too is the prophet of God to this world. She is called to speak for God and call the world to repentance.

“Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.

When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, in order that the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.

Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.

They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone.”  (Dan 5:1-4)

Here we are admonished that the Lord expressly spoke through the prophet that it is time to bring a sweeping judgment on the house of Belshazzar because he thought he can govern without the need for the Lord. This very throught is pride of the greatest measure that earns the greatest ire of heaven. We should not walk nor think of walking without the Lord. Because men tends to think that they can do everything without the Lord, more often this lead to their own destruction and misery. The devil delights to bring death and murder on those who follow his lies. Just as the end result of hearing the devil is death, those who follow on his ways will be swept by it. Those who trust in their gold and silver will find that they cannot be saved by their metal friends.The Lord is a jealous God and His delays of judgment does not mean injustice but rather to give time for the sinner to repent. Belshazzar never thought of doing it. In the end the fingers of justice appeared on the wall of his kingdom decreeing his destruction and ending the reign of the Babylonian kings. What was the cause of this great fall from grace?

Once more, it is because of pride; pride for one’s own glory, for one’s own wealth and riches. The Lord is patient, but one of the greatest turn off to the Lord is arrogance and pride. He says that He spurns the proud and even resists them (James 4:6). This fall from grace did not just came from nowhere but came when he refused to be corrected and surrounded himself with people who only knew how to drink and be merry but not how to mourn or to be in anguish. Solomon wrote that there is wisdom in the house of mourning. Repentance can change things and even turn the tide of judgment just as his father did. But when we are given reproof and do not change, then the axe has been given to cut off the evil tree. As Solomon observed, “He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who forsakes reproof goes astray” (Prov 10:17). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. Let us all be admonished in this.

“Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven;

and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them;

and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand…” (Dan 5:22-23)

Pride is a terrible scourge and there is nothing that can make us fall faster than to walk in this way. Without the grace of God holding our breath and keeping us even during times and seasons of hardship, we are lost. Those who try to love away from God and do their own will find it increasingly difficult in the times ahead to walk even a mile without carrying this heavy burden upon them. Pride is the cause of the fall of man and it will also be pride that will make us fall when we do not heed His voice. During these times of severe recession, disasters and pressure, we must all the more walk with Him so close that we would see with great clarity what we need to do so that we can do mighty exploits as Daniel did. If we are building our lives on the foundation of love and humility, we will not fall.

I know of a movie entitled, “dragon heart,” which is about a dragon and a young prince whose father was killed by his occupants because of his tyrannical rule. The young king who tried to rescue his father was stabbed through the heart before he could ever help his father. To save the boy’s life, his mother brought him to a cave where a dragon lives and pleads to save the life of his son. Having recognized the queen as a descendant of the Celts who revered his kind, the dragon agreed for her sake. Thereafter, the rule of the young king was just as wicked as his father. He never showed kindness in return. This is essentially what happened to Belshazzar whose reign has to be cut off because of pride riding high up to heaven. When the smell of pride reaches the nostrils of God, he seeks the man and tumbles him down so he knows none is king beyond God. Pride caused the fall of man in the beginning and it has caused all the fall from grace ever since. If you are reading this and it afflicts your heart, you are one of those for whom pride has taken grip of. Resist this evil, choose to walk in humility, “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” ( 1 Pet 5:5-8).

The LORD will tear down the house of the proud…(Prov 15:25)

A just balance and scales belong to the LORD; All the weights of the bag are His concern. (Pro 16:11)

It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established on righteousness. (Prov 16:12)

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. (Pro 16:18)