Bribing God
doesn't work
There is a commonly used phrase, “seeing the handwriting on the wall,” that finds its origins in the Book of Daniel. In chapter five, King Belshazzar is holding a blasphemous, wicked party and in the middle of it, a hand appears and writes on the wall of the king’s palace. No one can interpret what the words mean. So, they bring Daniel into the room and he tells the king that “God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end…you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting…your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
That was a sobering message. It came to pass before the night was over. Belshazzar died and his kingdom was given to Darius the Mede.
What seems odd is, that after Daniel had just announced the end of Belshazzar’s kingdom because God had found him to be a defective leader, the king honors and promotes Daniel. Why would he do such a thing? We see other instances where the rulers punished the prophets who announced God’s judgments on them. But in this case, Daniel is praised and promoted. Why?
We aren’t told, so I am guessing to some degree. I think it is an accurate guess though.
I believe that Belshazzar was throwing a Hail Mary pass. He was hoping that honoring Daniel would appease God and he would be spared the inglorious end to his reign. It didn’t work.
God can’t be bought off that way. Giving your pastor a new jacket is a nice thing to do, but it won’t appease God’s wrath. Serving soup at the rescue mission is good work, but it won’t avert the Day of Judgment.
God’s wrath is appeased, and judgment is averted only through the work of Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection alone are what save. Hanging gold chains around a prophet’s neck won’t do it.
