Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/384

 more closely,  he  found  the  secret  door,  by  which  the  priests were wont  to  go  in  and  out. Thereupon the  king,  being  enraged against the  priests  of  Bel,  ordered  them  all  to  be  put  to  death. And he  gave  Bel  up  to  Daniel,  who  destroyed  him  and  his  temple.

The Justice  and  Faithfulness  of  God. Baltassar’s  sudden  death  was in punishment  of  the  wanton  sacrilege  which  filled  up  the  measure  of his  sins. His day  of  grace  was  past,  and  God  summoned  him  before His judgment-seat. His overthrow  fulfilled  Daniel’s  prophecy  to  Nabuchodonozor  (chapter  LXXVII),  namely  that  the  Babylonian  kingdom  would come to  an  end,  and  that  another  kingdom  would  rise  up  in  its  place.

Sacrilege. The  sacred  vessels  of  the  Temple  were  consecrated  to God,  and  might  be  used  by  the  priests  alone  for  the  divine  worship. Therefore Baltassar’s  was  a threefold  sacrilege. Firstly, those  who  were not priests  and  even  women,  used  them. Secondly, they  were  used  for the purpose  of  intoxication. Thirdly, in  drinking  from  them,  the  false gods were  honoured  and  glorified.

Intemperance in  drink.  It  was  drunkenness  which  led  the  king  to commit  sacrilege. Drunkenness deprives  men,  either  partially  or  entirely, of the  use  of  their  reason. They no  longer  consider  what  they  say or do,  and  bad  passions  are  awakened  in  their  hearts. Such are  the consequences of  gluttony  or  intemperance,  which  is  one  of  the  seven capital sins,  or  sins  which  are  the  source  of  other  sins. Drunkenness debases man  and  makes  him  like  the  lower  animals. Our Lord Himself thus  warns  us:  “Take  heed  to  yourselves,  lest  perhaps  your hearts be  overcharged  with  surfeiting  and  drunkenness  and  the  cares  of this  life:  and  that  day  (of  judgment)  come  upon  you  suddenly”  (Luke 21.  34).

Our days  are  numbered;  and  as  a rule  the  end  comes  sooner than we  expect. Then comes  the  judgment,  at  which  all  our  thoughts, words and  actions  will  be  weighed  and  proved  according  to  their  merit before God. All our  possessions  will  be  divided,  and  will  pass  into other hands  after  our  death.

Zeal for  Gods  Glory.  We  should  admire  Daniel’s  zeal  for  God’s honour and  glory. It grieved  him  to  think  that  so  many  millions  of men  should  be  victims  to  the  folly  of  idolatry,  and  be  ignorant  of  the true God. Therefore he  laboured  to  convince  them  of  the  nothingness of idols,  and  to  convert  them  to  a belief  in  God. He knew  very  well that the  obstinate  worshippers  of  false  gods,  and  especially  the  priests, would hate  and  persecute  him;  but  in  spite  of  this,  and  with  great