Are You Up To Code?

Qualifying Statement:

Kevin Samuels explanation and comparison

Daniel 5:26–28 KJV 1900

This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

Introduction

In the book of Daniel, we find ourselves in the midst of a grand feast hosted by King Belshazzar of Babylon. The scene is set in a lavish banquet hall where the king, his nobles, wives, and concubines are indulging in wine from sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem.

Used Sacred Vessels for Drinking: Belshazzar used vessels from the temple in Jerusalem for drinking wine, showing blatant disrespect for sacred items.

Indulged in Excessive Feasting and Drinking: The grand feast he hosted was marked by excessive indulgence and revelry, ignoring any sense of moderation or respect for the divine.

Praised False Gods: While using the sacred vessels, Belshazzar and his guests praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, further displaying his arrogance and disregard for the true God.

Ignored His Father's Experiences: Belshazzar did not learn from his father Nebuchadnezzar's experiences, who had been humbled by God. Instead, he continued in his prideful ways.

This act of using sacred items for a secular and indulgent purpose demonstrates Belshazzar's blatant disrespect for the holy and his arrogance.

Belshazzar's actions lead to a dramatic and supernatural event. Suddenly, a mysterious hand appears and writes a cryptic message on the wall: "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin."

The king, terrified and desperate for answers, summons Daniel to interpret the message. Daniel, known for his wisdom and ability to interpret divine messages, reveals the meaning to the king.

Daniel explains the entire message to the king: "Mene, Mene" means "numbered"—God has numbered the days of Belshazzar's kingdom and brought it to an end.

Stars in the Sky: "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." (Psalm 147:4 NIV)

Hairs on Our Head: "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Luke 12:7 NIV)

Days of Our Lives: "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:16 NIV)

Grains of Sand: "How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you." (Psalm 139:17-18 NIV)

People on Earth: "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." (Revelation 7:9 NIV)

Tears We Shed: "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." (Psalm 56:8 NLT)

The word "Tekel" is particularly significant as it means "weighed"—Belshazzar has been weighed on God's scales and found wanting.

"Tekel" means "weighed"—Belshazzar has been weighed on the scales and found deficient.

"Upharsin" (or "Peres") means "divided"—Belshazzar's kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

In ancient times, measurement systems were often based on physical objects or body parts.

For example, the cubit was a common unit of length measured from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow.

Weights were also standardized using objects like stones or grains.

These ancient systems were crucial for trade, construction, and daily life, providing a consistent way to measure and compare.

Just as ancient merchants would weigh goods to determine their value, God weighs human actions and intentions against His unchanging standards of righteousness.

This sermon will explore the importance of healthy comparison and how Belshazzar's life was measured against God's standard.

Punchline 1: "Are We Up to Code?"

Expound

We live in a world obsessed with measurements. We measure ingredients for recipes, follow assembly instructions, and check if our homes are "up to code."

Imagine building a house:

We start with a blueprint, a set of detailed plans.

We gather materials, ensuring they meet specific quality standards.

We follow building codes to ensure safety and structural integrity. We inspect the work at every stage, making sure it aligns with the plans.

But what if the blueprint is flawed?

What if the building codes are outdated?

What if the inspector is corrupt?

Just like a house, our lives can be built on faulty plans, outdated codes, or compromised standards.

We can be measured by worldly standards of wealth, fame, or power, only to find ourselves "wanting" when faced with the ultimate reality of God's judgment, like Belshazzar in Daniel 5:27.

Another way to say it is that: We can't measure our worth by worldly standards; they are like a shifting ruler, unreliable and ultimately meaningless.

Transition to Punchline 2

But what happens when we measure ourselves against God's standards rather than those set by man?

Punchline 2: "How Do We Measure Up to God's Standards?"

Expound:

Unlike man's ever-changing standards, God's standard is unchanging and absolute.

Malachi 3:6 KJV 1900

For I am the Lord, I change not; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Matthew 5:18 KJV 1900

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

I don't care whose preaching what

Consider the example of time. No matter where you are in the world, an hour is always 60 minutes, and a minute is always 60 seconds.

This standard doesn't change whether you're in New York, Tokyo, or anywhere else.

Time is a consistent and unchanging measure that everyone relies on daily.

Whether you're setting an alarm, catching a flight, or scheduling a meeting, the standard of time remains the same for everyone, ensuring coordination and reliability across all aspects of life.

Always Relevant: God's standards don't go out of style; they stay the same no matter the era.

Reliable Truth: Unlike changing social norms, God's truth is a steady anchor you can always count on.

Consistent Rules: Think of God's guidelines like a reliable recipe that always works, no matter where or when you use it.

Clear Directions: The Bible gives straightforward instructions that don't need constant updates like a phone app.

Unchanging Morals: God's sense of right and wrong is like a moral compass that never points in the wrong direction.

Fairness: God's justice is like a fair referee in a game—impartial and unbiased, always calling it as it is.

Role Model: God's holiness is like having a perfect role model whose example never changes.

Steady Values: God's values don't flip-flop; they're like a rock-solid foundation you can build your life on.

Promises Kept: God's promises are like a trustworthy friend who never breaks their word.

Consistent Evaluation: Imagine a fair test where the criteria never change; that's how God judges, ensuring everyone is evaluated the same way.

Another Way to Say It (Summarize it all up)

God's standards, like the handwriting on the wall in Daniel 5, require us to look deeper within ourselves, evaluating not just what we do but why we do it.

Transition to Climactic Punchline

So, if our standards are insufficient and God's standards are the ultimate measure, how does God evaluate and reward our conduct?

Climactic Punchline (The Whopper): "God's Scale Never Lies"

Expound

God evaluates and rewards us based on His standards, not our own.

I need you to understand that your value is not waiting by the car that you drive

because you can drive a day and still be on your way to heaven

Your value is not determined by the house you live in

but if you live right, there is a mansion that’s waiting on you

Belshazzar fell short because he was judged by God's criteria and didn't measure up.

God's judgment, symbolized by the word "Tekel," indicates that our lives have been assessed and found lacking.

Expound via Real-life and Relatable Example

Imagine a student who has always been top of their class but then takes a standardized test that reflects a national standard. They might realize that their previous achievements were only relative to a smaller pool. Similarly, God's judgment is absolute and not relative to human comparisons.

Another Way to Say It (Summarize it all up)

Ultimately, God's scale is the true measure, and it never lies. Our goal should be to align our lives with His standards, for it is by these that we will be judged and rewarded.

Heart: When my heart is weighed on the scale of God's Word, may it read, "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalm 119:11 KJV)

Mind: When my mind is weighed on the scale of God's will, may it read, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5 KJV)

Actions: When my deeds are weighed on the scale of God's love, may they read, "Love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12 KJV)

Words: When my speech is weighed on the scale of God's grace, may it read, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt." (Colossians 4:6 KJV)

Service: When my service is weighed on the scale of God's compassion, may it read, "Serve one another humbly in love." (Galatians 5:13 KJV)

Faith: When my faith is weighed on the scale of God's promises, may it read, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7 KJV)

Hope: When my hope is weighed on the scale of God's faithfulness, may it read, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (Hebrews 6:19 KJV)

Prayer: When my prayers are weighed on the scale of God's attentiveness, may they read, "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV)

Worship: When my worship is weighed on the scale of God's glory, may it read, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (Revelation 5:12 NIV)

Life: When my life is weighed on the scale of God's purpose, may it read, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23 KJV)

Conclusion

In conclusion, let us strive to measure our lives by God's standards, ensuring that we are "up to code" not just by human metrics but by divine ones. Belshazzar's story in Daniel 5 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of aligning our conduct with God's eternal and unerring standards.