Verse of the Day: V27 “TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”
1. The Wine (V1-4)
V1 “Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.”
Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, mocked the Almighty God when he used the golden and silver vessels brought from God’s temple in Jerusalem by his father Nebuchadnezzar for their wine drinking during the great feast held with his princes, wives, concubines and lords. In the eyes of Belshazzar, his great feast was more important than God’s vessels.
V2 “Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.”
2. The Writing (V5-24)
V5 “In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.”
King Belshazzar did not glorify or please the Lord of heaven when he blatantly used God’s golden and silver vessels for their wine drinking during the great feast. That same hour, the fingers of the Lord of heaven were seen writing on the wall of the king’s palace.
V23 “But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:”
3. The Weight (V25-31)
V27 “TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”
Prophet Daniel interpreted the writing as the Lord of heaven weighed King Belshazzar in His balance, and found him guilty, and thus numbered or would soon end his life and his kingdom. That same night, King Darius of the Median kingdom suddenly attacked and killed Belshazzar, and subsequently defeated the Babylonian or the Chaldean kingdom.
V30 “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always glorify You and You alone.
Posted by: Pastor Dave Sim AT 06:23 am
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Verse of the Day: V32 “And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”
1. The Alarm (V1-27)
V5 “I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.”
God sounded the alarm through a dream given to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, which frightened and troubled him. Daniel then interpreted the king’s dream, and warned him to repent of his arrogance and pride otherwise God would punish and humble him.
V8 “But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,”
2. The Arrogance (V28-32)
V30 “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?”
Indeed, the most High God humbled the arrogant Nebuchadnezzar by making him insane and driving him out of his palace to dwell and eat with the beasts and the oxen in the field.
V32 “And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”
3. The Awakening (V33-37)
V34 “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:”
However, the time of awakening came as Nebuchadnezzar lifted up his eyes to heaven and acknowledged and blessed God and realised that it was the most High God who promoted kings as well as removed them. Indeed, there is one and only most High God and not even the most powerful king on earth can be compared to the most High God.
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please humble me to know that You are the one and only most High God.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 06:41 pm
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Verse of the Day:V25 “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
1. The Fire (V1-7)
V1 “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.”
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, thought that he was the greatest in the world and he began to build a towering golden image which represented his power and glory. He then commanded all the people in his kingdom to worship the golden image and those who refused to worship the golden image would be thrown into the burning fiery furnace.
V6 “And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
2. The Fury (V8-18)
V12 “There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
There were three Jews, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who refused to worship the golden image. They prayed for God’s deliverance yet they were prepared to die in the fire than to fear the fury of the king. They believed that their God, their Creator shall deliver them even in death, so how could they fear the king, who was but a creature like them?
V13 “Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.”
3. The Fourth (V19-30)
V25 “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
The fourth was indeed the Son of God who walked with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego and preserved their lives. Nebuchadnezzar not only pardoned but promoted them as he realised that their God was the true God! Let us not fear man but God who not only saves our lives, but especially our souls from the fiery pits of hell to the portals of heaven.
V30 “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I know You, the Fourth Man.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 12:00 pm
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Verse of the Day: V19 “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”
1. Impossible (V1-13)
V5 “The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.”
Imagine the king of Babylon dreamed a dream and had forgotten it, and he expected his wise men to tell him his forgotten dream! It was impossible for his wise men to know the king’s dream and let alone to interpret them. The bad news was that Daniel and his friends would also be killed together with the wise men of Babylon because the king had decreed that all wise men be killed if his dream was not told and interpreted to him.
V13 “And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.”
2. Possible (V14-35)
V18 “That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel was his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.”
The God of heaven revealed to Daniel the forgotten dream of the king. The impossible became possible as Daniel desired and sought the mercies of the God of heaven.
V19 “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”
3. Done (V36-49)
V45 “Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.”
God revealed to the king through Daniel that his Babylonian kingdom, which was represented by gold, shall one day be defeated by the Persians, which was represented by silver. The Persians shall one day be defeated by the Greeks, which was represented by brass. The Greeks shall one day be defeated by the Romans, which was represented by iron mixed with clay. Indeed, no kingdom can remain forever except God’s kingdom.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I can do all things through You who strengthens me.
Posted by: Pastor Dave Sim AT 10:36 am
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Verse of the Day: V8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
1. The Man Of Purpose (V1-8)
V8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself...”
Daniel was a prisoner of the king of Babylon yet he purposed in his heart that he would not sin against God by following the ways of the Babylonians, even if it cost him his life. We may be in a situation where we are tempted to smoke and drink because our friends are smoking and drinking. However, we should purpose in our hearts that we refrain from smoking and drinking, because we are the temples of the Holy Ghost, and smoking and drinking are harmful to our health as well as our Christian testimony.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
2. The Man Of Persistence (V9-16)
V10 “And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.”
Daniel was a man of persistence as he persuaded the prince to let him and his fellow prisoners eat the pulse or beans instead of the king’s meat. The prince could have been beheaded if Daniel and his fellow prisoners became weak after ten days of eating pulse. However, Daniel was absolutely right, as after ten days, they were healthier and stronger.
V15 “And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.”
3. The Man Of Power (V17-21)
V17 “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
God gave Daniel the knowledge, skill, wisdom and power to understand and interpret visions and dreams. Indeed, the Almighty God shall give knowledge, skill, wisdom and power to whosoever that believes and receives Him, and even to become the sons of God.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be the man of purpose, persistence and power.
Posted by: Pastor Dave Sim AT 10:41 am
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Verse of the Week: V35 “It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.”
1. The Lord Supplies (V1-11)
V1 “Now these are the name of the tribes. From then north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.”
The Lord supplied and rewarded all the tribes of the nation of Israel. However, God only supplied and rewarded the priests of the sons of Zadok, one of the families of the Levites because they were on God’s side while the rest of them had departed from God.
V11 “It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.”
2. The Lord Sanctifies (V12-20)
V12 “And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.”
God sanctified the land on conditions that the land must not be sold or exchanged for anything, and they must live holy lives. However, they sinned against God, and God punished them by sending their enemies to defeat them and occupy their land. Today Israel is still fighting for their land, but it is in vain, unless they believe in the true God.
V14 “And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD.”
3. The Lord Stays (V13-23)
V35 “It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.”
The Lord stayed with prophet Ezekiel from the beginning to the end of his life and ministry, as he trusted the Lord. This was why Ezekiel inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote the book of Ezekiel beginning with seeing the visions of God by the river of Chebar, and concluding with naming the holy city as “The LORD is there” or “The presence of God.”
“Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.” (Ezekiel 1:1)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You that I am on Your side.
Posted by: Pastor Dave Sim AT 10:02 am
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Verse of the Week: V23 “And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.”
1. He Gives (V1-5)
V1 “Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.”
The waters flowing out of the house of the great God increased in volume until they flooded the entire place. Indeed, the waters represent the Word of God, and whosoever believes in the Word of God will never thirst, but will live forever with God in heaven.
“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)
2. He Heals (V6-12)
V9 “And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.”
Every living creature will be healed and multitude of fish will live as the waters flow through them from the house of the great God. Indeed, the Word of God shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish God’s purpose of healing broken hearts and wounded lives.
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
3. He Blesses (V13-23)
V23 “And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.”
The great God not only blessed and gave His people His inheritance of the land, but also the strangers who had children among them. Indeed, let us love and bless strangers as they are angels sent by God to test our love, generosity and hospitality.
“Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:1-2)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You for being my great God who gives, heals and blesses.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 10:15 am
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Verse of the Week: V3 “Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.”
1. Daily (V1-8)
V2 “And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.”
The holy God through Prophet Ezekiel commanded His princes, priests and people to worship Him in the sabbaths and in the new moons. This weekly worship includes the people offering burnt and peace offerings to God for His great mercies that they were not consumed but were able to live for His glory and honour. Today we worship God not just weekly but daily thanking Him for His great mercies as well as His amazing grace.
V3 “Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.”
2. Decently (V9-15)
V9 “But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.”
Everyone who came in by the north gate to worship the Lord must go out by the south gate, and those who came in by the south gate must go out by the north gate. Indeed, the worship of the Lord must be done decently and in order, as God is a God of order.
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)
3. Diligently (V16-24)
V18 “Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.”
God warned the princes not to take the people’s inheritance by oppression or force but that they must work diligently for their possession which would be given to their sons.
“He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.” (Proverbs 11:27)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please help me to worship you daily, decently and diligently.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 09:47 pm
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Verse of the Week: V10 “Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.”
1. Honest Division (V1-8)
V1 “Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, and holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about.”
The holy God spoke to Prophet Ezekiel to divide the land for inheritance by lot and it must be done in honesty and fairness. Indeed, the works of God are great and honourable and we must serve Him with honesty and fairness otherwise our works are in vain.
“The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.” (Psalms 111:2-3)
2. Honest Dealing (V9-12)
V9 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.”
The princes of Israel were dishonest in their dealings as they deceived and cheated the people of their land and money. God warned them to confess and repent of their sins and dishonesty otherwise His judgment shall be upon them. Instead of using just balances and measurements in their dealings, they were using unjust balances and measurements, and were out to deceive and cheat the people. The saddest truth is that God’s people who are supposedly to be honest and fair in their dealings are dishonest and unfair. This brings disgrace and shame to God’s holy name, and is a stumbling block to unbelievers.
V10 “Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.”
3. Honest Discipline (V13-25)
V21 “In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.”
Christ was the passover who sacrificed Himself on the cross for our sins so that we can be righteous before the holy God. However, when we sin against God by deceiving and cheating others, Christ shall judge and discipline us for our good and for His glory.
“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please help me to be honest for Your honour and glory.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 05:00 pm
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Verse of the Week: V15 “But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:”
1. The Sons Of Israel (V1-14)
V6 “And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,”
God spoke to Prophet Ezekiel to warn the house of Israel or the sons of Israel to repent of all their abominations and sins, otherwise the holy God shall judge, punish and shame them. All the people of Israel including the priests, except for the sons of Zadok, had grievously rebelled, disobeyed and sinned against the holy God.
V13 “And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.”
2. The Sons of Zadok (V15-16)
V15 “But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:”
Only the sons of Zadok among all the priests of Israel could come near and stand before the holy God and minister and offer sacrifices to Him. The sons of Zadok had kept themselves holy while the rest of the priests and the people had sinned against God.
V16 “They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.”
3. The Sons Of God (V17-31)
V28 “And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.”
The reward of the sons of Zadok was God as their inheritance and possession. Indeed, God is our inheritance and possession and we become the sons of God if we confess and repent our sins, and believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour.
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” (John 1:12)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You for accepting me as Your son.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 02:02 pm
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