Message summary: May we honor the God who holds in His hand our life and all our ways. Let us not be "weighed and found wanting".

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“But you did not honor the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways” (Daniel 5:23). “Tekel: You’ve been weighed on the scales and found wanting” (Daniel 5:27).

Craig is a friend we've come to know through our Adult Bible Fellowship class. He runs a family business that sells and services weight scales.*¹ Yesterday we visited him at his work place and he showed us scales that range from one capable of registering the weight of a fingerprint (seen in photo) to components of scales capable of weighing a locomotive.

In servicing scales calibration is vital so Craig took us to a climate controlled room and showed us the master weights used for calibration. These weights need to be handled with special cotton gloves since even the moisture on your fingers would affect their accuracy. He spends many thousands of dollars every year to have these weights certified.

It was an interesting visit for me (Stephen) although about 1/2 way through Brooksyne spotted a greenhouse out a window and excused herself after learning the basics of his weight scales business!

It's a family business started by Craig's father in 1961 so he grew up in the business and is very passionate and knowledgeable about scales. I inquired about Scripture verses related to scales (weights and measures) and he knew them such as "Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good" (Proverbs 20:23).*²

But today let us consider some scales that are far more important and far too often overlooked in many lives. We should regularly weigh-in "on the scales" of God’s Holy Word and His master calibrated standards. I'm not sure how to apply this illustration in our own lives but the Holy Scriptures give an account of a man who had been weighed on these scales and was found wanting. Other versions state “deficient” or “too light”.

In Daniel 5 King Belshazzar has a strange experience with a finger writing on a wall the inscription, “MENĒ, MENĒ, TEKĒL, UPHARSIN.” It was so distressing that “the king’s face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints went slack and his knees began knocking together” (Daniel 5:6). What an interesting description of fear!

He first summoned his own advisors who were unable to provide an interpretation so Daniel was called in. He demonstrates the characteristics of a true prophet, boldly and fearlessly speaking truth to power. In fact he refused to even accept the prize the king offered to whomever interpreted the meaning (5:17).

God revealed the king’s sins to Daniel, that he praised gods of silver and gold, gods that couldn’t see, hear or understand. At the heart of the problem is a stunning statement well considered by all. “But you did not honor the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways” (Daniel 5:23).

I have this verse on a Kember print from the KJV:

When Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall for Belshazzar he revealed a message Belshazzar didn’t like: "Tekel: You’ve been weighed on the scales and found wanting".

Since King Belshazzar didn’t honor God his reign was destined to an end. “‘MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it". This prophesy had no delay: “That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain” (v. 30).

How quickly the social order can change. We wonder, looking at conditions in leadership today, when we will again see a similar “MENĒ, MENĒ,  TEKĒL, UPHARSIN.” moment as King Belshazzar experienced.

On a personal level let us regularly examine our lives using the Master calibrated scale of God's Word and aspire not to be found deficient on that scale! When we weigh-in on the scales of Scripture let us consider God’s estimation as we prayerfully ask, “Am I conforming to the likeness of Christ?” The Scriptures will reveal our progress or lack thereof and we must respond accordingly. Let us not be "weighed and found wanting". But rather let us honor the God who holds in His hand our life and all our ways.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, though we place our faith in You,  still our flesh battles our spirit from day to day as we travel through this life so we must regularly weigh-in on the scales of Your Holy Word to see where we are making progress or where we are lacking. We need regular perspective from Your Holy Word, lest we form attitudes and behaviors that reflect the pattern of this world. We want to be transformed daily by the renewing of our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus that we might be more and more like Him, for it is in His name that we pray. Amen.

See 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, Romans 12:2

*¹ Bitterman Scales  Craig is a brother of Chet Bitterman, a missionary working with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Columbia who was a martyr. I first read about his story in the early eighties long, long before I ever even thought I would live in Lancaster County, let alone that we would attend the same church as Chet. His story is told here. Chet prayed, "Lord, the tribe that's the most remote, the most difficult to reach because of location and culture, the tribe no one else might select because of those reasons, Lord, it it's okay with you, that's my tribe".

It occurred me that we often pray for and speak of our spiritual brothers and sisters who are suffering in persecution with some becoming martyrs for Christ. In Craig's case it is his own biological brother.

Brooksyne's note: In my email today from the Voice of the Martyrs they presented an opportunity for believers to make their voice known regarding two men falsely imprisoned 20 years ago today. 20 Years in Prison in Eritrea 

*²  Here's a listing of scale related verses.

Kember prints

"Goodness Of God"  Watch on YouTube   Don Moen Always a good reminder for everyone regardless of what we are going through.