God is perfect righteousness and perfect love. Therefore, the grace and justice of God almighty is perfect as well. So many people want to separate God’s justice from His love; yet both exist together in perfect harmony. There can be no true love if justice is ignored. His grace and mercy are extensions of His Love without any compromise to His just righteousness.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3 (KJV)
Two Babylonian King Display Both the Grace and Justice of God
The final eight chapters of Ezekiel detail the millennial reign of Christ, which I encourage you to read with a good study bible. We now turn to the book of Daniel. There is much of Daniel we could look at; but I wanted to focus on two kings. That is King Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar in chapters 4 and 5. But before jumping in let me give some background here.
Daniel and the King
Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon to be prepped for the King’s court. They were made eunuchs but also placed into rigorous schooling of languages, arts, history, and many other things. Groomed to be a part of the wise men of the day. Daniel and his three closest friends remained faithful to God throughout. As such, they also remained as humble servants of the King God had placed them under. For they understood, Judah fell due to her disobedience to God. They also remembered that God is Sovereign over the affairs of men. If King Nebuchadnezzar had rule over them, so be it God had ordained this thing.
Also, by allowing Daniel to see and interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel understood the significance of the King’s role in history. He was given a prominent place in King Nebuchadnezzar’s life. And I dare say, Daniel was very fond of the King. Admiring all the good qualities and intelligence, he would pray for the King daily. King Nebuchadnezzar had seen the hand of God work on behalf of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He had developed a knowledge of God, but was yet not willing to surrender until…
One King Meets the Grace and Justice of God
King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. 3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation. Daniel 4 (ESV)
Notice that this is a chapter narrated by the King himself, tucked into the book of Daniel. This is significant, because it is his own words telling of his conversion. How much humility did it require for him to tell this story to all the people of all nations and languages. But that in itself demonstrates it veracity.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. Daniel 4:4-7 (ESV).
A Dream of the Grace and Justice of God
Finally, he called for Daniel to interpret the dream. Daniel was greatly grieved by the dream as he knew that justice of God would demand the King be brought low to deal with his pride, unless he humbly repent of his pride and acknowledge God as the one true King over all.
O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. Daniel 4:24-25 ESV
Note God told King Nebuchadnezzar that He was going to judge him if the King did not lay aside his pride and bow to God. This was a chance; but, God also told the King that God himself would protect his monarchy until this is past. What magnitude of Grace amid the Justice. God already knew that King Nebuchadnezzar would turn and bow. It is like the words of Jesus to Peter, “I have prayed for you that when you turn (not if) your faith will be restored.” Well for the King it would be a new faith, not one to be restored; but it would be a new surrender to God Almighty. Such grace and justice from God Almighty to King Nebuchadnezzar.
But Alas
29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”
33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. Daniel 4 (ESV)
Yet, God then Displays both Grace and Justice Toward this King
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and His kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
He does according to His will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay His hand
or say to Him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4 (ESV)
That changed everything.
Grace and Justice through faith.
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Daniel 4(ESV)
Then this great King declared to all:
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4 (ESV)
The Kingdom is Transferred to Another Generation
Yet, King Nebuchadnezzar would die. His heirs did not worship God.
- Amel-Marduk (“Evil-Merodach” of 2 Kgs 25:27; Jer 52:31), ruled but
two years and was replaced in 560 B. C. after an army coup by the
commander in chief, Neriglissar (Nergal-Sharezer of Jer39:3), son-in-
law of Nebuchadnezzar.- After frequent absences from active service, Neriglissar (559-555 B.C.)
was, in turn, ousted, and his weak son Labashi-Marduk lasted only a few
months before another coup d’etat brought Nabonidus to the throne.- Soon after his election, Nabonidus (553-536 B. C.) led the army to
Palestine and Northern Arabia, leaving his son Belshazzar as co-regent
in Babylon. Nabonidus’ decision to stay in Arabia resulted from his
unpopularity at home as much as from his desire to found a settlement
there with exiles from Palestine Chuck Missler from http://www.wpo-gregor.org/files/bible-college-masters-notes-missler/Daniel-Missler.pdf page 41
This leads us to Chapter 5 of Daniel
A story of Grace and Justice from God toward King Belshazzar. Grace in that he allowed him to be co-regent and given a chance to rule. Also grace, because he had demonstrated His Majesty in the life of King Nebuchadnezzar which all were aware. Justice, because despite all this King Belshazzar failed to honor God for all this.
King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father[a] had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Daniel 5: 1-44 (ESV)
God would not stand by and watch this mockery.
Even before this, God had prepared a way for Cyrus as He had foretold of in the writings of Isaiah. Justice would be enacted.
While they are inflamed I will prepare them a feast
and make them drunk, that they may become merry,
then sleep a perpetual sleep
and not wake, declares the Lord.
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter,
like rams and male goats. Jeremiah 51: 39-40 (ESV)
Meanwhile, during this great feasting and drunkenness, they did not notice the invasion being arranged and set up against them. Remember God is Sovereign as well as omniscient. He knows before what men will do. The Medo-Persian army had damned the river up higher, creating a way in. Babylon had dual walls and the only way in was through the waterways which were normally too high for anyone to enter. However, this way they walked right in. They became the sea of army entering beneath their walls
41 “How Babylon is taken,
the praise of the whole earth seized!
How Babylon has become
a horror among the nations!
42 The sea has come up on Babylon;
she is covered with its tumultuous waves. Jeremiah 51 (ESV)
During their drunkenness, God wrote of Grace and Justice
In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. Daniel 5:5-6 (KJV)
In other words, he lost his bowels into his pants. Oddly enough God had said this would be the case back in Isaiah in Isaiah prophecy of Cyrus.
Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; Isaiah 45: 1 (KJV)
Daniel Interprets the Handwriting
He reminds Belshazzar of the history of King Nebuchanezzar’s humbling conversion and how God had given the King so much in both grace and justice. But you,
Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. .. This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians”
29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. Daniel 5:27-30 (ESV)
And so, justice was carried out when grace was denied and discarded.
What is the final of this?
The grace and justice of God Almighty is always and forever.
Jesus, the perfect righteous one, chose to enter the womb of a woman and be born into this world of sinful humankind that He might pay the penalty we deserved so that all who might by faith accept this gift of love could be transformed into His righteousness step by step, one glory by glory, until one day we would look like Him. But for those who choose to not receive, He will allow them to obtain as they have chosen. But that does mean justice will come for their pride in believing it had to be their way; when He gave all so they might choose Him and be saved.
For all those who acknowledge their own inability to obtain perfect righteousness, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and accept His gracious gift of salvation–they will one day know.
When the oppressor is no more,
and destruction has ceased,
and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land,
5 then a throne will be established in steadfast love,
and on it will sit in faithfulness
in the tent of David
one who judges and seeks justice
and is swift to do righteousness.” Isaiah 16:4-5 ESV
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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