that very night belshazzar the chaldean king was killed. [daniel 5:30]
before his death, moses sings a song to the assembly in israel, a song of the Lord, and a small excerpt reads:
“‘see now that i, even i, am he,
and there is no god beside me;
i kill and I make alive;
i wound and i heal;
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. [deuteronomy 32:39]
God tells us that he is sovereign: he is life-giver, and life-taker, and one day, it will be the last day–all of our days are numbered.
belshazzar is killed a few hours later–his days were numbered, the judgment was swift, just as God promised him, and he promises the same judgment will be swift and final to those who mock him with their pride:
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. [malachi 3:5]
the Lord has been patient, forbearing, but he is storing up wrath against sin, and one day he will open the floodgates and allow his Son, the King to execute his righteous judgment–it will be swift and sure!
then i saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. his eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. he is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. and the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. from his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. [revelation 19:11-16]
we are allowed into the presence of a God who is all powerful, capable of swift and mighty violence against sin–and yet for those found in his Son, Jesus, he forgives and calls his own children. we serve a God of immense power and limitless kindness, let us strive to enter his rest.
~ce