SESSION 5 CONFRONT SIN

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SESSION 5

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When you were a child,

how did you know you

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THE BIBLE

MEETS LIFE

It’s one thing to come into the house once with muddy shoes. But to do it a 2nd_{, 3}rd_{, … or 10}th_time?

Let’s just say we’ve all experienced the consequences for repeated mistakes or bad behavior.

When I was a boy, my father often would ask: “Son, when are you going to learn?” Years later, I ask my children the same thing, and I’m sure they will ask it of their children as well some day.

Variations of the well-known phrase, “Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it,” go back a few hundred years, but examples of that truth go back even further. The Book of Daniel offers us one such example: a pagan king who didn't learn from the failings of another king before him. Had he only paid attention, he could have avoided what happened to him. More than just a fascinating story from the pages of Scripture and history, this event challenges us to consider how we will deal with our sin— and the sins of others.

THE POINT

Call sin what it is and point to what God

says about it.

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The Setting

About 23 years and several kings following the events of session 4, Daniel yet again was called on to interpret a Babylonian king’s baffling situation. This time the king was Belshazzar, the last king of the Babylonian empire. In the midst of a drunken, brazen, sacrilegious party, a hand began writing on a wall. It’s message proclaimed certain and immediate doom.

WHAT DOES

THE BIBLE

SAY?

Daniel 5:17-28

17 _{Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts,}

and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18_{Your Majesty, the Most High God gave}

sovereignty, greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar. 19_{Because of the greatness He gave him,}

all peoples, nations, and languages were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. 20_{But when his heart was exalted and}

his spirit became arrogant, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him. 21_{He was driven}

away from people, his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of men and sets anyone He wants over it. 22_{“But you his successor,}

Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23_{Instead, you have exalted yourself against}

the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them, you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life. 24_{Therefore, He sent the hand, and this}

writing was inscribed. 25_{“This is the writing that was inscribed:}

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. 26_{This is the interpretation of the}

message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. 27_{TEKEL means that}

you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient.

28_{PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and}

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DANIEL 5:17-21

In Daniel 5, Nebuchadnezzar has been dead for about 23 years. The city is surrounded by the Medes and Persians, and the fate of the kingdom is in the hands of Belshazzar. But despite destruction being so close, Belshazzar actually throws a party.

Y_{Why would someone through a party in the face of}

sure destruction?

The attitude of Belshazzar and the Babylonians was that they were perfectly safe, despite the vast army outside their walls. The city walls were over 300 feet high, over 80 feet wide, and had more than 250 guard towers. The city had running water and enough food for 20 years. They felt secure.

Belshazzar and the whole city of Babylon were guilty of three major sins:

1. Drunkenness 2. Sensuality

3. Idolatry and blasphemy

When God’s patience ran out, the writing was on the wall. Literally (v. 5).

No one at the party knew the meaning of the words except for Daniel, who reminded Belshazzar of God's judgement on Nebuchadnezzar for the sin of pride. Daniel informed Belshazzar that the same judgment was now coming his way.

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When is it appropriate to point out the sins of others?

DANIEL 5:22-23

Daniel rebuked Belshazzar for not learning from Nebuchadnezzar’s example. Belshazzar had lived in Babylon and was old enough to have seen the last years of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign.

Daniel was specific in identifying the ways Belshazzar had sinned against God.

Y_Pride:_{Belshazzar was as prideful and arrogant as Nebuchadnezzar was. Nebuchadnezzar repented}

of his pride (4:37), but Belshazzar never did.

Y_Blasphemy:_{Belshazzar exalted himself against the God of heaven by using the sacred vessels}

from the temple to drink wine and blaspheme God.

Y_Idolatry:_{Belshazzar used the sacred vessels from God’s house to praise the gods made of silver,}

gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Belshazzar had seen the power of the Most High God through the events of Nebuchadnezzar’s life, yet he deliberately chose to worship false gods—and to use the sacred things of God in the process.

Y_{Failure to glorify the true God:}_{Belshazzar did not glorify God who gives life and controls}

the universe.

The hand of God was on Daniel, and he spoke the truth in love and sincerity. In that moment Belshazzar learned a hard truth—that his sin had caught up to him (Num. 32:23).

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Why is it important to grasp the

seriousness of sin and its consequences? _{speaks more than}Someone who

six languages is called a Polyglot and

someone who can speak more than 12 languages is called

a Hyper-Polyglot.2

THE POINT Call sin what it is and point to what God says about it.

Called Out

In early 2015, NBC Nightly News reporter Brian Williams was called out regarding a false story he told about the Iraq War Invasion in 2003. Williams publicly apologized for his error, but NBC chose to suspend him for his fallacy. As believers, we are called to confront sin, but calling others out in a loving way is no easy task.

Y_{How do we love people, but point out sin in their lives?}

DANIEL 5:24-28

No one but Daniel was able to read and interpret the message to show God’s response to Belshazzar’s sins (5:8):

Y_MENE_{means to be counted or numbered. The word appeared twice to}

mark the certainty of the judgment. And the reason is given with the next word.

Y_TEKEL_{means weight or to be weighed. Belshazzar had been weighed on God’s scales. God’s}

standard of righteousness was placed on one side of the scales, and Belshazzar own morality and righteousness did not measure up.

Y_PERES_{is the plural form of the word}parsin. This is the word that was written in the wall, and Daniel explained the singular form meant divided.

Belshazzar’s sin cost him his life (vv. 30-31).

Y_{What does this story teach us about our own sin and response to God?}

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"

…

To confess our sins to one

another is to violently pursue

our own joy and the glory of

God

…

and to exponentially

increase our rejoicing and

worship, both individually

and corporately."

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—M AT T CHAN D LER

APPLY

IT

What is God leading you to do as a result of this study?

Y_{Confront your own sin.}_{Confess any sin you’ve}

been holding on to. Turn from your sin and turn back to Christ.

Y_{Walk and pray.}_{Join with others in a prayer-walk}

around a school, government building, business, or other location that needs to turn to God.

Y_{Engage the culture.}_{As a group, identify a particular}

problem or sin in your community and discuss how you can lovingly confront the issue and point to Jesus Christ.

Weighed and

Found Deficient

We have all been weighed and found deficient. We cannot be saved through our own works or goodness. We are all sinners, and in His holiness, God cannot ignore our sin. But God provided a way for us to know Him: Jesus.

To read the Essential Connection student devotional, "Weighed and Found Deficient," visit BibleStudiesForLife.com/articles or scan this QR code.

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LIVE IT OUT

LEARNING FROM MISTAKES

Daniel 5:20

Learning from your own mistakes and even the mistakes of others can be one of the best ways to learn and grow. Inevitably, we will all make mistakes and sin in ways we don’t intend to. Take a chance to seek the wisdom of a parent, grandparent, or pastor. Ask them what is the most valuable lesson they learned from making a mistake when they were your age.

Y_{When has God shown you His forgiveness, mercy, and love after you've messed up? How}

did that change your view of Him? Take a few minutes to pray, thanking God for His redemption in your life.

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LIVE IT OUT

CONFRONTING SIN

Daniel 5:22-23

Gather with a small group of believers from your school. Meet over coffee or lunch and talk about the main sin patterns you see affecting your particular student body.

Y_{What do you see that causes division or strife among your classmates?}

Brainstorm various ideas. Then, under each idea, create two columns: "individually" and "corporately." Outline ways that you can seek to change the issue on an individual level and also as a group. Make specific plans and work as a group to begin to change the culture, for the sake of Christ. You never know what might come from confronting sin in this simple but radical way.

A tip:

h _{Consider starting a prayer group}

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REFERENCES

UNIT 2, SESSION 1

1. “KC Chiefs Pay Thousands to Proclaim ‘Loudest Stadium’ Record,” The Kansas City Star [online], [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.kansascity.com/living/article2496723.html

2. “Popular Baby Names for 2014,” Baby Center [online], [cited 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.babycenter.com/ popularBabyNames.htm?year=2014

3. “Horse Meat Holidays: 8 Places to Eat Horse,” Sky Scanner [online], [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www. skyscanner.net/news/horse-meat-holidays-8-places-eat-horse

4. Josh McDowell, “Quotes About Conviction,” Christian Quotes [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-aboutconviction/#ixzz3QayxxEIo

1. “10 Most Common Nightmares and What Their Meanings Are,” Daily News Dig [online], [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: http://dailynewsdig.com/10-common-nightmares-meanings/

2. Elisabeth Elliot, “Elisabeth Elliot > Quotes,” Goodreads [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www. goodreads.com/quotes/360361-i-realized-that-the-deepest-spiritual-lessons-are-not-learned

1. Nelson Mandela, “Nelson Mandela Quotes,” Brainy Quote [online], [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www. brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/nelsonmand178789.html

2. John Wayne, “John Wayne Quotes,” Brainy Quotes [online], [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.brainyquote. com/quotes/quotes/j/johnwayne161631.html

3. “Mom Risks Paralysis After Saving Son From Burning Building,” ABC News [online], 11 May 2014, [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: http://abcnews.go.com/US/mom-risks-paralysis-saving-son-burning-building/story?id=23672816

4. “Top 10 Unhappiest States,” CNBC [online], [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.cnbc.com/id/34526151/

5. David Platt, “David Platt > Quotes,” Goodreads [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www. goodreads.com/author/quotes/846687.David_Platt

1. Abraham Lincoln, “Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day,” Abraham Lincoln Online [online], [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/ fast.htm

2. Erin Blakemore, “Here’s The Most Expensive Painting Ever Sold,” Smart News [online], 9 February 2015, [accessed 5 April 2015]. Available fromo the Internet: www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ heres-most-expensive-painting-ever-sold-180954184/?no-ist

3. John Piper, “Let the Nations Be Glad! Quotes,” Goodreads [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www. goodreads.com/work/quotes/2552661-let-the-nations-be-glad

1. “How Wide is the Average Car?,” Ask [online], [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.ask.com/vehicles/wide-average-car-67a48253b70cd4c2

2. “The Contested Title of the Person Who Speaks the Most Languages,” Today I Found Out [online], 31 July 2013, [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.todayifoundout.com/ index.php/2013/07/the-contested-title-of-the-person-who-speaks-the-most-languages/

3. Matt Chandler, “Matt Chandler > Quotes,” Goodreads [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www. goodreads.com/quotes/823658-god-has-made-provision-for-our-sin-in-christ-so

1. James Clear, “How Long Does it Actually Take to Form a New Habit (Backed by Science), James Clear (online), [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: http://jamesclear.com/new-habit

2. “How Much do Lions Eat?,” Ask [online], [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.ask.com/pets-animals/much-lions-eat-2c1bbdb0cc5247d0

3. John MacArthur, “Quotes About Faithful,” Christian Quotes [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-about-faithful/#ixzz3Qavn7u4W

BONUS UNIT

1. Neil Irwin and Kevin Quealy, “The Places in America Where College Football Means the Most,”NY Times [online], 8 November 2014, [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www. nytimes.com/2014/11/08/upshot/the-places-in-america-where-college-football-means-the-most.html?_r=0

2. “Bold,” Merriam-Webster [online], [accessed 6 April 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ bold

3. Warren Wiersbe, “Search For A Quote,” Christian Quotes [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www. christianquotes.info/search-for-a-quote/#ixzz3QavM3Q4C