Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin (Daniel 5)

In this dreadful event King Belshazzar was shocked and feared to death by the sudden and unwanted appearance of a human hand which was writing on the plaster of the wall, “mene, mene, tekel, parsin.” There is a God who runs the course of history according to his good purpose and will. He is the ultimate authority to determine the number of our days. He is the only One who measures each one’s life in justice and fairness and makes the final verdict whether in wanting or not. Everyone will stand before the judgment seat of the Lord Jesus Christ. The times and seasons we are not to know but shall be ready for the coming of the Lord for he will come suddenly.

“Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.” (Daniel 5:5-6) 

The time is short, the scriptures say (1 Corinthians 7:29). Man lives seventy years or eighty years if his strength endures, Moses said (Psalm 90:10). Some billionaires in Silicon Valley are investing a lot of money to find out a solution for human immortality. Medical science is so advanced and sophisticated that humans can live longer and healthier ever before. However, the death rate has not been changed at all but remained as flat 100%. Time is mysterious and unknown to mankind. Jesus says, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” (Acts 1:7) At times, a day is like years and years like a day.

“A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4)

Just as suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared so are all the human events happening abruptly and rudely no matter what. Once it happens nothing can stop the happenings. It’s like a birth which cannot be retreated at all. Our God is moving the course of history in purpose and meaning without an iota of error. Everything happens according to God’s time schedule. So when it happens that is what happens by God. Nothing to worry about what is going to happen but to take it by faith in Christ Jesus. That’s it. Be ready for the Lord’s coming.

“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:44)

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)

“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:11-14)

Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.” (Daniel 5:17)

What was written by the fingers of a human hand was not known by any wise men, magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners in the whole kingdom. But it was known to a man whom God made him known. The world cannot know the mysteries of God. No education, scientific advancements, technological developments are avail in knowing the truth and reality of life. The things of God can be known only by the Spirit. Any human mind cannot understand the things of God. All believers in Christ has the mind of Christ for they are being taught by the Spirit.

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)

“…these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)

“The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:15-16)

This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

“Here is what these words mean:

Mene : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

Tekel : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

Peres : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Daniel 5:25-28)

The number of our days are numbered by God who is sovereign. He alone determines the number of our days. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Our Lord Jesus says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27) God even numbers the hairs of our head (Matthew 10:30). God weighs everyone according to the truth, the light, and our deeds. He reaches out the fallen race through nature, life, and the testimonies of numerous witnesses. Our God is compassionate, gracious, loving, patient, and merciful. He expects us to grow in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ being able to discern what is good from evil and teach about the righteousness of God. He pours out love for us to bear the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, and peace. In the end, God will measure everyone according to his justice and righteousness in the judgement seat of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.” (Romans 2:2)

God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” (Romans 2:6)

“All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.” (Romans 2:12)

“This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.” (Romans 2:16)

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)

September 26, 2015 

©2015 David Lee Ministries - All rights reserved.

Way to Liberation from Bondage (Luke 13:11-17)

Our Lord Jesus invites everyone to come unto him and take rest and peace. Where is rest and peace? Nowhere on earth is found peace and rest as we face it daily in the bustling and busy times. No freedom is found in this roller coaster like life experience. However, here is a man who invites everyone to give true rest and peace. There was a woman who was bound in infirmity for eighteen years in a synagogue while our Lord Jesus was teaching. Jesus stretched out the long suffering invitation of the Father in heaven to her and liberated her by his words of truth because she responded to the divine invitation with repentance.

“On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” (Luke 13:11-13)

This woman is an example of being enslaved by the evil spirit. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all for eighteen years. This is a picture of natural humanity. Man in Adam is dead in sins and transgressions (Ephesians 2:1). Jesus says in the previous passage that anyone who does not repent shall perish. No repentance, no life. Those who refuse to accept the invitation of none other than the Son of God for eternal life are in the bondage of the evil spirit until they accept it by faith with repentance. Our God is unconditionally and faithfully gracious and merciful and loving. He draws people to accept the loving kindness and long suffering to repent and have life.

Jesus saw the woman and called her forward when he was teaching in a synagogue. How awkward it might have been for her to move forward with this kind of disfigured appearance? However, when she listened to the voice of the Son of God she obeyed and moved forward. Our Lord Jesus then gave her the most powerful words, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Jesus is stronger than the evil spirit who is the prince of this world. The devil is so cunning and crafty that he deceives and enslaves the people and put them under the iron grip of darkness and confusion. However, we’ll never forget that the devil is not an independent agent who uses the force of delusion and illusion without God. He is a fallen angel who was made by the hand of God. So, he still is the servant of God and works only within the perimeter of God’s sovereign rule. Jesus tells a small parable in which why he can deliver the spoils of the devil in the Gospel of Luke.

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.” (Luke 11:21-22)

Jesus has power to set man free because he is able to attack and overpower the enemy and take away the armor of lie and deception. Christ is the power source to release the captives locked in the dungeon. Christ is the way out of the enslavement in the wild pit. The way is to listen to the voice of loving kindness and long patience and to repent in Christ Jesus. The power releasing demonstration has been manifested in the cross of Calvary when the Son of God was sacrificed as the Promised Lamb through the Law and the Prophets. The evil inside humanity can only be released by means of death. There is no other way than putting it to death. That’s why our Lord Jesus must have died so violently in order to destroy the power of evil.

So, when Jesus says, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity,” he means his death in her place on the rugged cross. With the precious price of his life with blood, Jesus has delivered true freedom and liberation for humanity. Through his death Christ has snatched the captives into the heavens with him. Those like this woman who respond to the loving and enduring invitation of the Son of God shall be liberated and the captives of the righteousness of God, the indwelling place of Holy God.

“When you ascended on high,

you took many captives;

you received gifts from people,

even from the rebellious—

that you, Lord God, might dwell there.” (Psalm 68:18)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

“Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’” (Luke 13:14)

But the stubborn people of Israel did not appreciate the work of Jesus which delivered the woman who was suffering by a spirit for eighteen years. To our surprise, they were indignant because Jesus healed on the Sabbath. They devalued the work of the Father through the Son of Man and sneered at him, saying “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” They did not even try to investigate what it was and how could such a thing happen by Jesus of Nazareth. They were ferocious and formidable to resist the work of none other than the Creator and Maker of the universe. Those rebellious people never understand who God is for their stubbornness and obstinateness.

“Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.” (Revelation 22:11)

Look how our Lord Jesus responds to the stubborn resistance against God who sent the deliverer for the lost race.

“The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.” (Luke 13:15-17)

Jesus calls them hypocrites for they took care of their animals by leading out to give it water on the Sabbath and yet accused of the good work which enabled to set free the woman, a daughter of Abraham from the eighteen long years of Satan’s enslavement. At the words of the Creator all the opponents were humiliated for they couldn’t find any ground of defense. However, the people who responded to the loving kindness and long patience of God were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. Jesus Christ was the Word in the beginning and was with God. He was God and nothing was made what has been made without him.

Here is the warning by the unknown author of Hebrews that it is incomparably far better to fall into the bruised and wounded hands of crucified Jesus Christ than into the hands of the living God who will avenge and repay against all the godlessness and wickedness of man. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God who does not want anyone to perish but to be saved.

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31)

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, Thank you for your loving kindness and long suffering for the lost race to accept the divine invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ for true peace and rest in mind and heart. Thank you for your faithfulness to take anyone who repents and responds to your kindness into the heavens with you as the captive to the righteousness of God. In Christ’s name. Amen.

September 25, 2015

© 2015 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Our Compassionate and Gracious God (Luke 13:1-9)

How should we see accidents and tragedies in life? They are happening everywhere without warning. The people flee from home because of wars and genocides. Tornadoes and storms wreak homes and towns. Flood and drought damage the land. Uncountable transportation accidents kill both the young and the old. Is it just unluckily and randomly occurring? Why can’t we get over it? Regardless of the efforts and wishes put to prevent accidents, it is unavoidably happening daily. Our Lord Jesus answers how we read human tragedies and accidents in life.  

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’” (Luke 13:1-5)

It happened in the first century as well. The horrible incidents was told to Jesus that Pilate had mixed some Galileans’ blood with their sacrifices and eighteen people died when the tower in Siloam fell on them. People thought that those who were killed were worse sinners and more guilty than others. But Jesus says that they were not but unless they repented they too would perish. Apostle Paul says that there is no one who is not under pressure or tribulation. It is common to mankind.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

As a matter of fact, we should go back to the creation to find out why humanity lies under such a circumstance where temptations and troubles are inevitable. It is designed and prescribed by God for the restoration and healing from the fatal fall which they think they have what it takes. Sin is to rebel against God who can only tell right or wrong and to act like him, telling right or wrong on their own. As sin reigns humanity so is all mankind under darkness. It is the pronouncement for the death of humanity just as God said to Adam (Genesis 2:17).

That’s not the end of story. The good news is that God began the restoration process for the fallen race through trials and sufferings in life on earth. This is the prescription for the recovery of the lost race prescribed none other than the Maker and Designer of mankind Himself.

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;

through painful toil you will eat food from it

all the days of your life.

It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your brow

you will eat your food

until you return to the ground,

since from it you were taken;

for dust you are

and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

Is there any man who is without exception? At times we feel like others are doing just fine without any troubles. But it’s not true. Just ask a few questions to the person whom you may think that he is trouble free. The most deadly enemy of humanity is proud mind and self-complacency. Man is not made so. Man cannot live without having relationship with God. The world says they can live without God. That’s a lie from the devil, a liar and the father of lies. If anyone a believer or non-believer violates the Law of God he has to face the consequence. Apostle Paul expounds the divine consequence revealed from heaven whenever man does not follow the rule of Law.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20)

The wrath of God is not something like damnation and brimstone falling upon them. It is rather to lift up the divine constraining force so that the evil hidden underneath might be manifested above the surface. So, people may see what it is realistically. Almost all the lawbreakers say that they could not think that they did commit such heinous crimes. There are blind spots which they themselves cannot see. So, the wrath of God is not out of resentment but out of love. He desires to show what it is in truth and reality, keeping from illusion and delusion. This is the way of God’s loving kindness and long suffering for man to repent and have eternal life.

But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” (Romans 10:21)

If anyone admits that he is out of line in relation to God and confesses his sins, God is faithful and just and forgives and cleanses from all evils.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

The tragedies and accidents are the wake up calls for the rest to see what it is coming and thus to repent in order not to perish. We are not here on earth to live and die. There are much deeper and higher meaning and purpose in life on this earth which flies like an arrow. One of the most important truth to learn is to know that there is a God who is willing to embrace anyone just as they are and forgive if they wanted to receive the outpouring loving kindness of the heavenly Father.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9)

In this little parable, our Lord Jesus tells about the long suffering and patience of the Father upon humanity. God is loving and compassionate and merciful and kind. He made man to bear fruit, the fruits of the Spirit, love, peace, and joy.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

God made man such a way that he is supposed to be blossoming, exuberating, overflowing, fulfilling life in full and more abundantly. However, a dreadful thing happened to man that he fell into a snare that he could be fulfilling life all by himself without God. Thus, no fruits are found for number of years as Jesus says in the Upper Room Discourse, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4)

The owner in the parable told the man who took care of the vineyard to cut it down because it only used up the soil. Then the man replied to leave it alone for one more year, and he would dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears next year fine! If not, then cut it down. The owner is the Father and the man who takes care of the vineyard is Jesus. This shows how compassionate and merciful our God is. Even if the time is up our Lord Jesus is willing to offer one more chance. Not only that, our Lord will dig around and fertilize it to bear fruits. Our God is wanting to save all people and reluctant to punish them.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:8-12)

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 1:3-4)

But there is time limit which is obviously the lifespan. Each one has been given the time to repent or perish. “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)

Prayer: Merciful and gracious Father, thank you for your loving kindness and compassion and long suffering for sinners like us that you gave the only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. In Christ’s name. Amen.

September 20, 2015

© 2015 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.