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An Empire Judged

Daniel 5:1ff.

Why did God so severely judge the Babylonian Empire? Promiscuity among the leadership, profanity against the God of heaven, a zealous pursuit of pleasure among the people, presumption by the military rulers, and plain, old, ugly pride, were the deadly viruses that eventually killed the kingdom of Babylon. Those viruses are still around today, and they still carry the same consequences—because they still offend the same God.

In the broad sense, this account shows that any nation can be judged, just as Babylon was. When a people become neutralized by their spiritual corruption and moral decay—especially a country's leaders—judgment may well be close behind.

Personally, what is God writing on each of our hearts? If just one finger of God can paralyze a mighty king with fear, we must be that much more careful to avoid falling into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).

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