Weighed, and Wanting
In this study you will see the similarity of an Old Testament scripture with
that of a New, and also that of two Old and New Testament characters,
Belshazzar, (Daniel 5,) and the rich fool. (Luke 12.) Notice carefully the two scriptures which we seek to compare: “Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting” Dan.5:27. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Rom. 3:23.
“Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them” Psalm 39:5,6.
The following quotations are from The Treasury of David, C. H. Spurgeon.
Every carnal man walks in a vain shew, and yet how vain he is of his shew of vanity! He is “disquieted in vain,” and it is only vanity which disquiets him. He labours all of his life for the profits of riches, and yet in death his riches will not profit him. He that views an ox grazing in a fat pasture, concludes that he is but preparing for the day of slaughter. - William Secker.
“He heapeth up riches.” The Hebrew word rendered, “He heapeth up,” signifies to rake together; in which there is an illusion to the husbandman’s collecting his corn together before he carries it to the barn. The metaphor is elegant, intimating the precariousness of human life, and the vanity of human acquisitions; which though heaped up together like corn, by one person, may soon become the possession of another. - Samuel Burder.
Well do these quotations describe the rich fool. “I will pull down my barns and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.” “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” Luke 12:18,20.
Likewise of Belshazzar the Chaldean king we observe; “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it” Dan. 5:26. “Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” vs. 28.
For a brief background - Belshazzar was the descendant of the notable Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar was great, but he erred in that “his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne.” He became for a time, as a beast of the field, eating grass like the oxen. In spite of knowing this, Belshazzar lifted up himself against the Lord of heaven; brought the gold and silver vessels which his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and preceded to drink wine from them, praising the images of the gods. “In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace” Dan.5:5. None of his wise men could interpret the writing. Daniel was brought in; he read the writing on the wall for the king. . .
“This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it, TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” Dan. 5:26-28.
Let us look at some comparisons of Belshazzar and the rich man:
| Comparison | |
|---|---|
| “Then was the part of the hand sent from him. . .” | “And God said unto him. . .” |
| “Belshazzar the king made a great feast. . .his lords. . .his princes. . .his wives, concubines. . .drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver. . .” | “Soul . . .take thine ease, eat drink, and be merry.” |
| “But thou hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven” | “And he thought within himself. . .This will I do: I will pull down; [I will] build; I will bestow; I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast. . .” |
| “And thou. . .hast not humbled thine heart.” | “But God said unto him, Thou fool.” (The fool hath said in his heart, no God) Psalm 14:1, 53:1 |
| “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” | “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.” |
| “Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting.” | “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” |
Weighed in the Balances and Found Wanting.
What entities might be placed on the scales to be weighed? Perhaps sin and righteousness? Is there anyone so foolish as to think of himself having equal amounts of sin and righteousness attributed to his account? And the balance being tipped ever so slightly either way can determine his destiny?
Weighing In.What does sin weigh? I cannot tell. There is but one who can: “Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. . .the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” Isa. 53:4a,6b. What does righteousness weigh? I cannot tell. It is imputed to my account. Through it (the righteousness of Christ) I am declared legally and judicially justified. There is but one who can tell. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” I Cor. 1:30.
Coming Short.“Found wanting” and “come short” are as identical twins. Found wanting, chacciyr, be in want, have need, to lack, be abated, void, destitute. Come short, husterio, be in want, to lack, fall short, be destitute. (Strong’s)
Whether he be king or rich man, Jew or Greek, the handwriting is on the wall: all are weighed in the balances, and found wanting; all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
