Daniel 5

Daniel 5

Henry - God's written word is enough to put the proudest, boldest sinner in a fright. What we see of God, the part of the hand that writes in the book of the creatures, and in the book of the Scriptures, should fill us with awful thoughts concerning that part which we do not see. If this be the finger of God, what is His arm when made bare? And what is He? The king's guilty conscience told him that he had no reason to expect any good news from heaven. God can, in a moment, make the heart of the stoutest sinner to tremble; and there needs no more than to let loose His own thoughts upon him; they will give him trouble enough. No bodily pain can equal the inward agony which sometimes seizes the sinner in the midst of mirth, carnal pleasures, and worldly pomp. Sometimes terrors cause a man to flee to Christ for pardon and peace; but many cry out for fear of wrath (Rev 6:16, 17-notes), who are not humbled for their sins, and who seek relief by lying vanities. The ignorance and uncertainty concerning the Holy Scriptures, shown by many who call themselves wise, only tend to drive sinners to despair, as the ignorance of these wise men did. Daniel 5 reminds us of Jesus' sobering words in Luke 12… And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a certain rich man was very productive. "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' "And he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' (cp Jas 4:13, 14, 15) "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night (cp Pr 27:1) your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' "So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:16-21) Comment: Notice Jesus' "definition" of a "fool" (literally without understanding especially in practical matters) = One who lays up treasure for self and is not rich toward God! Who among us has not at one time or another played the fool, deceptively trusting in the temporary treasures of this world instead of the eternal security in Christ? Play the Gospel song Handwriting on the Wall. Here is also an old hymn… Handwriting on the Wall by Knowles Shaw At the feast of Belshazzar and a thousand of his lords, While they drank from golden vessels, as the Book of Truth records, In the night, as they reveled in the royal palace hall, They were seized with consternation—’twas the Hand upon the wall! Refrain ’Tis the hand of God on the wall! ’Tis the hand of God on the wall! Shall the record be “Found wanting!” Or shall it be “Found trusting!” While that hand is writing on the wall? See the brave captive, Daniel, as he stood before the throng, And rebuked the haughty monarch for his mighty deeds of wrong; As he read out the writing—’twas the doom of one and all, For the kingdom now was finished—said the Hand upon the wall! Refrain See the faith, zeal and courage, that would dare to do the right, Which the Spirit gave to Daniel—’twas the secret of his might, In his home in Judea, or a captive in the hall, He understood the writing of his God upon the wall! Refrain So our deeds are recorded—there’s a Hand that’s writing now: Sinner, give your heart to Jesus, to His royal mandates bow; For the day is approaching—it must come to one and all, When the sinners’ condemnation will be written on the wall! Refrain Daniel 5:6 Then the king's face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints went slack and his knees began knocking together. the king's: Da 5:9 2:1 3:19 Job 15:20-27 20:19-27 Ps 73:18-20 Isa 21:2-4 Face: Da 5:9 and his thoughts: Da 5:10 4:5,19 7:28) (Ps 69:23 Isa 13:7,8 21:3,4 joints: Isa 5:27 knees: Isa 35:3 Eze 7:17 21:7 Na 2:10 Heb 12:12 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries How quickly man bravado and boasting wilts in the presence of the Lord. The king's face grew pale - The ESV says "His color changed"! The NLT says "His face turned pale with fright!" I guess it did! The Aramaic literally reads (the king's) "brightness changed for him." If we did not know the sequence of events in Daniel 5, one might have diagnosed a massive heart attack, and in a sense it was a "massive attack" on the hardened heart of Belshazzar by the Most High God. Gaebelein - The feast of licentiousness became suddenly a feast of gloom and consternation. (The Prophet Daniel) His hip joints when slack (KJV = his loins were loosed). The Aramaic reads "his loins went slack". Literally this reads "joints of his loins." The Septuagint translates the Aramaic word for "loins" is osphus which Friberg's Analytical Lexicon says can be a Hebraism for one's private parts. An interesting description of a man frightened out of his wits! Compare King Saul's reaction upon hearing the words of Samuel who had been brought up from the dead (1Sa 28:1-25). Belshazzar's reaction to this "divine disturbance" reminds one of the reactions unbelievers will display during the Day of the Lord (which is really an extended period of God's judgment of mankind)… Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt. They will be terrified, pains and anguish will take hold of them. They will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another in astonishment, their faces aflame. (Isa 13:6, 7, 8) His thoughts alarmed him - Frightened out of his mind! Why did his thoughts alarm him? He knew about his grandfather's judgment. When God's judgment comes it will be the most surprising, frightening time of their life! Clearly this supernatural hand alarmed and frightened Belshazzar and yet the king remained unrepentant (Da 5:29). We see a similar resistance to repentance in passages in Jer 38:19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and when Paul was before Felix… But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you." (Acts 24:24, 25) Knees began knocking - Instability because of fear. Before Belshazzar was so drunk he couldn't stand up. Now he's so sober and frightened that he can't stand up! It's too bad Belshazzar didn't respond as one person wisely advised… If your knees are knocking, kneel on them! Wayne Barber refers to Belshazzar's folly as prototypical of "The Peril of the Unbeliever." Daniel 5:7 The king called aloud to bring in the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, "Any man who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom." aloud: Chal, with might, Da 4:14 bring: Da 2:2 4:6 Ge 41:8 Isa 44:25,26 47:13 be clothed: Da 5:16,29 2:6 Ge 41:42-44 Nu 22:7,17 24:11 1Sa 17:25 necklace: Pr 1:9 Song 1:10 Eze 16:11 third: Da 2:48 6:2,3 Es 3:1 10:2,3 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Called aloud (2 Aramaic words - qera = call or shout) - Literally he "called with power!" Baker writes the word for "aloud" "can mean a loud or powerful voice, such as Nebuchadnezzar’s herald (Dan. 3:4); a messenger from heaven (Dan. 4:14[11]); and King Belshazzar to his enchanters (Dan. 5:7). Clothed with purple - This was the color of royalty in the ancient world (cp Lam 4:5) Third ruler in the kingdom - As explained earlier (Ruler #1) = Nabonidus, (Ruler #2) = his son Belshazzar, (Ruler #3) = The decipherer of the handwriting. See the Jew Mordecai's exaltation (after the evil Haman was exposed) to second in authority under Ahasuerus, the Persian king (Esther 3:1-note, Esther 10:2, 3-note) The Apologetics Study Bible- Understand Why You Believe (Online) - The fact that Belshazzar could offer only the "third highest position in the kingdom" (Da 5:16,29) is evidence that the author of Daniel had accurate knowledge of Nabonidus. Nabonidus was first in rank, followed by his son Belshazzar and then the decipherer of the handwriting would be third in rank. Daniel 5:8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. Da 2:27 4:7 Ge 41:8 Isa 47:9,12, 13, 14, 15 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries We see a similar scene in throne room of another world ruler (Pharaoh)… Now in the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh. (Ge 41:8) History repeats itself for the third time in Daniel (cp. Da 2:27-note; Da 4:7-note). Human wisdom is futile and has no ability to discern the mind and will of God. For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (1Cor 1:19, from Isa 29:14, 1Co 1:20, 21) Wise men - These men represent the wisdom of the world which useless when it comes to God's will and way (1Cor 2:14-note) just as they had been in previous encounters with divine mysteries (cp. Da 2:27-note; Da 4:7-note). This was their third attempt to decipher the divine but for them the third time was still not the charm and in fact this was their third strike for they would soon be out of business this very night! wall. The principle is that the worldly wise are utterly unable to understand the mind of God and His revealed Word. That privilege belongs to those who know Him for we have the mind of Christ and His Spirit our indwelling Teacher! They could not read the inscription - Four words in Aramaic, the trade language of that day. Commentaries speculate on why they could not even read their own language, but the reason is not clear. Whatever the reason, this truth clearly demonstrates the utter failure of the unbelieving world's ability (these were the best and brightest "spiritual" folks in the land and they fell flat on their face) to understand God's revelation of truth (1Co 2:14-note). Rich Cathers has a humorous but practical insight… Not everyone can give you the right advice. This is a spiritual thing. This is a “god-thing”. Only people who really know about God can tell you what’s going on. Illustration - Bob went to a psychiatrist. “Doc,” he said, “I’ve got trouble. Every time I get into bed, I think there’s somebody under it. I get under the bed; I think there’s somebody on top of it. Top, under, top, under… you gotta help me, I’m going crazy!” “Just put yourself in my hands for one year,” said the shrink. “Come to me three times a week, and I’ll cure your fears.” “How much do you charge?” “A hundred dollars per visit” the psychiatrist said. “I’ll sleep on it,” said Bob. Six months later the doctor met Bob on the street. “Why didn’t you ever come to see me again?” asked the psychiatrist. “For a hundred buck’s a visit? A friend cured me for free!” “Is that so! How?” “He told me to cut the legs off the bed!” Be careful where you get your advice from. When it comes to making important decisions about your life, make sure you are trying to find out what God thinks. Our friends can mean well, but if they don’t know the Lord and don’t know God’s Word, we ought to be careful about listening to their advice. It is not an uncommon thing to hear about some couple getting a divorce because one spouse is asking their friends for advice, and their friends are giving them bad advice. Find a friend who knows God’s Word. Better yet, YOU get to know God’s Word. (Daniel 5) Daniel 5:9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, his face grew even paler, and his nobles were perplexed. greatly: Da 5:6 2:1 Job 18:11-14 Ps 18:14 Rev 6:15 face: Da 5:6 10:8 Perplexed: Ps 48:6 Isa 13:6-8 21:2-4 Jer 6:24 30:6 Mt 2:3 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Alarmed - This Aramaic word is a key word in this "Gentile" section of Daniel, Da 2:4-Da 7:28 (11x in 10 verses - Da 2:25; 3:24; 4:5, 19; 5:6, 9, 10; 6:19; 7:15, 28) Face - Interesting meaning in Aramaic is brightness. Grew even paler - This is difficult to imagine. Richard Baxter applies the handwriting image to all unregenerate men and women noting… What trembling, then, should seize on thee, who hast the hand of God himself against thee, not in a sentence or two, but in the very scope of the Scriptures, threatening the loss of an everlasting kingdom! Daniel 5:10 The queen entered the banquet hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen spoke and said, "O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your face be pale. Not let: Ge 35:17,18 1Sa 4:20-22 Job 13:4 21:34 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The queen entered - This cannot be Belshazzar's wife for we see him celebrating with his wives and concubines (Da 5:2,3). Most commentators believe this is either the elderly surviving wife of Nebuchadnezzar or the wife of Nabonidus. In either event, she was old enough to have knowledge of the prophet Daniel. And also wise enough (and chaste enough) to not be in attendance of the king's sensual orgy. Other commentaries speculate that the queen was probably Nitocris, the queen-mother, widow of Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar. Because of the words of the king and his nobles - The NET Bible renders it "Due to the noise caused by the king and his nobles." O king, live forever (Da 2:4. 3:9. 6:6, 21, CP 1Ki 1:31) - In a bit of divine irony, king Belshazzar would not even live through this very night! Do not let your thoughts alarm you - In essence she is saying "Pull yourself together!" Daniel 5:11 "There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans and diviners. Your father or, grandfather, Da 5:2 Illumination: Da 2:11 2Sa 14:17 Ac 12:22 14:11 Rev 3:9 chief: Da 2:48 4:9 Ac 16:16 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A man (Da 2:47, Da 4:8, 9, 18) - The queen functioned much like the Egyptian cupbearer when Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret (Ge 41:11, 12, 13, 14, 15) In whom is a spirit of the holy gods (cp Ge 41:38 Pharaoh alluding to Joseph) - Like Nebuchadnezzar (Da 4:8, 9-note) she saw something different, even something divine about Daniel. It's not so much what a man is born with, but what determines our usefulness is what God gives to those men who choose to walk with Him. The queen attributes Daniel's wisdom not to the Most High God, but to the holy gods of the pagans, suggesting she is not a believer in the one true God but only has respect for His prophet Daniel. Ray Pritchard - When the party started, Daniel was nowhere to be found. No doubt he was in his room resting and praying. And why would they want Daniel in the first place? The world never invites the people of God to an orgy. After all, if you invite one of those narrow-minded, legalistic fundamentalists, sooner or later they are going to be offended and probably make a big scene. Better to leave them off the guest list altogether. But as we shall see, Daniel soon becomes the life of the party. ((God’s Graffiti - January 2000) It is fascinating the the queen recognized something "different" about Daniel. Stortz has an interesting note that even unbelievers can recognize superior wisdom (cp Ezekiel 2:4, 5-note) writing… I think of the men who were involved in the founding of our nation. Not all the Founding Fathers were Christians, but there was a reverence for and acceptance of the wisdom of the Word of God. They established a government based on the Scriptures. They based the laws of the land upon the Word of God. Many acknowledged the wisdom of God in the Scriptures even though they did not believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. (Stortz, R., & Hughes, R. K.. Daniel : The Triumph of God's Kingdom. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books) We as believers need to be salty salt and bright beacons in our Christian witness, so that those lost in the moral corruption and spiritual darkness of this present evil age know that one of God's children has been in their midst. God encouraged his prophet with these words… I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ As for them, whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. (Ezek 2:4, 5-note) Rich Cathers - Be a light in your world. Illustration - This is a story about a little girl who, on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the Preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.” The mother said, “Oh! Why is that?” The girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?” “Yes, that’s true,” the mother replied. “He also said that God lives within us. Is that true, too?” Again the mother replied, “Yes.” “Well,” said the girl. “If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?” God wants people to see Him through us. God wants us to have a reputation of integrity. (Daniel 5) Nebuchadnezzar, your father - Nebuchadnezzar was an ancestor of Belshazzar but not his literal father. The term father in Hebrew and Chaldee is frequently used to denote a progenitor, or ancestor, however remote. Courage To Stand Alone - It was a morally dark night in Babylon—darker than your workplace, school, or community. King Belshazzar had willfully blasphemed God by desecrating the sacred goblets looted from the temple in Jerusalem. Now Babylon and Belshazzar were about to face God's judgment. Yet in the midst of this gross darkness shone the light of a single witness—the prophet Daniel. Because of his reputation as a man with "the Spirit of the Holy God" (Da 5:11), he was summoned to interpret the mystifying message on the wall. Daniel could have softened God's warning to give it a meaning the king and his court would rather hear. He could have omitted the part about judgment and death. But instead of muddling the message to please the king, Daniel remained true to God. Standing alone before Belshazzar and his drunken court, he boldly spoke the whole truth. It took enormous courage for Daniel to do that, but the threat from an earthly king was nothing compared to his allegiance to the King of heaven. Daniel feared Belshazzar so little because he feared God so much. In need of strength, we melt into the crowd And find that strength grows more elusive still; Our courage gone, we call upon the Lord And find our strength renewed to do His will. —Gustafson When we know God stands with us, it doesn't matter who stands against us. Daniel 5:12 "This was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation." an extraordinary: Da 5:14 6:3 Ps 16:3 Pr 12:26 17:27 Col 1:29 interpretation of: Da 5:16 1Ki 10:1-3 2Ch 9:1,2 whom: Da 1:7, 4:8,19 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries An extraordinary spirit (Aramaic = excellent as rendered in ESV) - How would you like this to be your reputation with the pagans? Peter alludes this "Daniel type behavior" exhorting the believers… Keep your behavior (anastrophe) excellent among the Gentiles, (Why?) so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them (Know that the unbelievers have their eyes on you looking for a chink in your armor, but also seeing the indisputable evidence of a supernatural life!), glorify God in the day of visitation. (1Pe 2:12-note) Keep in mind that Daniel is now probably in his 80's and is still running his race with endurance (Hebrews 12:1-note, cp Ps 92:12, 13, 14-note). He had begun well, had run well and would finish well, like Paul who with his last words testified… I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing (like Daniel - see Da 12:3, 13). (2Ti 4:7-note, 2Ti 4:8-note) Explanation of enigmas (KJV = Showing of hard sentences) In Da 1:17-note recall that "And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every [branch of] literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all [kinds of] visions and dreams." Solving of difficult problems (KJV = and dissolving of doubts) Let Daniel be summoned - "I do not know everything the king was thinking. But I do know this—a drowning man will grasp at anything. So the king called for Daniel and he came. Enter Daniel, a former slave, once a teenage hostage. Now he is an old man. All his life he has served in the court of the king of Babylon. More than once he had pulled Nebuchadnezzar out of a jam. Evidently he had been faithful to God all his life. Never once had he compromised his values even though he lived his entire adult life in a pagan land serving in a pagan government. Somehow he managed to keep his values intact while serving in Babylon. Now he is called for his last act of service to a Babylonian king" (Ray Pritchard) Vance Havner - Daniel was not present as a guest at the feast of Belshazzar. He did not belong to the club and had no complimentary ticket to the orgy. He did not even drink ginger ale among the alcoholics! But he ended up the most honored of all because he was where he belonged until he was sent for. If more prophets stayed where they belong, they would be summoned when God writes on the wall. It is fashionable nowadays for the clergy to attend the suppers of Sodom and the grog-fests of Babylon, but they cannot decipher the heavenly hieroglyphics in the hour of doom. Daniel 5:13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? Are you - Da 5:11 1:21 2:48 8:1,27 Da 2:25 6:13 Ezra 4:1 6:16,19,20 10:7,16 father or, grandfather - Da 5:2,11,18 Judah - Jn 7:1,3 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Whom my father - In context this is a reference to Nebuchadnezzar. As discussed this really means "forefather" not biological father. God always has His man, His messenger in the right place at the right time to bring the warning of judgment. True servants of God never abandon their call but are always available to respond to “in season, out of season” (2Ti 4:2-note). Are you that Daniel… one of the exiles - Belshazzar exhibits a condescending attitude toward Daniel reminding him of his "roots" (an exile). TSK note. - Though Daniel was one of the chief ministers of state, who did “the king’s business” in the palace (Da 8:27), yet Belshazzar seems to have known nothing of him. This shows that he was a weak and vicious prince, who minded pleasure more than business, according to the character given him by historians. He appears to have left the care of public affairs to his mother, Nitocris, a lady celebrated for her wisdom, who evidently knew Daniel well, and probably constantly employed him in the government of the kingdom. Whitcomb - After the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel may have been demoted from his high position. Thus, instead of referring to him as "chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon" (Da 2:48-note), Belshazzar speaks of him simply as "one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah." (Ibid) Daniel 5:14 "Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. Da 5:11,12 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE POWER OF A GODLY LIFE Belshazzar was afraid. Before he had not even deigned to consult with this Hebrew exile! But now he was desperate and he was ready to listen to anyone who could help! Daniel was his last resort! How often we as believers find our unbelieving friends pay such little attention to us until they encounter an overwhelming life adversity or tragedy. Then they seek us out for prayer and counsel (And we are glad they do so! See Joseph Parker's note below). I am always reminded of the first words out of the mouth of individuals thrown into a sudden catastrophic situation for what you usually hear is something like "Oh God please. Oh God help!" I have heard about you (cp "heard" Da 5:16) - The point is that Belshazzar knew about Daniel and his works, but to the king’s shame he did not know him personally. Belshazzar had no excuse. He knew about God's prophet Daniel. He knew about the prophet's God and what He had done in Nebuchadnezzar's life (see Daniel's concluding statement = Da 5:22). Belshazzar's problem was that he did not know either the prophet or His God! (cp Jn 17:3)