The Writing on the Wall

A New King

When we come into this new scene we now have a new king. King Belshazzar. Last week we saw that Nebuchadnezzar had an experience that brought him to give glory to the God of Israel as the God above all other gods, and who graciously allowed him to rule over Babylon. But now we find ourselves we find ourselves with a new king. Belshazzar. And Daniel is now close to 80 years old. We went from around 20, to 50, to now 80.

Now, historically, many people believed that Belshazzar was not a real person because there was no historical evidence of him ever existing. That is, until about 30 years ago we have several ancient texts that attest to his existence and to his father, Nabonidus. Nabonidus, we knew, was the last king of Babylon. And Belshazzar would often act as crown prince as his father would travel to different parts of the empire. And for more than 10 years his father traveled and continuing to conquer, which, in affect, left Belshazzar as king. His name is even listed as king on several documents and his father “entrusted the kingship to him.” In fact, the proof of this is in Belshazzar’s statement that whoever could interpret this would have the “third highest position” in the kingdom. Why third and not second? Because of his father. If this was written to someone at a later point in time, after the events that took place, they would have said that Nabonidus was the king and not Belshazzar. Therefore, for over 2000 years the Bible told us something that had no other document was able to prove.

Now, what the text tells us is that he held a great feast. And this was not just any kind of party, this was incredibly extravagant. In a day they would feed thousands and thousands of people. And these weren’t things that lasted for a day, they lasted for sometimes weeks or months. And again, we have several historical examples of crazy feasts like this. And in fact there are several Greek historians who tell us that this feast happened on this exact night, because as we will see, this is a very important night.

And as this feast is happening we see that Belshazzar is participating heavily in the festivities. And we don’t need to get into the specifics, but the text gives us clues that more than drinking was occuring as well.

But the question we must ask is why are they having this party? What is the purpose of it?

Because, historically, what we also know, is that Babylon has already lost some important battles to the Persians, and Belshazzar's father was on the run. Only Babylon is left standing. It could have been one of three options. 1. To build the moral of the people. 2. He may have been taking this opportunity to name himself king since his father was defeated. 3. It might have just been an annual feast that happened to fall at this time.

But it does seem like he is a little to proud for his own good, especially as it seems things are starting to deteriorate.

But what he does next is use the cups from the temple of Jerusalem as cups to drink out of. Why do you think this would be a problem?

-He is defiling these sacred objects of a group of people within his kingdom. Imagine if someone was drunk and walked in, poured out the juice in the communion cup, put heavy liquor in it instead and said “praise to the devil!”

So this is blasphemy against the God of Israel. Even more so that they used these cups to praise their own gods. They praised the immaterial, the things that didn’t have breath, couldn’t take action, they were just made by human hands. But Belshazzar is showing who he believes has authority in this situation. Not the God of Israel but he is showing his allegiance to these other gods. Essentially going, “which one of you can save me? I don’t believe this God can but one of you must!” While also saying “Even though Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself to you, I will not”.

He also most likely had heard the prophecies in Isaiah where God said that Cyrus, the king of Persia, would be the one who would conquer Babylon. Even though it was 150 years before this moment!

Isaiah 44:28 “who says to Cyrus, “My shepherd, he will fulfill all my pleasure” and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.””

Isaiah 45:1 “The Lord says this to Cyrus, his anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and disarm kings, to open doors before him, and even city gates will not be shut:”

The Writing on the wall

Then, while they are worshipping these idols. A scene terrifies Balshazzar, much like the things that terrified Nebuchadnezzar, and the same response as Nebuchadnezzar had in calling all his authorities. Then he calls out, (which may have even been to the point of screaming) offers a prize and the highest position he could give to anyone who can interpret it.

But none of them could read or interpret it, even though it was in a language that they all knew! There could be several reasons why they weren’t able to read it at all. It was written differently than usual, it was ambiguous, or God caused them to not be able to.

All the fun and games are over now, Belshazzar is even more terrified.

Then it says the “queen” enters, although better translated “queen mother”. This is likely Belshazzar’s mother and she came remembering stories of this young man named Daniel who helped in the past. At this point it seems as if Belshazzar has forgotten about Daniel. But he is one with the “wisdom of the gods”. Daniel heard from the God of all wisdom and who was sovereign over everything happening.

Daniel is given an offer like he was many years before by Nebuchadnezzar. But as it pertained to the fits that he offered, Daniel turned them down. He was showing that the God of Israel couldn’t be bought off, he wasn’t going to get a good message, and that he would always be in debt to the God over all things.

Daniel then proceeds to tell him how Nebuchadnezzar had been humbled because he had refused to acknowledge who had given him the authority that he had. Daniel is saying “that God that you just mocked with your use of His holy items, he can take away from you everything he took away from Nebuchadnezzar. and what you have done is stupid and arrogant.” Daniel tells him “you knew about what happened to your grandfather, you knew of what happened to him when he didn’t follow God and how he turned to worship God alone when he humbled his heart. Why would you not follow him? Better yet, why would you challenge him?”

Belshazzar was worshipping all of these lifeless gods while ignoring the Living God. The God who gave him breath, who is in charge of all things including Babylon and yet he has chosen to reject this God and follow these idols.

Then these three words.

Mene means “numbered”

Tekel means “weighed”

Parsin means “divided”

“Numbered, numbered, weighed, divided.”

Mene is repeated to stress that his days were truly numbered, that it was going to be fulfilled soon.

Tekel means his actions have been judged and found “deficient” to God’s law and in humility. They had been put on a scale and it was outweighed in judgment. (This was seen in Egyptian books where men were put on “scales” to weigh them against their deeds”)

-We know that he most likely tried to assassinate Nebuchadnezzar. He blasphemed the God of Israel, and he was overcome with greed.

Parsin means that the kingdom would be destroyed and shared by the Medes and Persians. Also referring to the “Persian” empire.

After this was interpreted we see that Daniel was given a reward. But it was short-lived and meaningless as that very night he was conquered.

Daniel 7. Daniel’s Exaltation and the Fall of Babylon (5:29–31)

In the previous chapter was the explanation that there were two sets of double walls extending for miles (the outermost system being seventeen miles in length). The outer walls were approximately twenty-five feet in width and rose to a height of at least forty feet. These fortifications were too difficult to challenge, and so according to Herodotus and Xenophon, the Medo-Persian army diverted water from the Euphrates River (which ran under the walls of Babylon) into a marsh. With the level of the water lowered, the soldiers were able to wade the river under the walls and enter the city.

Xenophon added that the city was invaded while the Babylonians were feasting in a time of drunken revelry, and Herodotus also related that a festival was in progress.102 As a matter of fact, Xenophon cited the festival as the reason the Persians chose to attack Babylon on that particular night. He further mentioned that Gobryas, commander under Cyrus, led his soldiers into the palace, where they found the king holding a dagger, evidently with which to take his own life. According to Xenophon, the king and his attendants were overpowered, and the invaders “avenged themselves upon the wicked king,”105 which obviously means that they executed him.

Daniel 7. Daniel’s Exaltation and the Fall of Babylon (5:29–31)

With only a few words the writer of Daniel reported one of the most significant events in world history, the fall of the Babylonian Empire and the beginning of the Medo-Persian Empire. That night the city fell and with it the last remnants of Babylonlonian dominance. Belshazzar was executed only a few hours later.

Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary b. Daniel’s Interpretation (5:13–31)

Belshazzar in this chapter presents a vivid picture of the fool, the practising atheist, who at the end can only brazen it out with the help of alcohol which blots out the stark reality.

All nations will be judged by their actions.

Babylon had fallen idol to sex and glorified any kind of pleasure as good

They had not just turned away from God but cursed him

They had become proud and believed no one could stop them

One day all of us will face a day of judgment

One day all of the “pleasures” that we enjoy. Sports, money, leisure, will all pass away.

Psalm 90 “A prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God. You return mankind to the dust, saying, “Return, descendants of Adam.” For in your sight a thousand years are like yesterday that passes by, like a few hours of the night. You end their lives; they sleep. They are like grass that grows in the morning— in the morning it sprouts and grows; by evening it withers and dries up. For we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days ebb away under your wrath; we end our years like a sigh. Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away. Who understands the power of your anger? Your wrath matches the fear that is due you.

12 Teach us to number our days carefully

so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.,

13 LORD—how long?

Turn and have compassion on your servants.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love

so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.

15 Make us rejoice for as many days as you have humbled us,

for as many years as we have seen adversity.

16 Let your work be seen by your servants,

and your splendor by their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us;

establish for us the work of our hands—

establish the work of our hands!