Pride Before Destruction
The Sovereignty of God | A Study Through the Book of Daniel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewBelshazzar did not learn the lesson told to him by his father, king Nebuchadnezzar. Now, through willful rebellion, he faces God's hand of judgment.
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Introduction
As we come to our text within Daniel 5, a lot has transpired within the previous four chapters of the book of Daniel, all of which that point toward the sovereignty of God. Daniel and his people, the covenant people of God, the Israelites have been taken into Babylonian captivity because of spiritual harlotry and following false teachers and leadership in open rebellion of God’s covenant with them. Through the book of Jeremiah, we see that God is the covenant enforcer and God declared this would take place. We see this prophecy being fleshed out within the opening chapter of the book of Daniel. However, through the sovereign will of God, there was a man who purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the gods of this world (Dan 1:8). This man was Daniel. Daniel and his friends would resist the teases, temptations and threats of the king of this world, the megalomaniac, Nebuchadnezzar (ch 2-3). Daniel would interpret dreams and visions for king Nebuchadnezzar. His three friends would refuse to fall before and worship his statue. Through all this Nebuchadnezzar would give false honor and praise to God. It would not be until God brought king Neb to his knees through what many scholars state was a description of wolf man disease (Dan 4:28-33). Through this divine humiliation, Nebuchadnezzar repented and found divine restoration (Dan 4:36). Nebuchadnezzar finally found genuine repentance and came to his senses and declared of God:
“But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. “All the inhabitants of the earth are of no account, But He does according to His will among the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can fend off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
This is where we pickup in Daniel 5. Nebuchadnezzar is passed from this life into eternity. His son, Belshazzar, is on the throne. Despite knowing the afore mentioned events (5:22), has shown no regard for God and has given God’s glory to the handmade gods he worship through bringing in the all gold and silver vessels that his father stole from the temple and begins to have a feast, drinking and serving food from these vessels (vv. 1-4). As they are throwing this lavish party, dishonoring God in the process, a hand proceeds to come out of no where and writes a message that strikes fear to the heard of Belshazzar.
Suddenly the fingers of a human hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. Then the king’s face became pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints loosened and his knees began knocking together.
Desperate for an answer, Belshazzar calls all his wisemen to him and is willing to give up to a third of his kingdom for an answer but finds no one that can answer (5:7-9). Then the queen arrives on the seen and remembers the man that could reveal the secrets of the gods and that spoke to her late father-in-law (5:10-12). Daniel is brought to Belshazzar and is addressed based off of his reputation (vv. 14, 16). Belshazzar offers Daniel a third of his kingdom if he will answer the meaning of this writing on the wall. Daniel responds to him that he could not be bribed and that he could keep his money, but he would interpret the writing on the wall (v. 17).
Background Passage: Daniel 5:1-31
Opening Passage: Daniel 5:18-21
O king, the Most High God granted sovereignty, greatness, honor, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. Now because of the greatness which He granted him, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages trembled and feared in his presence; whomever he wished, he killed, and whomever he wished, he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated, and whomever he wished he humbled. But when his heart was arrogant and his spirit became so overbearing that he behaved presumptuously, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his dignity was taken away from him. He was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of animals, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes.
Focus Passage: Daniel 5:22-31
Belshazzar willingly dishonored God knowing the power of God - ‘…even though you knew all this...’ (v. 22b)
Belshazzar was prideful, arrogant, and felt he was above all. He knew the truth of what had transpired with his father and his father’s kingdom. Yet, his heart was prideful and arrogant and he would not give God the honor He was due, “Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart.”
Belshazzar showed more reverence for the gods he created than for the God that held his life in His hand - ‘…you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor understand. But the God in whose hand are your life breath and all your ways, you have not glorified...’ (v. 23b)
Ultimately, Belshazzar rose up against God in his heart - ‘…But you have risen up against the Lord of heaven...’ (v. 23a)
God judged Belshazzar for his arrogant, rebellious heart - ‘…Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out...’
God was going to end Belshazzar’s rule - ‘…MENE—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it...’
God was going to end Belshazzar’s life - ‘…TEKEL — you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient...’
God was going to end Belshazzar’s dynasty - ‘…PERES—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians...’
The true picture being shown through this inscription written on wall is translated from the Aramaic as “Mene, Mene or Numbered, Numbered,” “Tekel or deficient,” and “Upharsin/Peres or divided” show a picture of man morally deficient and divided before God. Who Belshazzar was in his inner man was how God was going to judge his outer man. We cannot be morally bankrupt and expect God’s heavenly blessings.
Conclusion
God’s judgment was swift. That night, while they were eating and drinking, God did as He said He would.
That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. So Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.
Let us not take this warning lightly. Let us not be as Belshazzar and knowingly rebel against God. Let us be warned. Let us learn from the judgment that has fallen on others that we do not want to worship and give the honor due to God to the things of this world. Let us honor God in all ways. Let us not be weighed and found wanting spiritually and in our relationship with God.