The Handwriting on the Wall

INTRO:

Illustration: Handwriting on the Wall

Nordyne- was a factory that made air conditioning units.

My friend that had worked there for 20 years quit.

He quit because he could tell the company was about to go under.

He said he saw “the handwriting on the wall.”

Means: there are clear signs that something unpleasant or unwelcome is going to happen.

Do you know where that phrase comes from? Like so many other phrases, it comes from the Bible.

Truth Statement: Not only is God sovereign over governments, but he is sovereign over us as well. That means that he controls our successes and our failures. When we have failures, we can check our pride at the door, and put our faith in the sovereignty of God. He is in control.

Truth Question: Are there areas in your life that you are prideful of?

What are they going to learn: Today, we are going to look at a passage that seeks to teach us that God is in control of our successes & our failures.

Daniel 5. Please Stand for the Reading of God’s Word. PRAY

Overview of the Story:

Chapter 1 Recap.

Religious articles are taken back to Babylon.

Babylon is full of sexual sin, greed, politics, murder, and was known for its low moral value.

Daniel & his 3 friends hold the line in obedience to God’s Word and are in the fire metaphorically.

Chapter 2 Recap.

God has a master plan and is sovereign over all governments. He used Daniel in a capacity to interpret the king’s dreams.

Chapter 3 Recap.

We saw that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And Daniel’s friends are the tough. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are thrown into a furnace, literally into the fire. They chose obedience to God over obedience to their government.

Daniel 4 Recap.

We saw that pride is often the source of the pain that we cause ourselves. King Neb was humbled because he thought God was sovereign over everything, EXEPT HIMSELF.

*This brings us to the 5th chapter of Daniel. *

30 yrs. have now passed since chapter 4.

Daniel is around 80 yrs. old.

68 years have passed since Jerusalem was captured by Neb.

We are now coming to the close of the 70 yrs. of Babylonian Captivity that was prophesized by Jeremiah. Jer. 25:11

Belshazzar is now king.

Neb is called “father” 7 times. Belshazzar is called “son” once.

Father- father, grandfather, ancestor, or a predecessor.

Son- offspring, grandson, descendant, or successor.

It is believed that he is Neb’s grandson. (No Hebrew word for father).

History records Belshazzar as the last king of the Babylonian Empire.

Has a feast for over 1,000 people.

History shows that at this time, the Persians were camping outside of the city gates & that Babylon had suffered a defeat.

The party was likely to bring encouragement to the people.

Gets DRUNK on wine. v.1 (Got drunk in view of the people / this encouraged them to continuously drink).

Commands religious articles be brought in. vv.2-3.

Same one’s taken from the temple in Jerusalem in Chapter 1.

Were very valuable. Made of silver & gold.

Were sacred & used to worship God. (God is holy). These were sacred articles set aside for God.

Because of his drunkenness, he disrespects God by using the articles.

Then, they commit IDOLOTRY. They worship the “gods of silver & gold.”

Once they did, the Bible says that something happened IMMEDIATELY. v.5

Fingers of a human hand- used throughout the Bible. Ezek. 8:3.

Ex. 20 (10 commandments); Psalm 8:3 (creation); Ex. 8:18-19 (the Exodus Miracles); John 8:1-11 (Jesus writes on the ground to the adulterous woman.

Opposite the lampstand- likely the golden lampstand

The golden lampstand symbolized Christ as the embodiment and expression of the Triune God.

I want you to see that this hand of God is the hand of Jesus.

Christophany: A pre-manifestation & revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ before His incarnation (the embodiment of God the Son in human flesh as Jesus Christ).

This is the 2nd Christophany. 1st was in the fire.

This handwriting on the wall changed everything. v.6

Enchanters, Chaldeans, & astrologers are brought in. Will begiven a purple robe & golden chain & become the 3rd ruler of the kingdom if they can interpret.

They couldn’t & the king got sick again.

Queen (likely the queen mother) remembers Daniel.

She gives a testimony about him.

v.11- in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. Same phrase used 3 times in chapter 4.

v.12- She gives 5 things that are special about him.

Are we okay being like everyone else? Are we trying to fit in with the crowd? There is nothing SPECIAL about that.

Daniel is brought before the drunken king.

He is again described by the king as the spirit of the gods is in you. v.14

Purple robe & golden chain & 3rd ruler of the kingdom.

v. 17- Daniel tells him to keep all of that. Matt. 16:26

Daniel scolds the king in vv.18-21.

v. 22- Reminds him that he has not learned from his forefathers’ mistakes. But he elevated himself against God. Man vs God.

Have you learned from those who have come before you?

Sums it up. v.23d.

Daniel interprets the dream.

MENE- God has numbered your days as kingdom and brought to an end.

MENE- the 2nd use meant the matter was FINAL.

TEKEL- weighed in balances & found wanting. He was evaluated.

PARSIN- Kingdom is split & given to the Medes & Persians.

This would partially fulfill Neb’s dream in chapter 2. (Slide)

In drunkenness, the king gives Daniel a purple robe, golden chain, & makes him the 3rd ruler of the kingdom.

That very night, they kingdom falls. History records this date as October 12, 539 B.C. The fall of the Babylonian empire has been completed.

Neb was given a year to repent. Belshazzar was not.

His time to repent was wrapped up with the time given to the kingdom as a whole.

How long will it take our country to repent?

High ranking officer’s office / Rainbow Flag

Blasphemy / Counterfeit

God’s covenant in Genesis / to a symbol for sexualism

Key Biblical Principles:

Belshazzar- It is important to teach our children about God. Parents can be the cause of chaos in their adult children lives if they have done nothing earlier to prevent it.

Queen- When unsaved people come to a time of crisis, they often turn to people who are in touch with God.

Again, I want to remind you that your testimony is extremely important.

Before saved / Event / After saved.

Daniel- Even when the political system crumbles around them, mature Christians can still trust God.

Daniel (80 yrs. old)- Older people often feel rejected by younger leaders, God will often call on them for service when he needs them.

Common Human Problem:

We often do not want to listen to our elders.

We want to do things on our own & not study the mistakes of our forefathers.

We often ruin our personal testimony & people won’t look to us for help.

We are so focused on our lives, we overlook what’s going on in our kid’s lives & the struggles that they are facing.

Solution:

Don’t let alcohol ruin your life OR end your life.

Don’t worship & praise possessions (which do not see or hear v.23b)

Learn from those who came before you.

We should learn from the O.T. 1 Cor. 10:6

Use your gifts to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 14:12

Like Daniel we need to be ready for action wherever and whenever God calls us.

Daniel- If we find ourselves in pagan surroundings, let it only be because we were forced there.

When we find ourselves there, focus on God, & see what it is that He will have you to do. Allow yourself to be used by God.

Conclusion:

The phrase, “the handwriting on the wall,” means that you can see what is about to happen. In other words, it means that IT IS FINAL.

Good news- As long as your still breathing, you still have time.

Repent & put your faith in Jesus.

Once death knocks on your door, its too late. IT IS FINAL.

Remember that in Christ, we will find the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:21

The handwriting is on the wall & our time is soon coming to an end.

Repent & put your faith in Jesus as your Lord & Savior.