The God who Numbers (Daniel 5)
Daniel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 37:38
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· 15 viewsA message from Daniel 5 on Sunday, July 6, 2025 from Kyle Ryan.
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Introduction
Introduction
Please take out your Bibles and turn with me to Daniel 5, Daniel 5. If you do not have a copy of the Bible, let me invite you to grab the Red Bible there in your seats, either in front of you or under you if you are in the very front or back. And in that Red Bible you can find our passage, Daniel 5, beginning on page #881.
While you are turning there to Daniel 5, consider with me how certain family traits and personalities work their way throughout a family tree. A new baby is born and as they come out of the newborn stage and begin to show more of their features, we easily begin to say, they have so and so’s eyes. They have your nose. Or in some cases, they have this side of the family’s double chin.
These are the easy features that are noticable and talked about. But have you ever considered how its not just the physical traits that are often passed down through the family line? That personality traits are also passed down, both good and bad.
Traits that are at times compared, this child acts just like this family member and so forth.
This morning as we continue our sermon series through the book of Daniel, we find this kind of family comparison between Belshazzar here in Daniel 5 as he is compared to Nebuchadnezzar in the first four chapters, but specifically the events of Daniel 4.
For Belshazzar continues in the very foot steps of Nebuchadnezzar in his great pride. And God continues to show that it is he who alone rules the kingdoms of mankind (Dan 5:21).
For this continues to be the repeating theme in the book of Daniel. In Daniel 1, we saw this conflict in Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, being taken captive by Babylon. Yet, in the narrative account, we see it made clear that this was a result not of Babylon’s power, but God’s handing them over. This then verified in God’s hand being at work in providing favor to those who fear him, with Daniel and his three companions: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Maybe better known by some by their Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. As they become center stage in Daniel 3. Where, God again shows he is over all things as he delivers the three unharmed out of the fiery furnace which they were cast into.
Then there is Daniel 2 and Daniel 4 which in different ways show God’s sovereign rule over the nations and all events in both Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and his humiliation. God revealed that it is he who rules over all in these events. And Nebuchadnezzar finally comes to realize this at the end of Daniel 4, after first being brought to the lowest of lows in eating with the beasts of the field.
However, despite the public humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar, despite his humbling and restoration and decree, Babylon still has not learned that God rules the kingdom of men. For Belshazzar continues to follow in the footsteps of Nebuchadnezzar.
Some last helps before we read about Belshazzar and this continued pride.
First, nearly 30 years has passed between the ending of Daniel 4 and the start of Daniel 5. Nebuchadnezzar has now been dead for at least 23 years according to Babylonian records that help collaborate the story of Daniel and its events.
Second, we will read in Daniel 5:2, 11 that it says that Nebuchadnezzar is the father of Belshazzar. This use of father can obviously mean one’s birth father. But the use of father, especially in the ancient, middle eastern world can refer to one’s family line. To a father, a grandfather, or even older ancestor in whose line you fall into.
Just consider Matthew 1:1 “1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Jesus is clearly not the direct son of David or Abraham. But he is in the line of both as a descendent of them. And this connection is meant to be made by saying that he is their son.
It is the same thing being played out here in Daniel 5 then. We are to see the family line of Belshazzar, that he is in the line of Nebuchadnezzar.
In fact, Nebuchadnezzar is the grandfather of Belshazzar. For Belshazzar’s father is Nebonidus. Nebonidus then is the rightful king of Babylon as the son of Nebuchadnezzar. However, Nebonidus has made Belshazzar as a co-heir, especially when he is away from the kingdom of Babylon. And this is why here in Daniel 5 we see Belshazzar stated to be the king, for he is acting as king and therefore rightly titled.
Let’s now hear the word of the LORD from Daniel 5.
Main Idea: The LORD God rules over all things, therefore we must humbly acknowledge this.
The Prideful King
The Numbering God
Point #1: The Prideful King
Point #1: The Prideful King
Throughout the narrative of Daniel 5, the pride of Belshazzar is put on grand display. For his pride and refusal to humble himself is the reason for Daniel 5.
And though Daniel 5 is written aimed at the heart of a king over a kingdom, we must understand that Daniel 5 here is not just written warning prideful kings. It is written also to you and I warning us against the dangers of such pride and how God will not be mocked from our sinful and prideful hearts.
Pride that often starts by trying to hold God in our own hands. We see this in the first four verses of the chapter (Dan 5:1-4).
This feast of a thousand came at a unique time. Even as the feast began, Babylon was under the threats of being besieged. Enemies were at the wall. Yet the pride of Babylon and her king, King Belshazzar was great. For they thought themselves well protected and well supplied. They considered themselves strong and powerful and never to fall.
And so, they continue with a feast. A feast that some commentators have suggested was a yearly feast to their gods. To their gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. A feast they sought to keep regardless of the present threat.
As part of this show of pride, the Belshazzar openly drinks his wine. But not just a glass, but lots of wine. For his pride comes out as we read there in Dan 5:1 that he drank wine in front of the thousand.
It is easy to think that he is drinking alone before the thousand. A mistake I almost made in interpreting this. However, Dan 5:2-4 do not allow that interpretation. For it is made clear that others are joining him in this drinking.
What then are we to make of this? We are to make of this in seeing how Belshazzar seeks to show his might before his people. That he seeks even in their feasting, how he is strong. Showing that he can handle much wine and not be overcome by it.
This prideful arrogance is only further amplified, possibly with the assistance of the great amount of wine Belshazzar has had.
For not only is he feasting and drinking this excessive amount of wine, he now remembers the vessels that his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar took out of Jerusalem, out of the house of the Lord when Jerusalem was besieged (Dan 1:2). And he then calls for these vessels to be brought in and distributed among his guests that they may all now drink wine from these vessels. An act that was meant to stir him and the people in remembering their greatness to already have overcome other peoples and their gods.
The act was a symbol saying that here I hold יְהוָ֗ה and his people, these Hebrews, in my hand. Mocking both the Hebrew people and יְהוָ֗ה himself as they figuratively hold Him in their hands while drinking to their own gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Here Belshazzar joins the line of many others who seek to rage against the LORD.
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
A great pride is had to think one can hold יְהוָ֗ה in their hands and rage against him and succeed.
This is not just a king and ruler problem though. We do this as individuals. Maybe not in the same exact way. But nonetheless we too lift our hands against the LORD and rage against him.
Our hearts are stubborn and rebellious. For we like Belshazzar and the Babylonians have been guilty of exchanging the glory of God in serving the creator rather than the creator as Paul writes about in Romans 1:24-25.
Instead of worshiping and serving God, we seek to then serve the idols of our own hearts, including the idol of self.
Or, we like Belshazzar try to hold God in our hands, thinking us to have conquered or owned him or making him into what we prefer.
This happens anytime our hearts blurt out our preferences of who God is rather than as revealed to us by the Holy Scriptures. Begining to say things like, “My God is a God of love, not judgment.” Or, “I think worship should look like this.”
These are just two examples, but they show how we seek to hold God in our hands and reshape him to our own image and likeness and preferences.
Take the first example, “My God is a God of love, not judgment.” God is certainly a God who has revealed himself to be a God of steadfast love and mercy. His mercy is new every morning. But to say he is a God of love and not judgment is to miss that God has also revealed himself as a God who is just, righteous, that he is a God who time and time again has declared he is Holy, Holy, Holy! We cannot reshape God from whom he has revealed himself to be! To try and do so is to take up the prideful heart of Belshazzar in thinking we hold God in our hands.
Then with the second example, “I think worship should look like this.” The arrogance to think we know best how this creating and redeeming God should be worshipped is as foolish as Balshazzar’s drinking from the cups of the temple. Cups prescribed by God for the purpose of worshipping him according to his commands.
You see, God prescribes the way his people are to worship him. He did this in the Old Testament with the instructions for the tabernacle, the vessels, even the way sacrifices were to be carried out. This pattern followed with the temple. Then, even as the new covenant in Jesus came, a clearness was given on how new covenant believers were to worship the Triune God. Instructions on how to worship in spirit and truth.
And while much more could be said here, time would fail us today. But the point is hopefully plain, there is a great danger to our own pride and arrogance arising against the LORD in our attempts to conform him to ourselves rather than us conforming ourselves to him.
Let us beware of such pride.
Overwhelmed with Fear
Overwhelmed with Fear
For our pride will quickly change. For as quickly as Belshazzar’s pride arose, his colors changed with the appearance of a hand with fingers. Dan 5:5…
The appearance of these fingers writing and the writing itself, which was not understood caused Belshazzar to fear. We read there in Dan 5:6 that his color changed. A change maybe to something of a ghostly white face from how great a fear he had. But not only does it say his color changed, but that his knees knocked together. He was left shaking in his boots would be something we might say today.
Prideful boasting becomes fearful knocking. Belshazzar had been overcome with fear.
His fear left him shouting. He shouted for the wise men of Babylon to be brought in, and likely to come quickly. King Belshazzar wanted to know what the writing said and wanted to know it quickly as he makes promises for the one who can read and interpret the writing. Telling them, they will be elevated to the third rule in the kingdom, following him and his father.
But of course, the wisdom of men is too foolish to interpret such matters. The wise men fail, again. They could not interpret either dream of King Nebuchadnezzar, nor can they interpret the writing on the wall. And this only amplifies the fear of all those present, including the king. For it again tells us in Dan 5:9 of the kings alarm, his changed color and adds that the rest were left perplexed by what was taking place.
As fear spreads, the queen now enters there in Dan 5:10, saying, “O king, live forever! Let not your throughts alarm you or your color change.”
This queen should not be understood to be Belshazzar’s wife. For it says that his wives, along with his lords and concubines were already at the feast. Therefore the queen here being either Belshazzar’s mother or even grandmother, the wife of Nebuchadnezzar.
For it is the queen who remembers Daniel and the wisdom he has. A wisdom she describes as a wisdom of the gods as he is filled with the spirit of the gods. She remembers how it was this Daniel that King Nebuchadnezzar made chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers. For it was this Daniel who had an excellent spirit, knowledge and understanding to interpret dreams and explain riddles, and solve problems. The queen urges Belshazzar then to now call on this Daniel.
Yet, even as this Daniel is brought in, the pride of Belshazzar continues. For though he was shaking to the point of his knees knocking together with the extent of his trembling, you can hear his pride arise in how he addresses Daniel. Dan 5:13…
Belshazzar continues to show his pride in showing his superiority over Daniel. For he reminds Daniel that he was taken by Nebuchadnezzar out of his own homeland of Judah, and now here in Babylon as an exile. And he now commands him to read this writing and tell of its interpretation. Telling how those of Babylon could not do this, but that he has heard that Daniel can. And he then promises if Daniel will do this, he will receive what was promised the others, to be made third ruler in the kingdom (Dan 5:16).
The Prophet’s Warning
The Prophet’s Warning
Beginning in verse 17, we begin to see something of this excellent spirit within Daniel. A spirit from the LORD himself. A spirit that seeks not reward for declaring the glory of God. Dan 5:17…
And read and make known Daniel does, but first telling Belshazzar why this writing has come, to humble him.
Daniel gives Belshazzar a history lesson. In Dan 5:18-21, Daniel tells Belshazzar how it was the Most High God, יְהוָ֗ה, who established his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar. How the LORD gave him his greatness. That it was not Nebuchadnezzar who established his greatness and kingdom. For it was the LORD in his greatness that rules the kingdom of mankind and sets who he will and removes who he will.
Because Nebuchadnezzar didn’t understand this, the Most High God humbled him. He removed him from his throne and cast him out where he was put low, eating with the ox in the field, having the dew fall upon him as he was left outside in the elements.
Daniel reminds Belshazzar of all of this. And then he turns from Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar. Dan 5:22-23…
Belshazzar’s prideful root is exposed. His pride is rooted in his idolatry. For instead of honoring the Most High God, יְהוָ֗ה, he honors false gods of gold and silver and bronze and iron and wood and stone. Gods that do not see or hear or know.
Pride is rooted in idolatry. The turning to worship of something else other than God. Idols of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone like Belshazzar. Or idols of self.
Belshazzar must know that God holds his breath, as it is he who rules the kingdom of mankind. And therefore he should have been humble instead of prideful.
Friends, pride is an evil snare. It traps us, it causes us to think much of ourselves. And will cause us to raise our hand against the LORD, thinking we can take him in our raging hand, casting off his bonds from us. When in fact this hand holds our very breath. A fact that should again, humble us and cause us to tremble.
Point #2: The Numbering God
Point #2: The Numbering God
The Most High God, יְהוָ֗ה, who Belshazzar has failed to honor, this God is the God whose hand has been sent into their presence (Dan 5:24) and written on the wall. Dan 5:25-28…
The very God who Belshazzar has raised his raging hand against in his pride now holds his breath in his hand and has numbered it. Belshazzar’s end is near. For he has been found wanting. He is found deficient. Truly, he had fallen short of the glory of God in his idolatrous pride. And because of his being numbered and found wanting, the kingdom was to be taken from him. It was to be taken and given to the Medes and Persians.
And all of this, was going to come from the hand of the Most High God himself.
Belshazzar hears this reading and interpretation and is quick to command that Daniel be clothed with purple and made the third ruler in the kingdom (Dan 5:29). Likely further evidence of his continued pride and indifference to this warning. But that very night, Belshazzar was killed and another took his place, Darius the Mede (5:30-31).
At this time, Darius was 62 years old. A significant fact given here. For at no other point in Daniel is anyone’s specific age given. And yet, here Darius’s is. It is significant because it continues to reveal the sovereign hand of God throughout human history. For this Darius would have just been born or maybe not just yet born then when Nebuchadnezzar had his first dream back in Daniel 2. A dream that told of other kingdoms rising after him. And here 62ish years later, it happens. Another kingdom arises after the fall of Babylon into the hands of the Medes and Persians under God’s sovereign hand.
Belshazzar needed to learn this and failed. Israel was being taught this truth, that God’s sovereign hand rules all of human history. And this is a truth we need to learn now. Before it is too late. We need to humble ourselves before this Sovereign God. We need to resist pride and put it to death quickly. And never presume upon grace to come when pride arises.
For again consider Belshazzar here. A warning of judgment was given against him. A warning that came and left him dead that very night. Maybe in hearing this, he too presumed he would have time and a chance like his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar to humble himself. But that grace was not given here.
To borrow from Sinclair Ferguson:
“It is a reminder that we dare not presume upon the grace that God has shown to others.” [1]
Friends, we must see and hear this warning now and repent of our pride and all other sin in our lives before it is too late. But what does this look like?
GOSPEL revealing how we all are left wanting, but one has come and been numbered on our behalf…GO!!!
Let’s pray…
Endnotes
[1] Sinclair Ferguson. Daniel: The Preacher’s Commentary. (Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson, Inc, 1988) 100.