Writing on the Wall
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Recap last week (Chad to Chopped)
Belshazzar’s Hubris
Belshazzar’s Hubris
1 King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
We are introduced to a new character tonight. Belshazzar, not to be confused with Daniel’s Babylonian name, Belteshazzar. Belshazzar was Nebuchadnezzar’s son, has taken over the kingdom. Our story takes place in the halls of the kings palace. It is said that he throws this lavish party. He brings in a thousand of his officials to celebrate his kingdom and particularly to celebrate himself.
Holy Vessels
Holy Vessels
2 Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Belshazzar, in his arrogance, pulls out the treasures his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple, and begins to use them for his party. It says that all of his officials and all his wives and side pieces were drinking from them and they began to praise their pagan gods, the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, while drinking from these sacred treasures kept in the House of the Living God, the Temple in Jerusalem.
I think it is important to point out, the offense was not in their choice of drink, though their gluttony in how they partook would have been offensive to God, the problem was that they had taken these sacred things and used them for their pagan worship.
In his pride, Belshazzar used these sacred vessels to partake in sinful behavior.
What make something holy?
In John 2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to a wedding. At the wedding the wedding party ran out of wine. It was there in Cana that Jesus performed his first miracle. Jesus takes these water pots, used for ritualistic cleansing, and he has the waiters fill them with water.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus takes this regular ordinary water pot, used for washing hands, and uses it to perform a miracle.
This is not the last time Jesus takes something plain and ordinary and works a miracle out of it.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
God has taken our broken and dead hearts and He has made us alive again so that we might carry the Holy Spirit of God within us. Paul says we are these plain jars of clay, that now carry the treasure of God within them. God has used our weakness to demonstrate the perfection of His power. He has shined His marvelous light into our darkness. And now, though we are persecuted and though we may suffer, we are not forsaken by God. We are not struck down. We are not destroyed. Paul says we carry in our body the death of Jesus so that we may live in the resurrection of Jesus.
So what makes something holy?
It is a work of God in us. God imputing us in His righteousness through the person and work of Jesus. Imputing means to assign a value to or ascribe something to. So in financial terms. We are broke. Penniless. Actually we are in massive, crippling debt. Like we could never even begin to pay off the debt that we in our sin owe, so Jesus cuts the check, He makes the deposit. He imputes His righteousness into our account so that now when you look at the ledger we are rich in righteousness because of God’s grace towards us in Christ Jesus. In His death, Jesus pays the price, He cuts the check, and His resurrection is the proof that the check cleared. His righteousness was sufficient to pay the cost.
How do you represent the holiness of God in your life?
So while there is nothing sacred about metal and stone, Belshazzar took what had been set apart for sacredness, set apart to be in the holy temple of God and blasphemed the Holy God by worshipping idols made by human hands. Belshazzar sinned deeply against God because of his idolatry and arrogance. His heart was far from the Lord.
5 Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. 6 Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
Belshazzar sees a frightening sight and reacts about as well as any of us might. The fingers of a human hand writing in the plaster on the wall. This whole afternoon we had guys out hear fixing the plaster on our portico, and you could imagine how easy it could have been to write their names in the plaster while it was wet, but this hand is writing in the wall of the king’s palace and the sight of it causes Belshazzar to go ghost white, and for his knees to knock together. It was literally the same response Scooby and Shaggy might give to seeing a ghost. This mighty proud king is scared beyond measure.
7 The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.
Like his father before him, Belshazzar calls in all of the magicians and wise men of Babylon, but not a single one could tell him what the writing meant.
10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. 11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, 12 because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”
I don’t know if this is Belshazzar’s wife, I assume it is his momma, but either way this woman comes in and gives Belshazzar some hope. There is a man who can interpret this mystery and his name is Daniel. Something I think it is interesting is that the queen calls Daniel by his Hebrew name. There is something to be said about the reputation Daniel has made for himself in his faithfulness to Babylon but also in his personal faith and commitment to obeying the Lord, his God.
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. 14 I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. 16 But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
We said this last week but I think it is worth saying again. It was evident that Daniel walked with the Lord. It was clear in his character and in the wondrous things God was doing in and through him. The same should be said of us. God in His power, is sanctifying us for good works. He is setting us apart and working in our hearts to make us more and more like His Son Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. He does this by shaping us in Scripture.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
and the fruit of this sanctifying work is produced through fruits of the Spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
When people look at you (your character, your passions, your world view) do they see the power of Jesus in you?
What fruits of the Spirit is God producing in you as evidence of your relationship with Him?
Daniel is promised all kinds of riches and power, and that would have been an appetizing offer to many, but look at his response.
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.
Daniel did not seek to use the wisdom and power of God as a get rich quick scheme. These things that the Lord was working through Daniel were not for Daniel’s glory, but for the Lords. Paul says that everything we do, weather we eat or drink or whatever we do, we should do all things for the glory of the Lord. We live to make much of Jesus and to make Him known to the world. That is the chief end of man. We exist to glorify God. There is a quote that I have come to love.
“Preach the Gospel, die, and be forgotten.” - Nikolaus von Zinzendorf
What a great motto to live by. Paul puts it this way.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
How can you use your life to give glory to God?
Another thing we see is that Daniel serves well throughout seasons of transition. No matter who the Lord put in authority over Daniel, the kings of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius whoever, Daniel serves well. As we are in a time of transition here at Central, I think this is a good thing to think through.
How is God calling me to serve well in this season of transition?
Whether it is church or work or school or family life, change happens. As you get older and your family has less and less authority over you and you begin to make decision for yourselves, ask the question, How is God calling me to serve well in this season of transition. Often times, God chooses to use us in powerful ways during these seasons of change. Opportunities that were closed can open, responsibilities that belonged to someone else find their way onto your plate, you are challenged in ways you have never been challenged. Trust me, I know. My life has changed significantly in the last five months with Michael and Marshall leaving. Change can be difficult but God uses change to grow us and shape us.
List some ways you have had to step up in transition
funeral, weddings, Christmas, worship, preaching
In this time of transition, Daniel warns Belshazzar of his fathers mistakes.
18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. 19 And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. 22 And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
Daniel reminds Belshazzar of all that his father did and how the Lord empowered him and humbled him then eventually restored him. All these things Belshazzar saw and understood, but rather than give God glory, he chose to exalt himself.
I think that every individual is responsible for their own behavior. We are not doomed to make the same mistakes our parents have made. We can watch and learn and grow from watching other people’s struggles and failings. That is the wise thing to do.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Paul points to the example set for us by Israel in the Old Testament. These things were recorded in part that we might look to their example and their failings, and that we might learn from their mistakes. There is no temptation on earth that someone else hasn’t also struggled with. There is no sin unique to our own lives. Sin has always existed. We can look at other people’s lives and see how their sin has hurt them. We can look at their failures and even their successes and learn how to walk in a way that honors and obeys the Lord.
How can I learn lessons in wisdom by watching the lives of others?
Who is an example of faithfulness that I can learn from?
24 “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. 25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26 This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; 27 Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; 28 Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” 29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
Belshazzar does not learn from the example of his father, he repeats the sin of his father and the Lord puts him to death. In one night, the empire of Babylon, mighty and powerful, falls into the hands of the Persians. God weighs Belshazzar's heart and finds him lacking. What was he lacking? Power? Influence? Money? No. He had all those things. Wisdom? Humility? Righteousness? Belshazzar lacked the things that mattered most.
If you were measured by God today would you be lacking?
If that question makes you feel uneasy let me put your heart at ease. If you have Jesus, you lack nothing. If you lack Jesus you have nothing. But Jesus is given freely by faith.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
Will you trust in the Lord to night. Make much of Him in the way you live your life. Trust in His righteousness and in His power to make your heart full.
When you have Jesus, you lack nothing.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
