Daniel Chapter 5

Don’t confuse the names

It would be very easy to read this chapter and think that the editors made a little clerical error. The name of Nebuchandezzar’s son is only two letters off from the Babylonian name given to Daniel; King Belshazzar and Belteshazzar. Isn’t just like the devil to pull one of his tricky games and attempt to disguise himself as the good guy?

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

You

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

You Will Leave A Legacy

Daniel 1:1–2 NIV

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

There has been some debate as to the exact relation Belshazzar is to Nebuchandezzar. Some believed Belshazzar was fictional or at best his only recorded mention of existence was the bible. However, there has been archaeological discoveries that prove his existence but some still debate whether he his the son or the grandson of Nebuchandezzar. Regardless of their exact relation, Nebuchandezzar left a legacy. As we read in , Nebuchandezzar came into possession of some “articles from the temple of God.” He did not come into possession honorably though, he stole. Now, he never used them, He didn’t put them on display. He just simply placed them in his temple of his god. Now who knows what family stories were told of this conquest and how King Belshazzar came to know of his predecessors activities, but in the end. King Belshazzar orders that these items be brought to him ( and all those with him) so they could drink from them; so they could defile what was holy. Whether we set out to or not, we will leave a legacy. A legacy that potentially our grandchildren will pick up and carry on. And they could carry on greater accomplishments than we have. What kind of example are you? And don’t think that your age exempts you from being an example.

Nothing Good happens after midnight

Daniel 5:2 NIV

While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them.

The king didn’t ask for the goblets during preparations, he didn’t ask right as they were setting down. He didn’t take a look at the table and think, there’s something missing. In fact, if it was a decor thing don;t think a woman would have been the one to point it out. And if it was a display of power, why hadn’t the king had them out before . The text tells us the goblets were right were they had been placed by Nebuchandezzar. So, what we learn here is this heinous act wasn’t even thought of until after they had been drinking.

You can’t say you weren’t warned

Daniel 5:22 NIV

“But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.

King Belshazzar knew from either his own memories or stories shared at Thanksgiving and 4th of July cookouts what the consequences of dishonoring God were. What the consequences of not being humble and acknowledging that all you have is a gift from god. That He is the one true King. I’m sure if we spent a little time we can look back over our lives and that of family and friends for an example of what not to do and consequences of bad decisions.

Ever feel like you’re being watched?

Daniel 5

Daniel 5:5 NIV

Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote.

God will make His presence known to you. What caught Belshazzar’s attention will not be what get’s mine or your attention.

Daniel 5:29 NIV

Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.