When God Crashes Your Party

Enjoying the King’s Feast (Daniel 5:1-4)

Have you ever watched the movie....

Transition

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:1–4

The king was not content to drink wine to his gods (v. 4, and see Rev. 9:20); he wanted to blaspheme the God of the Jews as well. So he had the sacred temple vessels brought in to be used at this idolatrous, blasphemous feast (see Dan. 1:2)

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:1–4

Please keep in mind that the Medes and Persians were already outside the gates of the city when this feast was in progress. So confident was the king that his fortress city was impregnable that he laughed at the invading armies

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:1–4

What a picture of our world today: judgment is about to fall, yet people are making merry and worshiping their false gods.

Revealing the King’s Fear (Daniel 5:5-9)

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:5–9

The guests apparently did not immediately see the mysterious hand appear, but the king looked over their heads and saw it on the opposite wall. Imagine how shocked the guests were when they saw their king trembling, his knees knocking together. Wine could not give him courage now; he was face-to-face with a message from God

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:5–9

The guests apparently did not immediately see the mysterious hand appear, but the king looked over their heads and saw it on the opposite wall. Imagine how shocked the guests were when they saw their king trembling, his knees knocking together. Wine could not give him courage now; he was face-to-face with a message from God

This is precisely when God crashed the king’s party. It is amazing how we can be so caught up in our sin that even when danger and war is on the horizon, you totally disregard the sirens and alarms that are going off. We become deaf to the warning signs, blind to the enemies encroachment, but mute when God begins to intervene!

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:5–9

He had to know the meaning of the hand and the handwriting

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:5–9

He had to know the meaning of the hand and the handwriting

It is interesting to note that in verse 7, the cry that the King makes alludes to the probability that he may have some idea as to what the hand wrote on the wall. Most Bible stories teach that the shock was the mysterious hand that suddenly appeared; however, there would be great reason to believe that the king may be shocked to the message on the wall as well.

Application: What about us? What message does God have written on the walls of our hearts? What is He convicting us of? Most of the time we’re satisfied and complacent with our sin and idolatry, but what God wants from us is not complacency and comfort--He wants conviction and repentance.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:5–9

In fact, he offered the man who would explain it the position as third ruler of the land. (In a few hours Belshazzar would not even be alive and ruling himself.)

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:5–9

In fact, he offered the man who would explain it the position as third ruler of the land. (In a few hours Belshazzar would not even be alive and ruling himself.)

The king was so blind and delusional that he thought that he could grant something that was already taken away from him.

Question: Have you ever seen someone try to give away something only to find out later that it was never theres to begin with? Kid’s do this a lot. My little boy Daniel, bless his heart, would love when kids his age would come over the house to play. He would give them the tour of the house and would take it upon himself to ask the other kid if they wanted anything in the house, they could have it. We would always gently remind Daniel that it was great he wanted to share, but unfortunately little Michael couldn’t go home with Dad’s things...

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:5–9

But Belshazzar was a careless youth (he was about thirty-five years old at this time) who was more interested in power and pleasure than in spiritual matters. No wonder his city fell.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:5–9

But Belshazzar was a careless youth (he was about thirty-five years old at this time) who was more interested in power and pleasure than in spiritual matters. No wonder his city fell.

Belshazzar, named after one of the Babylonian gods--Bel, was young, ambitious, foolish, and lost. He didn’t learn anything from the previous generation nor did he surround himself with godly counsel. The text revealed how he did not even know who Daniel was because his first reaction was to call the diviners and magicians into the party. Now, if you’ve been following the last few chapters. You should remember how these magicians failed miserably in Daniel 2 (Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream); Daniel 4 (Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream) and now Daniel 5 (Nebuchadnezzar’s son’s dilemma). These guys never learned and for the third time, when the king needed them to do their sole job, they failed again and they were unsuccessful.

While this is an important aspect to the story, we can learn a few things from the king’s decision to choose wrong counsel:

It disappoints

It disorients

It destroys

Another aspect we can see in this story is about the generational gaps. King Belshazzar is believed to be in his 30’s at this time. If he were living in our time, he would be called a millennial. But I think that we can glean a few points of application here:

Young people ought to surround themselves with older, wiser believers so they can learn, grow, and be discipled in the Lord.

Older people ought to do their best to serve the youth and do their best to engage them respectfully, lovingly, and patiently.

Both parties should seek to understand their roles biblically and trust in the power of God through that unique relationship.

Regardless of the generational gap, God can fill the void and help you make an impact in powerful ways that only He can reveal.

Discovering the King’s Future (Daniel 5:10-29)

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:10–29

At any rate, she heard of the consternation in the banquet hall and came to advise the king. “O king, live forever,” she said (v. 10)—and he was going to be dead before the night was over. Then she told him about Daniel and how he had advised Belshazzar’s grandfather

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:10–29

At any rate, she heard of the consternation in the banquet hall and came to advise the king. “O king, live forever,” she said (v. 10)—and he was going to be dead before the night was over. Then she told him about Daniel and how he had advised Belshazzar’s grandfather

This is a great transition into the older/younger generational dichotomy. The benefits of being older is that you’ve lived through some stuff and can share with the young some insights and wisdom. But we’ve got to be careful so we don’t become too preachy and self-righteous in our tone and counsel. Advising should be respectful like the Queen does here in Daniel 5:10, “O King live forever”. She didn’t have to do that, but extended the respect towards her son that was evidently behaving in ways that were unbecoming of a king.

Another aspect of this section is how Daniel was also an older and much more mature advisor. Daniel was probably invited to the party but opted not to go so that he did not defile himself. He was consistent in his loyalty and faithfulness to God.

Application: I know the culture may make it difficult to be faithful, but what God wants is dependence and consistency. You may fall a few times, but God’s got you and will help you.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:10–29

Before explaining the handwriting, Daniel preached a sermon to the king, using the king’s grandfather as his illustration. He warned the king about his pride and sin and reminded him that God judged Nebuchadnezzar severely. “And you knew all this,” Daniel exclaimed, “yet you persist in living such a wicked life. Now God has sent you a message of judgment and it is too late.” God gave Nebuchadnezzar a year to repent (4:28–33), but there was no year for Belshazzar to repent. He was doomed.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:10–29

Before explaining the handwriting, Daniel preached a sermon to the king, using the king’s grandfather as his illustration. He warned the king about his pride and sin and reminded him that God judged Nebuchadnezzar severely. “And you knew all this,” Daniel exclaimed, “yet you persist in living such a wicked life. Now God has sent you a message of judgment and it is too late.” God gave Nebuchadnezzar a year to repent (4:28–33), but there was no year for Belshazzar to repent. He was doomed.

As the plot thickens, the party has stopped and God has now divinely placed Daniel at the center of the situation. Daniel’s wisdom and fear in the Lord came through and it was evident that he was not impressed with the king and took it upon himself to give him a little history lesson. A little stroll down memory lane, if you will. He wanted the king to understand the implications of his actions and the judgment that just came down on him. God’s gavel has just been hit and the sentence has just been declared and recorded. Contrary to how God gave the last king a year to repent, no time is given to this one. In fact, that very night he would soon join his father in death and would witness enemy forces (Persians and Medes) take over the palace, kingdom, and court. The drunk king, became sober within minutes and Daniel is at center stage preaching the very last and final sermon this king will ever hear on this side of earth.

Application: Family, if God is speaking to you today, don’t let this be the final message and sermon you hear. If God is convicting you of some stuff that needs to be addressed, don’t wait till next week to get right with God. Fix it now! Repent now! Listen to God speaking to your heart and let His voice reveal to you what needs to be changed.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:10–29

Now for the explanation. The words were in Chaldean. In Babylon a mina and a tekel were different weights; and the word peres simply means “to divide.” When the Babylonian magicians saw these words on the wall, they could not understand what they meant. But God gave Daniel the interpretation: “Numbered—weighed—divided.” Belshazzar’s days had been numbered and time was up; he had been weighed in God’s scales and found wanting; now his kingdom would be taken from him and divided by the Medes and Persians. And keep in mind that Darius was at the gates at that very hour

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:10–29

Now for the explanation. The words were in Chaldean. In Babylon a mina and a tekel were different weights; and the word peres simply means “to divide.” When the Babylonian magicians saw these words on the wall, they could not understand what they meant. But God gave Daniel the interpretation: “Numbered—weighed—divided.” Belshazzar’s days had been numbered and time was up; he had been weighed in God’s scales and found wanting; now his kingdom would be taken from him and divided by the Medes and Persians. And keep in mind that Darius was at the gates at that very hour

As the night continues to unfold, we can only imagine the guests are still there, the Queen has just listened to the history lesson/sermon, and the King is dumbfounded, jaw-dropped, and fixated on the interpretation.

The unusual manner in which God chooses to speak to the king is by the means of scales. In Babylon, a mina and a tekel were different weights and the word peres simply means “to divide”.

Daniel provided the interpretation which meant--numbered, weighed, divided. Belshazzar’s days were numbered, his time was up, because God weighed the king’s deeds on his divine scale and found him wanting. The result was that the kingdom would be stripped from him and the it would be divided by the Medes and Persians.

Remember that Darius had a full fledged attack on the kingdom and was already at the city gates.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:10–29

We find no evidence of repentance or concern. He kept his promise and made Daniel third ruler just as though his kingdom were to continue forever. The king’s pride, lust, indifference, and self-satisfaction led to his downfall.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:10–29

We find no evidence of repentance or concern. He kept his promise and made Daniel third ruler just as though his kingdom were to continue forever. The king’s pride, lust, indifference, and self-satisfaction led to his downfall.

The king did not care one iota about the message even after he received the message from God himself in mysterious form, through a finger writing on the wall. It made no difference to him.

He was so far from God that judgment meant nothing to him. In order to believe in God’s wrath, you have to display some regard or belief in the capability of a Deity or Power to follow through with the threat they intend to execute. However, the king does not care and shows no sign of repentance.

Application: Let’s not allow this to happen to us when God confronts us. Those who show total disregard in the warning signs from the Lord will experience the unfortunate fate of death and eternal separation from God.

Meeting the King’s Fate (Daniel 5:30-31)

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:30–31

He would dig a canal that would reroute the Euphrates River and then smuggle his army into the city under the gates.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Daniel 5:30–31

He would dig a canal that would reroute the Euphrates River and then smuggle his army into the city under the gates.

While the king thought the 350 feet wall could protect him from the dangers over the wall or through the wall, he never gave thought of what could come underneath the wall. He placed his trust in the wrong thing.

Application: We can be so caught up in our own pride that we fail to recognize the weaknesses in our defenses.

Illustration: Military history can be very helpful to us when it comes to defense strategy. Defense departments focus night and day in trying to figure out the cracks in our defenses: cyber and structural. Once they do find it, they invest hours in figuring out how to attack while being undetected. They love being covert so that when they do show up, your left with zero ability to counter the attack and have no choice but to forfeit.

Applications: Guys, the enemy works in the same exact way. He finds ways to strategically deploy the best spiritual armed forces against your defenses. He wants to find the holes, cracks, and weaknesses so that once it’s found, he can penetrate it and attach you while being undetected. But, if you have the right defense my brothers and sisters, the one thing that can thwart any scheme from Hell, any plan from Satan, any attack from the enemy; if you are covered under the right person, in the right place, and at the right time, you will see how God can protect you and embarrass the enemy at the same time.

The Bible teaches that if you resist the enemy, he will flee. How on earth do you expect to do that if you don’t have the right ammunition and right defensive mechanism in place?

Illustration: People say they love the sound of the B-52s when they take off due to the large mechanical frame, powerful bomb carrying ability, you’ve got no choice but to move out of the way and let that big bird do its thing. Yet, with all the fire power and fierce lethal force that plane has, God still makes it look like a model plane in the toys section when it compares to his powerful ability to destroy and to defend.

Let’s not allow our lives to end at the mercy of our enemy. Why not hide under the blood of the lamb and let Him prove to you how his power and might can overcome and sustain any force waged against you in this life.