Courage in the Midst of Captivity (4)

Daniel Chapter 5

We will cover the final two major life events covered in the book of Daniel-The Judgment of Belshazzar and Daniel in the lions’ den.

The current king, Belshazzar is the son of the former King Neb. [Neb. died in 562 BC and was succeeded by his only son, Amel-Marduk. Jeremiah 52:31-34 “And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison, And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.” Nergal-Shareyer (his brother-in-law) murdered and succeeded him in 560 BC. He was followed by his son Labashi-Marduk in 556 BC. Nabonidus murdered and succeeded him in 556 BC. Nabonidus then married a daughter of Neb. They had a son named Belshazzar. Nabonidus ruled from Tema of Arabia and appointed his son Belshazzar as the co-regent in Babylon. This explains why he could only offer Daniel 3rd place in the kingdom.]

This big time feast took place with the armies of the Medes and Persians surrounding the city. Babylon’s walls were 350 feet tall (including the towers). These walls were 56 miles in length. They were 187 feet thick at the base-wide enough for 6 chariots to ride side by side on top of the wall. These massive walls penetrated the ground 35 feet deep. There were 250 towers extending 100 feet above the top of the walls. The walls were also surrounded by a moat and encircled the second inner wall. The 100 brass gates were heavily fortified against any attack. Within the walls, was food for years, ample land for growing more food and a constant water source from the Euphrates River, which flowed under the wall. Babylon was the most magnificent city in the ancient world. It’s wealth could be seen in its famous Hanging Gardens. This masterpiece was 400 feet by 400 feet and soared 350 feet into the air, with 10 foot stairways leading to the top. These gardens were one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and were built by Neb as a gift for his wife. The city also boasted a rebuilt Tower of Babel which stood over 300 feet high. This tower contained a golden image and tablet which together weighed 50,000 lbs and many other golden images and artifacts. There were over $200,000,000 worth of sacred vessels in its highest chapel alone. The city also contained 53 other temples and 180 altars to Ishtar. This amazing city had not been stormed in over 1,000 years and the Babylonian defenders now mocked at their Persian attackers, whom they had just beaten off.

The drunken Belshazzar brazenly sends for the sacred vessels taken from the Jerusalem temple by his grandfather, Neb. Note that “father” in Daniel 5:2 simply means “ancestor.” Daniel 1:2 “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.” A heavenly hand appears and leaves “the handwriting on the wall.” Belshazzar’s knees literally knock together in fear. Belshazzar then calls all the wise men together for the interpretation. For the third time in the book of Daniel, they fail to interpret. At the suggestion of the queen, ( either Nitocres his mother, or Amytis his grandmother, but not his wife) he calls for Daniel and offers to make him third ruler in the kingdom if he can interpret the handwriting. Daniel rejects the offer, but accepts the challenge after a stern rebuke of Belshazzar.

“Mene, Mene” - God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

“Tekel” - Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting

“Peres” (“Upharsin” is the plural form) - Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians

That very night October 3, 539 BC, Cyrus the Persian diverts the Euphrates River and marches his army into the city under the wall during his drunken feast. Belshazzar is slain. Cyrus sets Darius the Mede on the throne of the city.

Daniel Chapter 6

This will be the final major event in the book of Daniel. This is probably the most well-known story in Daniel, and one of the most well-known stories in the entire Bible. Darius plans to consolidate his new kingdom, Babylon. He divides the kingdom into 120 provinces, each under a governor, accountable to 3 presidents, with Daniel being the chief of these.

Daniel, now in his 80’s, was still blessed with so much wisdom that Darius was considering promoting him to be the ruler over the entire realm of Babylon. There were other presidents that grew jealous of Daniel’s potential promotion. They then began plotting against Daniel and conspiring against him. Daniel was such a man of integrity and character they could find no charge against him. So they began a conspiracy to trap Daniel in his uncompromising faith. These deceitful politicians tricked Darius into signing a 30 day decree outlawing any prayers to any God or gods except the king.

Daniel learns of this anti-prayer law, but continues to kneel three times a day with his windows open towards Jerusalem. He sets the example for all of us to follow. We can either choose to obey man or obey God. Which is more important to you? I want you to note how Daniel could have rationalized and simply decided it was time to pray silently and with his windows closed. But instead, he changed nothing. He was uncompromising in his convictions and beliefs. The jealous presidents then reported Daniel to Darius who now realizes that he has been tricked and desperately seeks a loophole in the unalterable law of the Medes and Persians, but all to no avail. Daniel is then arrested and thrown into a den of hungry man-eating lions. Darius returns to his quarters where he spends a sleepless and miserable night in his palace. At daybreak, he rushes to the den and calls out in anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” Out of the lions’ den comes a cheerful and clear voice: “My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouth.”

Note that Daniel slept better in the lions’ den than than Darius did in the royal palace. The king was both glad and mad! He rejoiced at the salvation of Daniel and ordered all his kingdom to fear Daniel’s God. Darius then threw Daniel’s enemies into the lions’ den themselves.