Sermon Tone Analysis

Date: 2021-10-10

Audience: GV Corps

Title: The Disembodied Hand

Text: Daniel 5

Proposition: Faith in anything but God is useless

Purpose: Trust in God alone

Daniel 5:1-4 (NRSV)

1 King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.

2 Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.

3 So theybrought in the vessels of gold and silver 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 the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Belshazzar = son of Nabonidus, King of Babylon.

Bel was Regent, Father still ruled

Story takes place in mid-Oct of 539 BC (2,560 years ago this week)

In the week leading up to this story, combined invading force of Medes and Persians had come near to Babylon (the city).

They had taken Opis, city 50 miles north.

Then in the next day or two, Sippar, about 35 miles north.

Nabonidus had commanded at Opis but had fled with what he could salvage of his army when the city fell.

But Belzhazzar was confident Babylon would stand.

It was a fortress surrounded by high walls and high water, with water running fast around and even through the city.

Anyone coming in would be washed away before they could assault giant stone walls.

Most important: Babylonian conceit: As powerful nation, they believed their gods were stronger than those of their enemies.

Nothing to fear.

A thousand nobles – perhaps those fleeing from the enemy?

Banquet might have been a morale boost.

Might have been to celebrate a religious festival – one occurred at that time of that month.

Might have been both.

Or neither.

Could have just been a moment of narcissism.

Showing off harem is ego boost.

Also sign that debauchery is underway – perhaps ritual ceremonies to celebrate or awake the gods.

Whatever, big party.

King usually screened away, but not tonight.

Tonight, he’s DRUNK.

Seriously.

VERY drunk.

Orders slaves to bring in vessels captured from Israel’s Temple in Jerusalem.

Gold and silver sacred objects.

Described in 1 Kings 7.

Not like taking out Grandma’s china or using fancy wine glasses.

10 basins, 1 “sea”.

Each basin held about 230 gallons.

The sea was an enormous piece of furniture like a portable swimming pool 7.5’ x 15’.

Filled properly, held 11,500 gallons.

Filled to the top: about 17,000.

Some smaller dishes too, buckets and dippers and probably some kinds of pitchers, but if the point was to demonstrate Babylon’s power by showing what they had taken, it was a dramatic way to do so.

Use of sacred items was usually avoided.

Superstition kept people from getting too close to the things of gods.

This might have been intentional blasphemy.

Perhaps thought he would show power of Babylon to be greater than that of their enemies by thumbing nose at their gods – or, in this case, at the LORD God.

Bad call.

Daniel 5:5-6 (NRSV)

5 Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand.

The king was watching the hand as it wrote.

6 Then the king's face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him.

His limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.

[Picture]

IMMEDIATELY

At height of debauchery, at peak of sacrilege, this thing occurred.

Hand, floating, unattached.

Carving letters into the wall.

And only Bel sees it.

Turned pale – terrified.

Lit: Joints shook!

= collapse in terror or even bowels release

Next verse says, “cried aloud”, but lit is screamed with strength – screamed out loud.

Daniel 5:7-9 (NRSV)

7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners; and the king said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me its interpretation shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and rank third in the kingdom."

8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king the interpretation.

9 Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified and his face turned pale, and his lords were perplexed.

Only King saw hand, but apparently all can see words.

Why not read?

Aramaic, like Hebrew = consonants only, little or no spacing, no punctuation.

Could have been 9 letters in a string, looking like nonsense to anyone but those fluent in the language and familiar with the way it works.

Reward offered is the things which matter to Bel, things he puts faith in:

Purple cloth: Wealth (value of purple cloth in those days)

Chain of Gold: Status (insignia of office)

Third in Kingdom: Power!

Daniel 5:10-12 (NRSV)

10 The queen, when she heard the discussion of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall.

The queen said, "O king, live forever!

Do not let your thoughts terrify you or your face grow pale.

11 Thereis a man in your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods.

In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods.

Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners,

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 give the interpretation."

Queen mother – ranking personage, wife of king – Bel’s mom (or step-mom, I didn’t really dig into Babylonian royal familial connections too deeply)

Daniel 5:13-16 (NRSV)

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king.

The king said to Daniel, "So you are Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

14 I have heard of you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that enlightenment, 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 tell me its interpretation, but they were not able to give the interpretation of the matter.

16 But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems.

Now if you are able to read the writing and tell me its interpretation, you shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around your neck, and rank third in the kingdom."

Going to give you three things you can really put your faith in: Wealth, status, and power!

Daniel 5:17 (NRSV)

17 Then Daniel answered in the presence of the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, or give your rewards to someone else! Nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and let him know the interpretation.

Daniel is not interested.

– Puts his faith in God.