The Handwriting on the Wall
Daniel • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro
Intro
I. The Feast
I. The Feast
King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
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. 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. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
The Story begins by introducing Belshazzar
Father - not a direct child of King Nebuchadnezzar because in the Hebrew language the term Father can mean ancestor
This is significant because it helps us understand the seeming disregard of the events that are recorded about Nebuchadnezzar in the previous chapters of Daniel
Some scholars have criticized the book of Daniel over the seeming discrepancy in who was actually king of Babylon
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Belshazzar
Belshazzar. Babylonian king who was coregent with Nabonidus in the final days of the Babylonian empire. His name means “Bel protect the king.” Daniel identifies him as the son of Nebuchadnezzar (Dn 5:2, 11, 13, 18), though in fact he was the natural son of Nabunaid (Nabonidus). The seeming discrepancy arises from the fact that in Hebrew literature “father” may signify “ancestor” or “predecessor” and “son” may designate “descendant” or “successor in office.” Some have concluded that Belshazzar’s mother was a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar and that Belshazzar was therefore the grandson of the great Babylonian. Clearly his father, Nabunaid, was the son of a nobleman and the high priestess of the moon god at Harran. Nabunaid had usurped the throne in 555 BC
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Belshazzar
A greater difficulty in the biblical text is the fact that Daniel presents Belshazzar as the king of Babylon when it fell to the Persians, whereas secular historical records picture Nabunaid as the last king of the Babylonian empire. Critical scholars have therefore questioned Daniel’s accuracy. Inscriptions have now been found, however, which make it clear that Belshazzar’s father entrusted the rule of the capital to him and was out of the city for over 10 years campaigning in Arabia. Religious concerns also took Nabunaid out of Babylon during part of his reign. When Cyrus invaded the Babylonian empire, Nabunaid marched east to meet him but fled before Cyrus’s advancing armies. Later he returned to Babylon and surrendered to the Persians after the city had already fallen to Cyrus. Thus he was out of the city when the Persians overcame the royal forces there under the command of Belshazzar, the crown prince and co-regent.
While Nabunaid’s armies were being routed by the Persians, Belshazzar was giving a sensual feast for the leaders of Babylonian society. Half drunk, he called for the gold and silver vessels from the Jerusalem temple to be brought in for use in a deliberate act of sacrilege. Immediately handwriting appeared on the wall, his doom was announced, and Persian armies entered the city without a fight (October 12, 539 BC). They did so by diverting the waters of the Euphrates so the river would no longer serve as a moat around the city and its defenses could be easily breached.
His public display of contempt for the one true God of Israel
Like many do in public settings when trying to impress people Belshazzar takes his mockery of God to a higher level by having the golden vessels from the temple brought to the party in order to enhance the experience and amplify his blasphemy.
They praised the gods of Gold, Silver, Bronze, Wood and Stone
Have you ever encountered groups of people who were very confident in their dismissal of the one true God?
II. The Finger - The writing on the wall / A declaration to the King
II. The Finger - The writing on the wall / A declaration to the King
In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.
The very hour of the height of Belshazzar mockery came the hand of God
Can you think of another time in Scripture where the finger of God was writing?
John 8 - The woman caught in the act of adultery
His countenance was immediately troubled
Troubled Thoughts
Loosed joints
Knocking knees
He called to his “wise men”
He offered them a reward for the solution
They responded but to no avail
Proverbs 26:11 “As a dog returneth to his vomit, So a fool returneth to his folly.”
III. The Familiar Formula
III. The Familiar Formula
9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.
10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. 11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And 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, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. 12 Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. 16 And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. 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.”
17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
The Queen came to join the part with a word of advice
Most likely the wife of Nebuchadnezzar and the grandmother to Belshazzar
She provides for us a link to the past when God had dealt miraculously with Nebuchadnezzar through his servant Daniel
Her description of Daniel is a remarkable one
12 Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
Excellent Spirit - Basically, Daniel was a Spiritual man - in our day we would say he was filled with the Spirit
Ep 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
Knowledge -
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Understanding - He was full of wisdom as we noticed him employ in several previous situations
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,
Interpreting Dreams / Hard sayings - he had the ability to understand God‘s word - He was a prophet
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Dissolving doubts - Daniel was a man of great Faith
How might we be described if our name was mentioned in a situation like this? What is our reputation?
Prov 22:1 “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favour rather than silver and gold.”
Prov 10:7 “The memory of the just is blessed: But the name of the wicked shall rot.”
The King had heard of this man named Daniel
16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
What is the significance of the fact that Belshazzar had heard of Daniel
Could have been in reference to the Queens announcement
Could refer to the fact that he already had some knowledge of Daniel and his past exploits (it would be hard to imagine that he had not)
Belshazzar offers Daniel a reward for his services
16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Daniel Answers
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
IV. The Frightful Fate
IV. The Frightful Fate
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. 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.
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.
Daniel reminds Belshazzar of who is in control
God gave the kingdom to Nebuchadnezzar
God gave him his authority and power
Daniel reminds Belshazzar of how God humbled Nebuchadnezzar until he knew who God was
21 Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.
Belshazzar was a different man entirely and had a completely different response
22 And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,
What is our response to the light we have been given? Have there been times when even though God has given use examples and truth from his word and yet we have failed to humble ourselves?
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
To whom much is given much is required
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
Daniel reminds him of his actions and proclaims judgement on him
23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
We usually think of judgment after death but here Belshazzar gets confronted with his in the present
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Belshazzar and his kingdom were found woefully short of the mark!!
Mene - NUMBERED
Mene - NUMBERED
Tekel - WEIGHED
Upharsin - DIVIDED
Job 31:6 “Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know mine integrity.”
Psalm 62:9 “Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: To be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.”
Proverbs 24:12 “If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works?”
How would we be found if our lives were put in the balance?
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
V. The Fall -The Kingdom is over and replaced by the Medo Persian Empire
V. The Fall -The Kingdom is over and replaced by the Medo Persian Empire
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.