Those Who Don't Learn History are Doomed to Repeat It

Introduction

We have often heard the quote “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.” Many attribute it to Irish statesman Edmund Burke, but it might be a misquote. Others look to Spanish philosopher George Santayana with the quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Still others think of a more recent person Winston Churchill who said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Regardless of who said it first or what version the correct example throughout the history of the world from the time Adam and Eve sinned the garden people have been learning and re-learning the lessons of the past. When we last left the story of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar was dead and the kingdom had gone through a lot of political turmoil. There were assassinations and power struggles. Now there was a co-regent ruling and Belshazzar was holding down the fort in Babylon while his father, the King was in another part of the Kingdom. He threw a great party for his lords and during the drunkeness he had the vessels from the Temple of Jerusalem brought from treasury so they could drink from them. Then a hand without a body appeared on the wall and began to write causing fear and dread to come over the Co-Regent and no one was able to tell him what it said or meant. Then the Queen came to Belshazzar. We will pick back up with verse 10 of the recap.

Call for Daniel

Daniel 5:10–12 NKJV

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. 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. 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.”

Daniel in the Court

Daniel 5:13–16 NKJV

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? 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. 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. 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.”

Lesson from the Past

Daniel 5:17–21 NKJV

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. O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 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.

You Have Not Learned

Daniel 5:22–24 NKJV

“But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house 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, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.

The Inscription

Daniel 5:25 (NKJV)

“And this is the inscription that was written....

We will find out in two weeks as to what the inscription was and what it meant.

Lesson / Conclusion