Daniel
Chapter 5
Vs. 1 -4 This chapter begins with Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson being the king now.
His name is Belshazzar. The name is almost like the name given to Daniel, which was Belteshazzar. This name seems to have some connection to a name of one of their gods.
Belshazzar has a big feast for a 1000 of the “lords” or leaders of his kingdom. They are drinking wine.
Belshazzar has the idea to have someone bring in the gold and silver cups and bowls that were taken from the Jewish temple in Jerusalem when Babylon captured the city.
These cups and bowls from the Jewish temple were used for holy ceremony in the Jewish temple. They had been prayed over and dedicated to God for use in his temple. They were used only by God’s holy priests.
Now this king in a drinking party wants to use these holy cups and bowls for his drinking party.
The Bible does not explain all that the king is thinking. It does seem that the king knows these cups and bowls were in the Jewish temple and he probably knows that the Jewish people think of them as holy things.
It seems he uses them to show off that he is more powerful. He will drink from their holy cups if he wants to because he is the King of Babylon.
Vs. 5-
The Bible says that in the same hour that the king began to drink out of these holy cups a finger of a man showed on the wall and began writing.
Maybe if you had been drinking for awhile you might think your mind was playing tricks on you because of all the wine you drank.
But this finger on the wall kept writing. The king became very afraid. His knees were shaking together. He knew that this was not just in his mind. This finger was really there writing on the wall.
The king called for all the wise men to come. He told them that whoever could read the words and tell what it means he would give them a beautiful red robe and a gold chain for their neck. And he would make them the third highest leader.
They could not read it.
The king’s face became pale. It was so afraid. The wise men became afraid, too.
The queen mother told the king not to be so worried. That there was a man in the kingdom who had told his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar, his dreams. The man was Daniel. (He was an old man now.)
She said, “He has the spirit of the holy gods.”
We would all want people to say that about us! That our life was lived in such a way that people knew the Spirit of the Holy God was in us.
So they called Daniel to come see.
Vs.13
The king asked him, “Are you the Daniel that was brought from Judah as a captive?
I have heard of you. I have heard that the spirit of the holy gods is in you. That you have understanding and wisdom.”
“The wise men of the kingdom have been brought in to read what is on the wall. But they can not read it. Now if you can read it and tell me what it means, I will give you a beautiful red robe and a gold chain and make you the third highest leader in the kingdom.”
Vs. 17 Daniel told the king that he did not need the gifts, but he would read the message and tell him what it means.
Daniel said: God gave Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, power, and glory, and honor. He ruled over all peoples of many lands. They honored and feared him. He was a powerful king. He could decide to kill people or let them live.
He could decide to make someone a high leader or he could take away their power and leader’s place.
But when his heart became so very proud God took away his power, and glory.
He was made to live in the field like an animal. He ate grass like an ox. The dew of water came on him. This lasted until he was willing to give God in heaven the honor and praise and confess that He (God) was over all. And that God was the One who decided who would be king or not.
Vs. 22 Now Belshazzar you have not been humble in your heart. You knew all of this about Nebuchadnezzar but you, too, have become too proud of yourself and your power. You have lifted up your heart against the God of heaven. You have not given glory to the God of heaven and yet He has the power to give you breath or not.
You have now taken the holy cups and bowls from the temple in Jerusalem. Holy things that belong to God’s temple are you are drinking from them.
What you saw on the wall was that God’s hand! He wrote the words.
Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin It means: God has numbered the days of your kingdom, and it has come to an end. You have been weighed in God’s balance you have come up short. And your kingdom will be given to the Medes and Persians. (Countries nearby.)
Vs. 29 The king kept his word to Daniel. He was given the gifts that were promised.
Vs. 30 In that night King Belshazzar was killed.
( In the night the Medes and Persians armies surprised everyone. They entered into the city of Babylon and took over.)
Darius, the Mede, took over the kingdom. Darius was 62 years old.