Daniel - Chapter 5

The book of Daniel is not simply a history lesson, just relating what happened during the life of this prophet in exile but is far more than that. It examines for us the clear view of what happens when a kingdom of the world comes into conflict with the kingdom of the Lord.

In this chapter we are introduced quickly to a new king of Babylon, Belshazzar. We were given no information before on him nor why he appears so abruptly for us. His appearance for us is a direct and strong illustration for us of the sovereignty of God and His ability to pull down kings from their thrones at will. Our New Testament brings this powerful message to us in Luke 1:52, “He hath put down the mighty from their seats...”.

(5:1-9) The Moving Finger Writes

We see quickly that this king has called a great feast to his palace and we are told that he drank wine in front of thousands. Wanting to make a greater impression of his power he calls for the gold and silver vessels brought from the Lord's temple to be brought out so that he, his lords, his wives and concubines may drink from them. Here we are given a small hint that these are the vessels that “his father” Nebuchadnezzar, had captured. We do not know if this meant he was truly the son of the king we saw in previous chapters, or some other relative. We do know the Old Testament provides no terms such as grandfather or great grandfather. We also know that at times some men used the term of father to describe more distant relatives. The Jews in John 8:39 appealed to Abraham and called him their father. So all we know for sure is there seemed to be some relation between these two kings.

Now these pagans at this feast begin to praise their false gods as they continued to drink.

Fingers of a man's hand appeared upward on a wall in full view and began to write upon the wall. The king saw this hand and the writing and was filled with fear. His face changed, his mind was troubled, his hips loosened, and his knees began to knock together. He called for all his wise men, astrologers and soothsayers, to come and to interpret this event for him. He promised great rewards for the man who would tell him the meaning of what he had seen, even offering the third ruling position in the kingdom. All his wise ones came and none could interpret this event.

As we will see, this event was the judgment of this wicked king by the Lord, which he did not yet realize. We should think first about the things this king had done to finalize God's will on him.

He had allowed his pagan ego to reach arrogant levels and he showed his disrespect for his own position by drinking to excess in front of thousands. All eyes were on him (just as he wanted) and he showed the sin of pride by his actions.

He further expressed his transgression against the One True God by blasphemy, using the holy vessels from the Lord's temple to consume wine. We can almost hear his boastful drunken spirit calling for the golden cups and using them for his pleasure, degrading their nature. Nebuchadnezzar, even in his worst moments, never did such a  thing to these holy vessels.

His sinful heart caused him to be sinfully blind, with help from much wine, as he enjoyed his self created spotlight.

The Lord's wrath is close at hand.

(5:10-31) Weighed In The Balances Of God

Now the queen remembers Daniel. She reminds the king of the position that Daniel had held under Nebuchadnezzar, and she describes him by saying that he is a man who has the Spirit of the Holy God in him. She reminds him that Daniel had been able to answer all matters in need of interpretation and that he should be called to explain this event to the king.

The king brings Daniel into the palace, and asks several questions to confirm who Daniel is and that the reference given by his queen was correct. He makes the same offer to Daniel of the material rewards and the position of ruling power.

Daniel kindly refuses any rewards, asking the king to keep them or to give them to another, but he assures the king he will read the writing so that the king may know its meaning.

Daniel reconstructs for the king the history of how God had dealt with Nebuchadnezzar and closes the history lesson by reminding the king that Nebuchadnezzar had ultimately understood that the Lord rules the kingdom of men.

Daniel further advises that this king had not humbled his heart, even though he knew the history Daniel had just related. Daniel now advises that this king had lifted himself up against the Lord of heaven, and he gives the king the meaning of the words written by the hand on the wall.

• MENE God has numbered your kingdom and finished it.

• TEKEL You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

• PERES Your kingdom had been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

(Daniel changed the plural form of UPHARSIN to its singular form when he gave the meaning as the Medes and Persians were at that time a dual kingdom)

Belshazzar did give the rewards to Daniel even though Daniel did not want them, likely as a hope to curry favor with God's prophet. But judgment had been given and that very night it was carried out as that very night this king was slain and Darius the Mede conquered Babylon.

This king learned the harsh lesson that no kingdom of man not holding up in reverence the true and living God must fall.