A FAILURE TO REMEMBER

(Daniel 5)

Intro.

  1. Much time has passed since Nebuchadnezzar realized that God rules in the affairs of men.
  2. So much so that Babylon is on its fifth king since Nebuchadnezzar’s death.
  3. Daniel is probably 70 plus years old by this time.
  4. Change has occurred in leadership, with it descending not from blood relatives of Nebuchadnezzar any longer, but from those related to him by marriage.
  5. All that happened to Nebuchadnezzar had been forgotten as we shall see.
  6. It is a terrible thing to forget the lessons of history, especially when those lessons had been taught by God Himself.
  7. Belshazzar did forget them and it was his attitude, as we will see, along with his failure to remember that cost him his kingdom and his life.
  1. The celebration (Daniel 5:1-2).
  2. Belshazzar became a co-regent with his father Nabonidus in 553 BC.
  3. History tells us that Belshazzar was a king who cared more about the social life than he did about the governing and care of his kingdom.
  4. His father had been defeated in battle by Cyrus just a short time before the events of this chapter.
  5. Instead of caring for and defending the city, he was throwing a party.
  6. This is just one example of several that history gives about his attitude.
  7. The celebration, according to the belief of most, was held on October 12, 539 BC.
  8. It was probably held in celebration of the strength of the city of Babylon.
  9. It had long been believed that the city itself was impenetrable.
  10. Others believe that it was an annual celebration of one of the gods that the Babylonians worshiped.
  11. There was an incredible amount of people there for this celebration.
  12. The wording used in verse two, whiles he tasted, indicates more than simply taking a drink of something, but being under the influence of it.
  1. The desecration (Daniel 5:2-4).
  2. Under the influence of the wine, the king thought that it would be a good idea to bring out the vessels taken from God’s temple in Jerusalem.
  3. The word for “father” probably should be translated “descendant, because we know that Nebuchadnezzar was not the father of Belshazzar.
  4. This was a sign of great disrespect.
  5. Nebuchadnezzar had taken the vessels from Jerusalem and placed them in the temple of his god Marduk.
  6. This showed the respect that Nebuchadnezzar had for Jehovah.
  7. Belshazzar was showing contempt for God by desecrating the vessels by common use of them.
  8. Once the wine flowed from the cups into the people, the problems only got worse.
  9. They began to praise the various gods that they worshiped.
  10. Notice that the metals and materials are listed in descending order of value.
  11. In reality, they were praising at least four of the gods of the land.
  12. Marduk;
  13. Nebo;
  14. Nergal;
  15. And, Ishtar.
  16. It is believed that Belshazzar believed that these four gods would protect the city.
  1. The apparition (Daniel 5:5).
  2. While the wine was flowing and the toasts were being made, a hand appeared, like that of a man.
  3. The hand wrote on the wall across from the king it seems.
  4. It has been wondered why God chose to reveal his message with a hand writing on a wall.
  5. It may have to do with the fact that the Babylonians would often severe the hands of those they defeated.
  6. They viewed a severed hand as sign of defeat.
  7. They believed they had defeated Jehovah and He was letting them know that He was alive and well.
  1. The proposition (Daniel 5:6-9).
  2. Belshazzar was devastated and frightened to the point of shaking.
  3. In reality, the Bible says his knees were knocking together and his legs were weak.
  4. He called for all his supposed wise men and made them a proposition: anyone that could interpret the writing on the wall would be heavily rewarded.
  5. They would be given a scarlet robe, a sign of royalty.
  6. They would be made third in charge in the kingdom.
  7. Being third in the kingdom reminds us of the situation.
  8. His father Nabonidus was still alive and in partial control so third was the highest anyone else could go.
  9. These men, even with the promise of promotion and reward, could not interpret the writing on the wall.
  10. This seemed to bother the king even more.
  1. The recommendation (Daniel 5:10-16).
  2. The queen, probably a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, so in reality the queen mother, was told of the events and came in to the room.
  3. She recommended that Daniel be called in.
  4. During the years following Nebuchadnezzar’s return to the throne and after his death, Daniel seems to have been forgotten by the rulers that followed.
  5. The queen mother would have remembered all that happened to her father.
  6. She spoke highly of Daniel but also misplaced the source of his abilities, saying that he possessed the spirit of the gods of the land.
  7. Belshazzar accepted her recommendation and sent for Daniel.
  8. When Daniel arrived, Belshazzar spoke of what he had heard about Daniel and made the same proposition to him that he had made to his wise men.
  1. The admonition (Daniel 5:17-24).
  2. I love Daniel’s reply: give it to someone else.
  3. Daniel was not interested.
  4. Also, he knew that it would not last long if it was given.
  5. Daniel admonished the king for his failure to remember what had happened to Nebuchadnezzar.
  6. God had given much to Nebuchadnezzar; great power, wealth, and respect.
  7. When Nebuchadnezzar got to puffed up, God brought him down.
  8. All that happened to him was told again to the king.
  9. Daniel then charged Belshazzar with being prideful like his predecessor.
  10. In fact, he charged Belshazzar with failing to give respect to God.
  11. The God who held his breath in His hands.
  12. The God who was sovereign over all and held his very life in His hands.
  13. Because of the king’s pride and failure to respect God, the hand was sent with the message.
  1. The interpretation (Daniel 5:25-28).
  2. The words on the wall were a form of Aramaic.
  3. They have to do with weights and measures.
  4. Archaeologists have found ancient balance scales with these same words on them.
  5. God told Belshazzar that he had been weighed in the balances and found lacking.
  6. The message simply said, “Numbered, numbered, weighed, and divided.”
  7. Daniel provided the meaning along with the interpretation of the words.
  8. God had given the Babylonian empire a number of days and those days had run out.
  9. God had weighed Belshazzar on the divine scales and found him sorely wanting.
  10. The Medo-Persian empire would take over and conquer him.
  1. The realization (Daniel 5:29-31).
  2. Belshazzar went ahead with his word of promotion so that he would not lose face with his lords that were present.
  3. Just a few short hours later, all that Daniel had said was realized.
  4. History tells us that Cyrus blocked the Euphrates River that flowed through the city from north to south.
  5. By diverting the water, he was able to march his army right into the city.
  6. With hardly any effort they defeated what limited opposition faced them and killed Belshazzar and ended the head of gold’s reign.
  7. The next two verses really go with chapter 6.
  8. Cyrus conquered the nation but gave power to Darius the Mede to oversee the city itself.
  1. The application.
  2. Wine is a mocker.
  3. Belshazzar was one who made many poor decisions.
  4. However, under the influence of wine, or alcohol, he made his last and poorest.
  5. He decided to bring out vessels used in worship of the God of heaven to drink toasts to his false gods.
  6. Alcohol makes you do dumb things.
  7. (talk about the phone call).
  8. This should never be a part of the life of a Christian.
  9. I know we are not under the Old Testament but principles carry over many times.
  10. Proverbs 20:1 – wisdom knows no testamental boundaries.
  11. Ephesians 5:18 – the only way to become drunk with wine is to start the process, which the wording of this verse says not to do.
  12. Ask yourself three questions if you think some drinking is ok:
  13. Can we agree drunkenness is condemned? (Galatians 5:20-21).
  14. Is it the wisest thing to do?
  15. What about the conscience of your brother or sister, or one who is a non-Christian over whom you may have some influence?
  16. The truth is, we are sinning when we drink for the simple fact we are harming our influence, and we are also putting a stumbling block in the path of our brethren.
  17. God judges sin.
  18. God weighed Belshazzar in the balances and found him wanting because of sin.
  19. It wasn’t that he was a bad leader, it was because his pride caused him to sin.
  20. God is in control.
  21. Daniel told Belshazzar that God held his breath in His hands and was in charge of His life.
  22. The great lesson of this whole book is that God is sovereign.
  23. Belshazzar forgot that and it cost him his life and kingdom.