The Handwriting on the Wall
The Handwriting on the Wall
July 3, 2016 Daniel 5
The Temple Utensils Daniel 5:1-4
• Used solely for worship of the LORD at the temple
• The Babylonian empire was under siege by the Persians
• The feast was to the Babylonian gods
• Cyrus & his army was advancing to Babylon
• The feast was held to show Babylon’s god, Marduk, was greater than the LORD
The Handwriting on the Wall Daniel 5:5-9
• Partial sobriety seems to have come to the king at the time
– He realized the gravity of the message, even though he could not understand it
• The writer seemed like a man, yet no physical body was seen
Daniel Remembered Daniel 5:10-12
• The queen was Belshazzar’s mother or grandmother
– She would have been old enough to know of Nebuchadnezzar’s change of heart and worship
– She knew Daniel could interpret the omen because he had done it several times before
Daniel is Enlisted Daniel 5:13-16
• “a spirit of the gods is in you”
– Belief in a polytheistic religion
– No recognition of the LORD God of Daniel
– No remembrance of his grandfather’s faith
– Yet knowledge of God’s gifting of wisdom for Daniel
– Superior to the wise men of the court
Daniel Preaches to the King Daniel 5:17-23
• He calls out the king for his sin
– Pride: “Yet you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart”
– Apparently Nebuchadnezzar’s change of heart resulted in testimony to his children & grandchildren unsuccessfully
Interpretation of the Writing Daniel 5:24-28
• All four words are monetary / weight terms
• Mene, Mene
– 1 mina = 50 shekels
– To count or to number
– “God has numbered your kingdom and put it to an end”
• Tekel
– Shekel = unit of weight
– 2/5 of an ounce
– To be found light in weight
– “You have been weighed out on a scales and found deficient”
• Upharsin or Parsin
– ½ of a mina or 25 shekels
– Divided or to break into two parts
– “Your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes & Persians”
The King Ignores Daniel Daniel 5:29-31
• He elevated Daniel to be the third highest ruler
• Yet he perished just a few hours later
What does this mean for me?
• Just as God dealt with the sin of the Babylonian empire and predicted its fall, He too will one day deal with the sin of the world
– Now is the time to call our community, our country, and our world to repent
• Parents & grandparents
– Diligently, patiently & faithfully teach your children to know, love, and serve the LORD
• Deuteronomy 6:4-8
• Proverbs 1:8-19
• There is a difference between knowing of God and authentic belief in Him
The Handwriting on the Wall
July 3, 2016 Daniel 5
The Temple Utensils Daniel 5:1-4
• Used solely for worship of the LORD at the temple
• The Babylonian empire was under siege by the Persians
• The feast was to the Babylonian gods
• Cyrus & his army was advancing to Babylon
• The feast was held to show Babylon’s god, Marduk, was greater than the LORD
The Handwriting on the Wall Daniel 5:5-9
• Partial sobriety seems to have come to the king at the time
– He realized the gravity of the message, even though he could not understand it
• The writer seemed like a man, yet no physical body was seen
Daniel Remembered Daniel 5:10-12
• The queen was Belshazzar’s mother or grandmother
– She would have been old enough to know of Nebuchadnezzar’s change of heart and worship
– She knew Daniel could interpret the omen because he had done it several times before
Daniel is Enlisted Daniel 5:13-16
• “a spirit of the gods is in you”
– Belief in a polytheistic religion
– No recognition of the LORD God of Daniel
– No remembrance of his grandfather’s faith
– Yet knowledge of God’s gifting of wisdom for Daniel
– Superior to the wise men of the court
Daniel Preaches to the King Daniel 5:17-23
• He calls out the king for his sin
– Pride: “Yet you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart”
– Apparently Nebuchadnezzar’s change of heart resulted in testimony to his children & grandchildren unsuccessfully
The Handwriting on the Wall
July 3, 2016 Daniel 5
The Temple Utensils Daniel 5:1-4
• Used solely for worship of the LORD at the temple
• The Babylonian empire was under siege by the Persians
• The feast was to the Babylonian gods
• Cyrus & his army was advancing to Babylon
• The feast was held to show Babylon’s god, Marduk, was greater than the LORD
The Handwriting on the Wall Daniel 5:5-9
• Partial sobriety seems to have come to the king at the time
– He realized the gravity of the message, even though he could not understand it
• The writer seemed like a man, yet no physical body was seen
Daniel Remembered Daniel 5:10-12
• The queen was Belshazzar’s mother or grandmother
– She would have been old enough to know of Nebuchadnezzar’s change of heart and worship
– She knew Daniel could interpret the omen because he had done it several times before
Daniel is Enlisted Daniel 5:13-16
• “a spirit of the gods is in you”
– Belief in a polytheistic religion
– No recognition of the LORD God of Daniel
– No remembrance of his grandfather’s faith
– Yet knowledge of God’s gifting of wisdom for Daniel
– Superior to the wise men of the court
Daniel Preaches to the King Daniel 5:17-23
• He calls out the king for his sin
– Pride: “Yet you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart”
– Apparently Nebuchadnezzar’s change of heart resulted in testimony to his children & grandchildren unsuccessfully
Interpretation of the Writing Daniel 5:24-28
• All four words are monetary / weight terms
• Mene, Mene
– 1 mina = 50 shekels
– To count or to number
– “God has numbered your kingdom and put it to an end”
• Tekel
– Shekel = unit of weight
– 2/5 of an ounce
– To be found light in weight
– “You have been weighed out on a scales and found deficient”
• Upharsin or Parsin
– ½ of a mina or 25 shekels
– Divided or to break into two parts
– “Your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes & Persians”
The King Ignores Daniel Daniel 5:29-31
• He elevated Daniel to be the third highest ruler
• Yet he perished just a few hours later
What does this mean for me?
• Just as God dealt with the sin of the Babylonian empire and predicted its fall, He too will one day deal with the sin of the world
– Now is the time to call our community, our country, and our world to repent
• Parents & grandparents
– Diligently, patiently & faithfully teach your children to know, love, and serve the LORD
• Deuteronomy 6:4-8
• Proverbs 1:8-19
• There is a difference between knowing of God and authentic belief in Him
Interpretation of the Writing Daniel 5:24-28
• All four words are monetary / weight terms
• Mene, Mene
– 1 mina = 50 shekels
– To count or to number
– “God has numbered your kingdom and put it to an end”
• Tekel
– Shekel = unit of weight
– 2/5 of an ounce
– To be found light in weight
– “You have been weighed out on a scales and found deficient”
• Upharsin or Parsin
– ½ of a mina or 25 shekels
– Divided or to break into two parts
– “Your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes & Persians”
The King Ignores Daniel Daniel 5:29-31
• He elevated Daniel to be the third highest ruler
• Yet he perished just a few hours later
What does this mean for me?
• Just as God dealt with the sin of the Babylonian empire and predicted its fall, He too will one day deal with the sin of the world
– Now is the time to call our community, our country, and our world to repent
• Parents & grandparents
– Diligently, patiently & faithfully teach your children to know, love, and serve the LORD
• Deuteronomy 6:4-8
• Proverbs 1:8-19
• There is a difference between knowing of God and authentic belief in Him