In our study of Daniel chapter five, we look at God's control over the affairs of men and the fact that He has numbered our days. In chapter 4, we saw how Nebuchadnezzar learned that God was in control of the governments of men. Now, we will see how his grandson learns that God is in control of the days of men.
Now, if God speaks to you in this study, you can save your own personal notes on this page. Then, every time that you look at this study, your notes will automatically be added to the page. To add a note or to display your previous notes, click on the YOUR NOTES button.
Belshatzar the king gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, and in the presence of the thousand he was drinking wine.
Belshazzar was now in charge of Babylon while his father was away at war. The city was under siege by the Medes and the king threw a party in an attempt to bring courage to the people. They were partying it up as if there was no problem.
While tasting the wine, Belshatzar ordered that the gold and silver vessels which his father N'vukhadnetzar had removed from the temple in Yerushalayim be brought; so that the king, his lords, his wives and his concubines could drink from them.
These goblets were from the temple and had been consecrated (set aside for God's use) and now the king was mocking God by using them for this party. Belshazzar would have known about his grandfather's testimony of how God showed him that He was in control. He would have also known that the goblets were set aside for God's use.
So they brought the gold vessels which had been removed from the sanctuary of the house of God in Yerushalayim; and the king, his lords, his wives and his concubines drank from them. They drank their wine and praised their gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.
They were really living it up and mocking God while worshiping the great city that had been built around them. They believed that the city was invincible and would last forever. The same type of thing happens today as many people will celebrate the things that they have and the things that they have made without acknowledging the fact that God gives those things and is the Creator of all things.
Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the palace wall by the lampstand. When the king saw the palm of the hand that was writing, the king's face took on a different look. As frightening thoughts rose up within him, his hip joints gave way and his knees started knocking together.
God has a way of getting our attention when we are acting stupid and that is exactly what happened with the king. The king was terrified by what he saw but God was merciful in sending a message instead of just striking him dead.
The king cried out to bring in the exorcists, astrologers and diviners. The king said to the sages of Bavel, "Whoever can read this inscription and tell me what it means will be dressed in royal purple, wear a gold chain around his neck and be one of the three men ruling the kingdom."
The king called for all of his wise men to interpret the writing and offered a big reward. The purple clothes and gold chain were a status symbol of the day as they were worn by royalty. The one that could tell him the meaning was promised a royal position. The reward was to be the number three man in the kingdom and we remember that the number three is associated with the earthly display of God's will. Although Belshazzar had the title of king, his father was actually the king but he was away at war and so this royal position would be next to the king.
But although all the king's sages came in, none could read the inscription or tell the king what it meant. Then King Belshatzar became terrified; his face turned pale, and his lords were thrown into confusion.
When the king tried to get men that did not know God to interpret things from God, it did not work and so he became even more scared. The same thing applies to our lives today, in that, if you want to know about the things of God, you will not find answers from the wisdom of the world. Understanding the things of God comes through the Holy Spirit and that is a gift that is reserved for those who accept Yeshua Messiah as their Lord and Savior.
At this point the queen mother, because of what the king and his lords were saying, entered the banquet hall. The queen mother said, "May the king live forever! Don't be scared by your thoughts or let your face be so pale. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, he was found to have light, discernment and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. King N'vukhadnetzar your father - the king, your father - made him chief of the magicians, exorcists, astrologers and diviners; because he was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, discernment, and the ability to interpret dreams, unlock mysteries and solve knotty problems. He is called Dani'el, but the king gave him the name Belt'shatzar. Now have Dani'el summoned, and he will tell you what this means."
The queen remembered Daniel and advised the king to seek him for help in getting the meaning of the writing on the wall. It is interesting to note that the queen did not know God but she knew who to turn to in this difficult circumstance. As Christians, we need to ask ourselves whether those around us that are "lost" know to come to us when they do not know what to do. We need to be there when they get to the end of their rope (understanding) and have searched everywhere else for the answers. At that point, we can introduce them to the wisdom that can only come from God.
Dani'el was brought into the king's presence. The king said to Dani'el, "Are you Dani'el, one of the exiles from Y'hudah whom the king my father brought out of Y'hudah? I've heard about you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have been found to have light, discernment and extraordinary wisdom.
Now, we see that Daniel had a reputation for being a man of God. This king, who knew nothing about the one true God, calls on Daniel to interpret the writing. As a Christian, do you have the reputation as someone that is in touch with the things of God and is willing to help others in need? Yeshua had that kind of reputation when he walked the earth as we see by the fact that all of the sick always tried to get to him to be healed.
Now the sages, the exorcists, were brought in to me so that they could read this inscription and tell me what it means, but they couldn't interpret it for me. However, I've heard that you can give interpretations and solve knotty problems. Now if you can read the inscription and tell me what it means, you will be dressed in royal purple, wear a gold chain around your neck and be one of the three men ruling the kingdom."
Daniel's reward for doing this was to be a promotion to the third highest position in the land. The purple robe and gold chain are symbols of royalty. This is a reminder to us that, if we humble ourselves and serve the Lord, he will lift us up.
Dani'el answered the king, "Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else. However, I will read the inscription to the king and tell him what it means.
Daniel agrees to interpret the writing for the king but refuses the rewards that are offered as payment. This is a shining example of ministry for the right purpose. Today, there are many so-called pastors, ministers, bishops, prophets, etc. who are peddling the works of God for their own profit. They are accumulating wealth and power on this earth but do not realize that they are trading their rewards in heaven for the things they possess today for a short time.
Your majesty, the Most High God gave N'vukhadnetzar your father the kingdom, as well as greatness, glory and majesty. Because of the greatness he gave him, all the peoples, nations and languages trembled with fear before him. Anyone he wanted to, he put to death; anyone he wanted to, he kept alive; anyone he wanted to, he advanced; and anyone he wanted to, he humbled. But when he grew proud and his spirit became hard, he began treating people arrogantly, so he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken away from him. He was driven from human society, his heart was made like that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed with grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky; until he learned that the Most High God rules in the human kingdom and sets up over it whomever he pleases.
Before he interprets the writing, Daniel gives the young king a little history lesson. His grandfather had been elevated to the position of the greatest kingdom in the world. He had power and authority that were unmatched by any man but pride became his downfall. The prophet recounts how his grandfather was humbled to the point of insanity and acting like a wild animal. He was also reminded that the reason for this was his elevating himself to a position equal to God. Belshazzar must have started feeling a little unease as he wondered why Daniel was giving him this little history lesson. This should be a reminder to us of the importance of sharing with our children and grandchildren what God has done and is doing in our lives. The first witnessing of a Christian begins at home; when it does not, you end up with the same type of situation that we see with Belshazzar.
But, Belshatzar, you, his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven by having them bring you the vessels from his house; and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them; then you offered praise to your gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood and stone, which can't see, hear or know anything. Meanwhile, God, who holds your very breath in his hands, and to whom belongs everything you do, you have not glorified. This is why he sent the hand to write this inscription;
Belshazzar had known about what had happened with his grandfather but did not take it to heart. Instead, he went about partying it up and even went so far as to defile the things of God. He worshiped the material things (false gods) and ignored the fact that God was in charge of his life. Daniel tells him that this is the reason that God sent the hand to proclaim his fate. This same type of thing is happening more and more today as many people chase material things and forget the more important matters of life itself.
and the inscription says, 'M'ne! M'ne! T'kel ufarsin.' This is what it means: 'M'ne!'- God has counted up your kingdom and brought it to an end. 'T'kel'- you are weighed on the balance-scale and come up short. 'P'res'- your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
God simply was telling Belshazzar that his number was up and his kingdom was going to be split in two because of the fact that he did not acknowledge that God was in charge. This is the same thing that God had showed Belshazzar's grandfather as we saw in chapter 2 with the statue.
Then Belshatzar gave the order; and they clothed Dani'el in royal purple, put a gold chain around his neck and proclaimed of him that he was to be one of the three men ruling the kingdom.
The king kept his promise to Daniel and elevated him to be his second in command. As we saw before, the king was really subject to his father who was off at war and so, in effect, Daniel became the third highest official in the kingdom. As is the pattern with God, He elevates the humble servant (Daniel).
That very night Belshatzar, the king of the Kasdim, was killed. The kingdom passed to Daryavesh the Mede when he was about sixty-two years old.
While the king was having his party, the Medes were already infiltrating the city. The judgment was carried out that very night and is a reminder to us that God has all of our days numbered. When he says it is time, then, your number is up. As it was with King Belshazzar, we do not know when that appointed time is coming so we need to be prepared at all times. The only way to be prepared for the time when your number is up is through personal faith in Yeshua Messiah for your salvation.
Read about what we do with the data we gather and the rules you agree to by using this website in our privacy policy.