08.02.2020 FROM ARROGANCE TO DESTRUCTION: Daniel 5

“And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” Daniel 2:21

Arrogance: offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride.

Hubris: excessive pride and self-confidence.

Introduction:

Daniel chapter 5 is the story of the judgement of another king – Belshazzar, grandson of king Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride led to his temporary downfall and ultimate repentance. Belshazzar however, despite knowing of the way God had dealt with his grandfather, chose to defy God. In his arrogance, he brought out the vessels of the Temple in Jerusalem (which had been ‘sanctified’ i.e. set apart for God’s use) and used them to pay homage to his gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. This defiance closed probation for the kingdom of Babylon and both ruler and kingdom were utterly ruined that very night. 

The judgment of Babylon brought deliverance to God’s people. King Cyrus, the victorious Persian king fulfilled God’s promise to release the Jews after 70 years to return to Jerusalem. 

Historical Context:

The reason for this palace feast and its aftermath are not evident in Daniel 5. Our background information, facts that would be known to Chaldean readers, comes from a Greek historian, Herodotus and other ancient sources. He reported that about 539BC a new power was threatening Babylon from the North. A Persian army under Cyrus had routed Nabonidus, king of Babylon, from a distant city (Teima) and had come to encircle Babylon. Nabonidus had left Babylon in the hands of his son Belshazzar as co-regent and had been living in Teima (modern day Iran).

Realizing that the city wall was massive and that the inhabitants had food stores for years, Cyrus partially withdrew. He left a garrison south of the city and went up the Euphrates River. He took advantage of the fact that the Euphrates ran through the city of Babylon. He diverted the River into a swamp, and ordered his Babylon force to go into the City through the stream when the water was below the waist. The troops encountered no resistance and surprised Belshazzar and his nobles having a party. Babylon was conquered by his general, Darius the Mede, with little blood-shed.

Belshazzar’s Feast: Daniel 5:1-4

Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.  While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem… Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

Three characteristics mark the great world empire of Babylon:

1. Idolatry (Daniel 3)
2. Pride and self-exaltation (Daniel 4)
3. Arrogance and Defiance of God (Daniel 5)

Despite Babylon being besieged by the Medo-Persians, Belshazzar sat down to feast and drink, confident in the knowledge that the city of Babylon was impregnable with its 350 foot high and 80 foot wide walls (wide enough for 4 chariots to ride abreast) and the river Euphrates running through the city. 

With the wine of Babylon dulling his senses, he was moved to defiance of the Most High God whom his grandfather had acknowledged. He called for the vessels of the Jerusalem Temple, set apart for the worship of Jehovah and he defiled them by filling them with wine. He then added insult to injury by praising the gods of Babylon; gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone of whom the Psalmist had said, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see. They have ears, but they do not hear; noses they have, but they do not smell. They have hands, but they do not handle; feet they have, but they do not walk…Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them.” Psalm 115:4-8

His grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had been guilty of pride and self-exaltation. Belshazzar was full of arrogance and hubris; it was this attitude that made think he could defy and mock God.

The Writing on the Wall and the King’s Response: Daniel 5:5-9

In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other. (5:5, 6)

The defiant king was so terrified that ‘the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.’ He called for all the wise men of his kingdom (except Daniel) but they were able to give him the interpretation. 

The Queen Mother’s Testimony about Daniel: Daniel 5: 10-12

The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him… Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”

As we will see in verse 22, Belshazzar knew the history of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel. And yet he chose to defy God. 

The Queen mother has much to say about Daniel:

1. ‘There is a man in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God (s)…’ the Holy God – she was not referring to the pantheon of Babylonian gods but to the holy God of the monotheistic Jews. 

1. This Holy God had put His Spirit in Daniel… in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God.

1. The result of the in-dwelling Spirit in Daniel… “light and understanding and wisdom… an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding”

We live in end-time Babylon – it is all around us. Are we like Daniel in Babylon? Do those we come in contact have the same testimony about us? We were given the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts when we accepted Jesus. Does the world see the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives? This will only occur as we surrender ourselves to Him daily. 

The wise men of Babylon could not interpret the dream, but Daniel could. What made the difference? The Babylonian wise men were reasoning men who depended on their intellect. Daniel was a spiritual man; instead of trusting his intellect, he waited upon God for revelation. Revelation is the process by which God reveals knowledge of Himself, His will, and His divine plans and provisions. His Spirit communicates with our spirit…’the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord ’Proverbs 20:27.

There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Job 32:8

For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God… the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned ! Corinthians 2:11, 14

God’s Indictment of Belshazzar: Daniel 5:13-23

But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this (5:22)

And you have lifted (exalted) yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house (Temple) before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them (5:23)

And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified (5:23)

Pride, defiance and refusal to give glory to God by worshipping substitute gods was the sin of Belshazzar. He had no excuse because he was not ignorant of Jehovah and His dealings with King Nebuchadnezzar. 

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who [d]suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image (idol) made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Romans 1:18-23

Interpretation of the Writing on the Wall – sentence pronounced on Babylon: Daniel 5:25-29

This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”