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DANIEL 5 INTRODUCTION:
5:1 King Belshazzar threw a wild party. I preached a message from this chapter at our New Year’s Eve service one year and I entitled it, "When God Breaks Up the Party." Notice that there were a thousand lords at the party. This was not unusual for those days. Over 10,000 people came to a wedding feast for Alexander the Great. 5:2 "Whiles he tasted the wine" indicates that he was probably under the influence of the wine and this was what led him to commit such a wicked and sacrilegious act. Belshazzar’s grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken the golden and silver vessels out of the temple in Jerusalem nearly 70 years before. 5:3 King Belshazzar was a blasphemer and a heathen. His act was an act of defiance against the God of Israel. 5:4 He and his lords were drunken idolaters (cf. 5:22,23; Rev.9:20). 5:5 THE WRITING ON THE WALL. 5:6 The king was scared – his "countenance was changed…" 5:7 Just like Nebuchadnezzar, he called in his astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers, i.e. "the wise men of Babylon." 5:8,9 Just like as with Nebuchadnezzar, the wise men were unable to help the troubled king. 5:10,11 "The queen" was probably Nebuchadnezzar’s widow. Notice that she uses the same words as Nebuchadnezzar to describe Daniel (cf. 4:8,9,18). 5:12 Daniel was probably quite old by now and in semi-retirement. Approximately 70 years have passed since Daniel 1:1. 5:13,14 Belshazzar apparently had no use for Daniel before but now he is willing to seek his help. Unfortunately, it is too late. 5:15 Worldly "wise men" can never solve problems because their wisdom is devilish (cf. James 3:15). They do not learn from the past, cannot discern the present, and are unable to understand the future (cf. 2:10-12; 4:7). 5:16 Belshazzar repeats his offer to Daniel (cf. 5:7). The "third ruler" would come after Belshazzar and his father Nabonidus. 5:17 Daniel was a true man of God. He was not interested in worldly honors or rewards. He was not mercenary, and wanted to impress upon the king that his interpretation would be unbiased. Also, Daniel was wise and understood that the king’s honors and rewards would do him no good since the Babylonian kingdom would fall that night. Belshazzar was like Richard III shouting, "My horse, my horse – my kingdom for a horse!" 5:18-21 Daniel rebuked the proud king and reminded him of what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar, his "father" (actually, his grandfather). 5:22,23 Belshazzar was without excuse. He "knewest all this" and would not humble himself. 5:24-28 MENE – His "number was up!" Word mene is used twice for emphasis. TEKEL – God’s balances are perfectly accurate. PERES – U = "and." PHARSIN is the plural of PERES. Also, it is similar to the Aramaic word for "Persians" and could be a play on words. 5:29 Daniel was honored as promised. Sadly, all of the world’s honors are short-lived and useless. 5:30,31 Babylon fell exactly as Daniel (and other prophets) said it would (cf. Isa.13:17-22; Jer.51:52-58). The way the city fell is fascinating. Belshazzar and his lords felt secure because the city walls were no less than 87 feet thick and 350 feet high. In addition there were 250 watchtowers which extended another 100 feet into the air. But while the king drank and praised his gods of gold and silver and brass and iron and wood and stone, the Medes were marching in. They diverted the Euphrates River, which flowed under the city walls and through the city. Then they entered into the city by the dry river bed under the wall. Once they got on the inside, they opened the city gates and took the Babylonians by surprise. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal.6:7). Pastor James J. Barker
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