In our last issue we began to consider one of the records regarding the man Daniel. We learned that Belshazzar was ruling in proxy of his father Nabonidus as King of Babylon. We saw how Belshazzar was giving a feast and how at one point went and ordered the holy goblets to be brought from the house of the Lord so they could drink wine from them.
We learned how they praised the gods of silver, wood and stone and then how in that very hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.rote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Daniel 5:6-7 6Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 7The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Right after the king ordered the holy goblets to be brought, right after they drank from them and right after they were praising the gods of silver, gold, etc. fingers appeared and wrote upon the wall. This is where we get the expression "to see the hand writing on the wall."
This really shook the king.
Daniel 5:8-12 8Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 9Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.10Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: 11There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. 12Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
Years before Daniel was a well known man of God who received great respect and honor from previous rulers look at chapter 2.
Daniel 2:46-49 46Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. 47The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. 48Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
By the time chapter 5 of the book of Daniel comes around, Daniel was basically a forgotten prophet. As in our day and time, when administrations change, then the people in leadership and authority also change. The administrations in Babylon were no different. Daniel was shuffled aside, looked over and put out to pasture so tospeak. But Daniel remained faithful, in good times and bad. By this time almost 70 years had passed and several kings, however Daniel remained faithful. Daniel was carried away probably at the young age of 10 to 14 under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:1).
Daniel was approximately 80 to 90 years old by the time chapter 5 took place. It wasn't until the queen, perhaps an older woman who would have remembered Daniel, suggested to Belshazzar to call Daniel.
Daniel by this time had been forgotten for the most part by the current administration.
Daniel 5:13-23 13Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? 14I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.15And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing: 16And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. 17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 19And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 20But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 21And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. 22And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 23But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
Once Daniel is called he is informed of what the king desires of him. Furthermore, the king offered Daniel great rewards and authority if he is able to make known the interpretation of the writing. To me, the most remarkable part of this record was Daniels' response and what he did not say.
Daniel refused the rewards. This is noteworthy. Daniel fearlessly spoke words of reproof to the king this too is noteworthy. However, the most remarkable part of this record to me is what Daniel did not speak.
He did not say "O, I'm not in the God business anymore," or "That God thing was something I used to do," or "I'm not involved in that any more." Throughout those 70 years of captivity Daniel remained faithful. Daniel had good times with Nebuchadnezzar; honor and the King's ear. Daniel had not so good times when he was a forgotten old prophet.
But through it all Daniel remained faithful. Daniel was the real deal. He didn't need the spotlight and the praise of man to continue to do what God had called him to do. Daniel was motivated by his love and respect for his God. Daniel didn't have a hidden agenda; he didn't abuse his power with people or the king. When he was shuffled aside in the kingdom he continued to remain faithful to his God serving him and ready to speak for him when the opportunity presented itself.
Have you been hurt and mistreated by someone in the past? Have you been overlooked and shuffled to the side? Don't let the devil talk you out of the Word of God. Don't let him fill you with bitterness and fear so you withdraw and become distrusting in the Lord. Let us be men and women who like Daniel served God from the heart. Let's continue to look to our Lord Jesus Christ who will right all wrongs and reward truthfully.
Let it be said of us that we too are faithful! ÿ