Daniel 5

Daniel 5

Daniel 1 Daniel 2:4-7:28 Daniel 8-12 Written in Hebrew Written in Aramaic Written in Hebrew Daniel's "No Compromise" Stand God's Prophetic Plan for Gentile Nations God's Prophetic Plan for Israel Daniel 5:1 Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. Held: Ge 40:20 Es 1:3 Isa 21:4,5 22:12,14 Jer 51:39,57 Na 1:10 Mk 6:21,22 Youtube video - Daniel 5 Handwriting on the Wall Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE CRITICS CRIED FOUL… "BELSHAZZAR A KING?" Donald Campbell writes that Daniel 5 is "significant for its demonstration of the trustworthiness of the Book of Daniel, and by extension, all of Scripture. One writer claimed that this chapter is "notable for its historic inconsistencies." Bible critics have stumbled over the words of the chapter, "Belshazzar the king," because the ancient historians cited Nabonidus as the last king of Babylon and made no mention of Belshazzar. Is the Book of Daniel in error on this point? (Read on!)… When confronted with a supposed error in the Scriptures, therefore, the better part of wisdom is to withhold judgment until man's knowledge "catches up" with biblical statements. In every case the sacred record has been substantiated." (Borrow Daniel, decoder of dreams - well written, practical, recommended) When does this chapter occur? About seventy years after the events of Daniel chapter 1 (which occurred in 605BC), during the reign of the last king of Babylon, at the juncture of the fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver (Da 2:32-note, Da 2:39-note) representing the passage of the Gentile kingdoms from Babylon to Medo-Persia in 539BC, substantiating the truth that God's Word of prophecy is true and that the God of the Word is sovereign for it is He Alone Who removes kings and establishes kings. (Da 2:21-note). One other detail is that the Medo-Persian army led by Cyrus had undertaken a siege against Babylon and some sources report that it had been in effect for 4 months. Belshazzar foolishly thought no one could touch him. He was going to party. After all Babylon is reported to have enough grain to feed them for 20 years and the Euphrates River provided a reliable water supply. They had a false security, just like all unbelievers. Belshazzar was like the man in Pr 18:11-note "A rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination." As Criswell says "The rich man imagines his wealth to be a strong defense to secure him from whatever storms of life may come, but that protection is only "in his own esteem," i.e., in his own estimation. In actuality, only God is a sure refuge (Pr 18:10-note). Proverbs 18:10,11 A DRAMATIC CONTRAST Righteous Pr 18:10-note Trust in (see next) (Place faith in… ) (Believe in… ) Name of Yahweh Jehovah Is Safe (Fact) Rich Pr 18:11-note Money (mammon) Imagines safe (Fiction) Both proverbs speak of a refuge - a sure refuge in God in Pr 18:10 but a shaky refuge in wealth in Pr 18:11. Jesus warned against the snare of wealth in His Sermon on the Mount "No one (Greek = absolute negation) can (dunamai = has the inherent ability to continually [present tense]) serve (douleuo = be a slave, give up your rights to the will of your master!) two masters (kurios); for either he will hate the one and love (agapao) the other, or he will hold to one and despise (kataphroneo) the other. You (absolutely) cannot serve God and mammon (mammonas). (Mt 6:24-note) James spoke to this humanistic mindset that characterizes all mankind "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." (James 4:14, 15) Life is fragile but the pagan mindset says "Let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we will die." (cp Lk 12:19) For Belshazzar it would not be tomorrow but today! Some commentators date this chapter at more than 20 years after the end of Daniel 4. Certainly there has been a considerable time gap because King Belshazzar does not appear to have even know Daniel personally! (cp the new Pharaoh's ignorance of Joseph - Ex 1:8) In addition Daniel was no longer the chief of the magicians. Nevertheless his reputation persisted because he had not ceased to run with endurance (Heb 12:1-note, He 12:2-note) setting an example of excellence for all generations to come (cp Heb 6:11, 12-note). Daniel 5 is the source of several sayings that are popular in the secular culture: (1) "the handwriting is on the wall" speaking of impending disaster that is so obvious only a fool could not see it coming and (2) A similar expression stating that "your days are numbered." (3) The description of one in great fear as "his knees are knocking"! (As someone once said "If your knees are knocking, kneel on them!") Reading Daniel 5 is like seeing a catastrophic tsunami coming and not being able to do anything about it. Sin is deceptive and Belshazzar was deceived and it cost him his life and his kingdom! Do not be deceived beloved brethren! Belshazzar the king - Da 5:30, 31 identifies Belshazzar as the last king of Babylon. Skeptics and liberal critics prior to 1853 used the reference to this king in Daniel 5 as evidence that the entire book was a fraud. They reasoned that the historical record clearly demonstrated that a man named Nabonidus was the last king of Babylon (Reign = 556-539BC). They were convinced they had discovered another "error" in Daniel. That is they were "convinced" until 1853 when archaeologists discovered a clay cylinder (click image to enlarge the Nabonidus Cylinder) at Ur in Mesopotamia inscribed with the following prayer… As for me, Nabonidus, king of Babylon, save me from sinning against your great godhead and grant me as a present a life long of days, and as for Belshazzar, the eldest son -my offspring- instill reverence for your great godhead in his heart and may he not commit any cultic mistake, may he be sated with a life of plenitude. (Wikipedia) The inscription on the Nabonidus Chronicle (click below to enlarge) helps understand how Belshazzar could be considered "co-regent" with Nabonidus… The king (Nabonidus) was in Tema; the king’s son (Belshazzar), courtiers and army were in Babylonia. Comment: Note that both the Nabonidus Cylinder and the Nabonidus Chronicle are inscribed in cuneiform script on clay tablets. Nabonidus Cylinder Daniel actually substantiates the fact that Belshazzar was a co-regent with Nabonidus by offering "authority as third ruler in the kingdom" (Da 5:7) to anyone who could read and interpret the handwriting on the wall. He could not offer second in command because he was not first in command! Once again we see that the Truth of God's Word is vindicated, as if God needed anyone to vindicate Him! The Bible is correct regardless of whether "confirmatory" ruins or artifacts are unearthed or not! It is not so much that archeology proves the Bible is correct but that the Bible proves archeology is correct. Or stated another way, never judge the Bible by history but history by the Word of God because History is "HIS-Story"! I am reminded of Jesus' words in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man claims that if "someone goes to (his 5 brothers) from the dead, they will repent!" (Lk 16:30), to which Abraham replied "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead." (Lk 16:31) External evidences are great, and God used apologetics in my coming to faith, but the Word of God stands unmatched as "evidence" for God, His Son Jesus Christ and His glorious Gospel of grace. Hallelujah! Related resources on archaeology and the Bible: Bible Believer's Archaeology Belshazzar and Darius the Mede Bible Believer's Archaeology - #2 List of artifacts significant to the Bible - from Wikipedia. Josephus quotation of Berossus (a Hellenistic Babylonian writer, a priest of Bel, who lived around 300BC) provides us with one of the best summaries of royal lines that followed the death of Nebuchadnezzar (Reigned 43 years = 605-562BC)… After beginning the wall of Which I have spoken, Nabuchodonosor (Nebuchadnezzar) fell sick and died, after a reign of forty-three years, and the realm passed to his son Evilmaraduch. This prince, whose government was arbitrary and licentious, fell a victim to a plot, being assassinated by his sister's husband, Neriglisar, after a reign of two years. On his death Nerighsar, his murderer, succeeded to the throne and reigned four years. His son, Laborosoardoch, a mere boy, occupied it for nine montlis, when, owing to the depraved disposition which he showed, a conspiracy was formed against him, and he was beaten to death by his friends. After his murder the conspirators held a meeting, and by common consent conferred the kingdom upon Nabonnedus (Nabonidus), a Babylonian and one of their gang. In his reign the walls of Babylon abutting on the river were magnificently built with baked brick and bitumen. In the seventeenth year of his reign Cyrus advanced from Persia with a large army, and, after subjugating the rest of the kingdom, marched upon Babylonia. Apprised of his coming, Nabonnedus led his army to meet him, fought and was defeated, whereupon he fled with a few followers and shut himself up in the town of Borsippa. Cyrus took Babylon (Da 5:31), and after giving orders to raze the outer walls of the city, because it presented a very redoubtable and formidable appearance, proceeded to Borsippa to besiege Nabonnedus. The latter surrendering, without waiting for investment, was humanely treated by Cyrus, who dismissed him from Babylonia, but gave him Carmania for his residence. There Nabonnedus spent the remainder of his life, and there he died." (Flavius Josephus, "Against Apion," in Josephus 1:221-25.) SUMMARY OF THE KINGS OF BABYLON KING (Meaning of Name) DATE OF REIGN Nabopolassar (Nabu-apal-usur) (Nabu protect the son) 626-605BC Nebuchadnezzar (Nabu-kuduri-usur) (Nabu protect the boundary) 605-562BC Evil Merodach (Amil-Marduk) (Man of Marduk) 562-560BC Neriglissar (Nergal-shar-usur) (Nergal protect the king) 560-556BC Labosoarchod (Labashi-Marduk) 556BC (3 months) Nabonidus (Nabu-naid) (Nabu is exalted) 556-539BC Belshazzar (Bel-shar-usur) (Bel protect the king) 539BC Nabonidus the king of Babylon spent most of his reign (by some reports as long as 14 of his 17 years in power) in Tema (See also Tayma) in the middle of Arabia. In order to retain power in Babylon, he appointed his son Belshazzar as co-king or co-regent. Related Resource: Tony Garland's Chart Comparing Year, Chapter and Age of Daniel The Apologetics Study Bible adds that "Until the latter half of the nineteenth century, Belshazzar's name was unattested except for the book of Daniel and works dependent on it (Baruch, Josephus). From other sources Nabonidus was known to have been the last king of Babylon, and some critics declared Belshazzar to be fictional. However, during the past 150 years abundant evidence has come to light (at least 37 archival texts) demonstrating that Belshazzar was a real person, the son of Nabonidus and ruler of Babylon during his father's extended absences." (Online The Apologetics Study Bible- Understand Why You Believe) Jeremiah records a prophecy that relates to this chapter - "And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and I have given him also the wild animals of the field to serve him. And all the nations shall serve him, and his son, and his grandson, UNTIL the time of his own land comes; THEN many nations and great kings will make him their servant." (Jer 27:7) In Daniel 5 "the time" had come! In this same chapter Jeremiah gives another prophecy regarding the Temple vessels of Jehovah - "Yes, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem,'They shall be carried to Babylon, and they shall be there until the day I visit them,' declares the LORD. 'Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.'" (Jer 27:21-22) While some interpret "son and his grandson" in Jeremiah 27:7 to be Nabonidus and Belshazzar, there is a problem with this interpretation as Nabonidus does not appear to actually have been Nebuchadnezzar's son. Thomas Constable feels that this notation is a reference to Evil-Merodach (Jer 52:31) who was Nebuchadnezzar's son and to Belshazzar who was his grandson (as explained by Gaebelein below). Gaebelein writes that Nabonidus "had a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar for wife and therefore Belshazzar from his mother's side was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar." (The prophet Daniel - a key to the visions and prophecies) Whitcomb - The final blow to critical objections to the historicity of the fifth chapter of Daniel came in 1924, when Sidney Smith of the British Museum published a cuneiform document known as the "Persian Verse Account of Nabonidus," which contains the statement that Nabonidus "entrusted the kingship" to Belshaz­zar. This crucially important statement reads as follows: "When the third year [553 B.C.] was about to begin, he [Nabonidus] entrusted the 'Camp' to his eldest son, the first­born, the troops everywhere in the country he ordered under his command. He let everything go, entrusted the kingship [sarrutum] to him and, himself, he started out for a long journey.'" (Daniel- Everyman's Bible Commentaries.) King Cyrus of Persia (Cyrus the Great) also refers to Belshazzar when he conquered Babylon in his writings: "A coward was put in charge as the king of this country … With evil intents he did away with the regular offerings to the gods … and desecrated the worship of the king of his gods, Marduk." Thousand of his nobles (not even counting his wives and his concubines) - This was extravagant to the max but it was typical of the Persian kings who followed Babylon (see Esther 1:3-8-note). In fact oriental kings were notorious for their extravagant feasts, archaeological discoveries revealing that some Persian monarchs were known to dine daily with 15,000 guests at a meal. At Alexander the Great's marriage 10,000 guests attended his wedding dinner. Ashurnasirpal II had a banquet for 69,754 guests at a banquet dedicating his new capital city Calah in 1879BC. Athanasius describes the food at these banquets writing that "1,000 animals are slaughtered daily for the king. These comprise horses, camels, oxen, asses, deer, and most of the smaller animals. Many birds are consumed, including Arabian ostriches, geese, and chickens." Showers - On such occasions it was an Oriental custom for the king to sit at a separate table on an elevated platform where all the guests could see him. (The Most High God- A Commentary on the Book of Daniel) Speaker's Commentary notes that large numbers of attendees were well known in oriental banquets "15,000 men fed daily at the king's cost in the Persian courts; Alexander the Great once invited 10,000 to a wedding feast; Ptolemy Dionysus undertook the daily nurture of 1000 soldiers of Pompey the Great. It was usually at the close of the banquet proper that the drinking began: and it was so here. Belshazzar under the influence of wine became boastful and fool-hardy." (Speaker's Commentary) Drinking wine - Security and sensuality are often harbingers of approaching ruin. The Medo-Persian army was outside of Babylon and possibly had either captured Nabonidus or at least had cut him off from returning to the city. Belshazzar, ruling in his father's place, and knowing of the threat to the city but feeling secure behind its great walls, had the hubris to hold a great feast and drink wine offering praise to Babylon's so called "gods". Stauffer summarizes the previous chapters "God is our Judge (Daniel 1), our Revealer (Daniel 2), Igniter (Daniel 3), and Gracious King (Daniel 4)." James M. Boice entitles this Daniel 5 “The Sin God Will Not Tolerate”, emphasizing of course that in truth there is no sin which God will tolerate. The Ball - Da 5:1 The Gall - Da 5:2-4 The Wall - Da 5:5-6 The Call - Da 5:7-16 The Fall - Da 5:17-31 Belshazzar's Feast, Da 5:1-31 Da 5:1-4 - Belshazzar's Contribution to the Feast: Unrestrained Sensuality, Da 5:5-6 - God's Contribution to the Feast: Handwriting on the Wall Da 5:7-29 - Daniel's Contribution to the Feast: Announcement of Doom Da 5:30-31 - Darius's Contribution to the Feast: Destruction of Babylon (Don Robinson - Outline of the Book of Daniel) Sermon Starters… The Fall Of A King Daniel 5 GOD REJECTED - Da 5:1-4 There was a drinking party. King Belshazzar called for the sacred vessels taken out of the Temple in Jerusalem. While desecrating the sacred vessels the people also praised their false Gods. The true God was obviously being rejected. THE PROPHET REMEMBERED - Da 5:5-12 This was a time of fear and confusion. The fingers of a man's hand appear and write on the wall. This was also a time when others couldn't help. The Queen Mother remembered Daniel after all the wise men of Babylon could not tell the king the meaning of the writing on the wall. Isn't it interesting how often people turn to God only after all other possible sources of help have been depleted? THE KING REBUKED - Da 5:13-31 Compliment - Da 5:13-16 - The king had heard of Daniel and his ability. He offered great reward if Daniel would interpret the writing on the wall. Comparison - Da 5:17-23 - Daniel tells the story of Nebuchadnezzar who had been disciplined by God and repented, humbling himself before God. (See Daniel 4.) By contrast, Belshazzar rebelled against God and hadn't repented. Condemnation - Da 5:24-31 - The handwriting on the wall was interpreted. Belshazzar is judged and found wanting. His kingdom was taken from him. The Party's Over - Daniel 5 We use the expression "The Party's Over" to say that whatever a person has enjoyed doing has been completed. Reality has set in, and a person must face whatever consequences are facing him. Belshazzar, a wicked king, was literally having a party. God was announcing that the party was over for Belshazzar. The enemy armies were outside the city. The Kingdom of Babylon was about to fall to the Medes and Persians. The king was committing blasphemy by drinking out of containers dedicated to God (Jerusalem temple), and praising his gods of wood and stone. The mysterious fingers appear on the wall. Everyone is in a panic. Nobody could read the writing. The queen mother suggests that Daniel be called in. CONSULTATION WITH THE PROPHET Da 5:17-24 Daniel reminds Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar's rebellion against God, his judgment, restoration and repentance (See Daniel 4). Although Belshazzar knew these things, he rebelled against the Lord of heaven. God finished Belshazzar's kingdom that night. Daniel 5:2 When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. Gold - Da 1:2 2Ki 24:13 25:15 2Ch 36:10,18 Ezra 1:7-11 Jer 27:16-22 Jer 52:19 Da 5:11,13,18 2Sa 9:7 2Ki 8:25-27 2Ch 11:20 15:16 Jer 27:7 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries LUXURY AND LICENTIOUSNESS When Belshazzar tasted the wine - The NRSV translates it somewhat interpretatively (but I think accurately) "Under the influence of the wine" (cp paraphrase Contemporary English Version which is very interpretative = "He got drunk" [This highlights one of the reasons why serious Bible study should always be carried out using a more literal translation like NAS, ESV, NKJV-See Bible Versions compared for Literalness]). Belshazzar should have read Pr 20:1 and Pr 31:4 (cp Pr 23:29, 30, 31, 32, Hab 2:5)! Notice that this is the second mention of imbibing of "spirits" (Da 5:1, 2), emphasizing that the Spirit (speaking of "spirits ~ wine) clearly desires to for us to understand the background for the events in this chapter! We have spoken before about what occurs when one is "controlled" by various attitudes (anger, fear, etc) and agents (be they alcohol or mind altering drugs) (See notes on Da 3:17). "Do not be filled with (controlled by) wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled (continually) with the Spirit." (Eph 5:18-note)! Deffinbaugh has an interesting anecdotal story - Understanding how things went from bad to worse in these verses is not difficult. As a college student, I worked several months for a caterer. One night we catered a banquet for a group of socialites in the city of Seattle. As the night wore on and the alcohol flowed freely, I saw and heard things I never would have expected or believed from people normally very proper and dignified. (The Hand of God in History) He gave orders - When wine controls us we always act the part of the fool! Belshazzar (his name means "Bel Protect the King"!) shows his contempt for the Most High God (Da 3:26-note, Da 4:2-note, Da 5:18, 21-note). They were celebrating how powerful they were saying "We conquered the God of the Jews." This was a bad choice on Belshazzar's part and marked the "beginning of the end". Isaiah alludes to the effect of wine on one's judgment… And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink. They reel while having visions. They totter (waver, stumble, used of one who is incapacitated and unable to render judgments with integrity) when rendering judgment. (Isaiah 28:7, cp Isa 5:11, 22-note) Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die." (Isaiah 22:13) Comment: Not tomorrow but tonight for Belshazzar! Gold and silver vessels (see Da 1:2-note, 2Chr 36:7, 10) - The holy vessels obtained from sacking the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and which Nebuchadnezzar had placed in the treasure house of his god (Da 1:2). The holy vessels were eventually returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:7, 8, 9, 10, 11). Belshazzar's goal was to demonstrate the superiority of the Babylonian "gods" over the God of the Hebrews. This costly mistake was his foolish attempt to mock the Lord God, the very One who had given the holy vessels into Nebuchadnezzar's hand (Da 1:2-note). Paul spoke of the deceitfulness of such the foolishness of mocking God writing… Do not be deceived (planao in the present imperative with a negative = Stop being deceived!), God is not mocked (mukterizo from mukter = the nose, nostril) literally means to turn up one’s nose and thus pictures the idea of scorn!); for (term of explanation) whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For (term of explanation) the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption (phthora = decay, not a sudden destruction owing to external violence, but a dissolution brought about by internal decay), but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life (in this life and the life to come, cp 1Ti 4:8-note). (Gal 6:7, 8-note) His father (6x in 4v - Da 5:2, 11, 13, 18, 2Chr 36:10, Jer 52:19) - Belshazzar was almost certainly the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar through his mother's line. As discussed elsewhere his biological father was King Nabonidus. The word father was often used more generically in Scripture to indicate an ancestor, as for example when David is referred to as the "father" of Jesus (Lk 1:31, 32). Gaebelein adds that in the Semitic languages there was no word for "grandfather" or "grandson." (Ref) And his concubines - As described in Da 5:4 they were practicing brazen idolatry and as we see so often in Scripture, idolatry is usually associated with immorality (see Paul's command in Col 3:5-note) The cause of immorality is that men do not know God (1Thes 4:5-note) which in turn is the key (i.e., knowing God) to overcoming the sin of sexual immorality (as is gratefulness to God - see the power of "giving thanks" to counter immorality in Eph 5:3-note, Eph 5:4-note). When you have a god of your own making ("no God" instead of "know God"!), you have no accountability and easily give yourself over to the licentious passing pleasures of the world, especially the sensual, seductive pleasures of sexual immorality. The concubines were most likely present for the purpose of sexual immorality (orgy = excessive sexual indulgence). The Apologetics Study Bible- Understand Why You Believe (Online) - "His predecessor" literally reads "his father" in the Aramaic text. Nebuchadnezzar is called Belshazzar's predecessor six times in this chapter (vv. 2,11,13,18), and the king is designated as the "successor" (literally, "son") of Nebuchadnezzar once (v. 22). Babylonian sources record that Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus. The apparent discrepancy may be explained by the use of the terms predecessor (or father) and successor (or son) in the Semitic languages. "Predecessor" could refer to one's immediate father, grandfather, ancestor, or as in the case of kings, the immediate predecessor. Likewise "successor" may mean one's immediate offspring, grandson, descendant, or the immediate successor. An example of the latter is Jehu's designation as the "son of Omri" in the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III. It is likely that Nabonidus wed a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, making the great king both Belshazzar's "predecessor" and grandfather. Daniel 5:3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the Temple, the House of God (See Da 1:2-note) - For almost 70 years God's Holy vessels had been stored away (never used by Nebuchadnezzar as far as we know). Gaebelein comments that "This feast of wickedness and blasphemy needs no further annotations. But it shows the great decline morally in the great Babylonian empire. Nebuchadnezzar, no doubt, had handled the golden vessels of the house of the Lord most carefully. He had stored them away, fearing to misuse them. The grandson sent for these vessels to drink out of them wine with his harlots and to praise his idols." The king and his nobles, etc - It is worthy of note that one individual of some renown did not receive an invitation to the "Babylonian Ball (Brawl)". That man's name was Daniel. In fact as we discover, the king was oblivious to the existence of this great prophet and confidant to his ancestor Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel wasn’t invited to the party, but when God intervened and no one had the answer, suddenly Daniel is the one man the king wants to hear from. Here is the application - When the world throws a wild party, the children of God (Jn 1:12, 1:13, 1Jn 3:1-note, 1Jn 3:2-note, 1Jn 3:10, Ro 8:16-note, Php 2:15-note) are not invited (cp 1Pe 4:3, 4, 5-note), because darkness runs from the light (Jn 3:19, 20, 21, cp Jn 1:5!). We don’t fit in (2Co 6:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 2Co 7:1-note) and our values only serve to irritate the revelers in their blatant debauchery - i.e., saints are "spoil sports"! We are not to be party goers, but "party showers" (lights exposing the folly and finality of darkness). Jesus exhorted us to be salt (which impedes corruption, but also can be an irritant! - Mt 5:13-note) and light (which exposes darkness and corruption - Mt 5:14, 15-note), but we are not to expect the world to love us (Jn 15:18-21) as we fulfill our purpose by carrying out our God appointed, God enabled "good works" in Christ Jesus (Ep 2:10-note, Mt 5:16-note)! Belshazzar and his band of carousers remind me of Paul's description of unbelievers in his letter to the Philippians (see esp v19)… For (term of explanation) many walk (peripateo), of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies (echthros) of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction (apoleia), whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame (aischune), who set their minds (phroneo) on earthly things. (Php 3:18, 19-note) Rich Cathers draws a pithy application from this picture of Belshazzar's abuse and misuse of God's holy vessels, writing… Don’t abuse God’s vessels - You (believers) are those special, holy vessels. God wants you for special things, not drunken parties. (1Pe 1:15-16NLT) But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God--who chose you to be his children--is holy. {16} For he himself has said, "You must be holy because I am holy." The word “holy” means “set apart”. It means that something has been set apart for a special use. We usually consider our toothbrush to be “holy”. Most people would gag at the idea of using someone else’s toothbrush. God considers you “holy”. He wants you to be “holy”. He wants you to be used for His purposes. There was an old bumper sticker that read, “You touch-a my truck, I break-a you face”. The truck is meant for it’s owner’s use. God wants your body to be used for what He wants it used for. Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality (fornication) It is God’s will that we be “holy”. Sanctification is that process where we become more and more like Jesus. Sanctification is the process of “holiness”. Fornication is defined as “sex outside of marriage”. That each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification (holiness) and honor, (1Th 4:1, 2-note4 1Th 4:3-note, 1Th 4:4 KJV) Our “vessel” is our body. Belshazzar abused the “vessels” of the Temple. God doesn’t want us to abuse our “vessels”. (Daniel 5) As an aside look at the next verse… not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God (1Th 4:5-note) Comment: So what's the best "defense" against the strong lure of immorality? Look at the verse again. How do the Gentiles behave? Lustful passion, right? But the question is "why" do they behave this way? Paul says they "do not know God". So what the best defense against the offense of immorality? KNOW GOD! (Click for more discussion of this spiritual dynamic) Daniel 5:4 They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. praised: Da 5:23 4:37 Jdg 16:23,24 Isa 42:8 Ho 2:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Rev 9:20,21 gold: Da 3:1-7,8-18 Ps 115:4-8 135:15, 16, 17, 18 Isa 40:19,20 42:17 46:6,7 Jer 10:4-9 Hab 2:19 Ac 17:29 19:24, 25, 26, 27, 28 Rev 9:20 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries UNDER THE INFLUENCE… BEWARE! Praised the gods - The probably struck up the royal band for some music praising their pagan gods! What irony -- they praise all the gods that are not really gods and blaspheme the only true and living God! But isn't that the way the world often does it! In this case only did the pagans show contempt of God by drinking from His holy vessels, but they go a step further to use God's sacred vessels in the worship of idols! This is a praise service that is going to have a bad ending! How patient is our God! He is patient, but He has His limit as Daniel 5 illustrates. Belshazzar was soon to have the surprise of his life. The Judge was standing right at the door (cp Jas 5:9) (and He had rolled up His sleeves and was getting ready to write a farewell message to the king of Babylon!) As an aside, you get a good clue as to what you worship by noting those things to which you devote the most time. It could be a football team (being from Texas, this is not uncommon) that the person lives for and looks forward to enjoying. But suddenly when the bottom drops out, where are the gods now. It's amazing that they very "gods" Belshazzar is worshiping are not the gods he turns to when the handwriting appears on the wall. Yes, he does go to his wise men, but their godless false religion offers no answers. Over 100 years earlier the prophet Isaiah (740-680BC) had recorded God's clear warning that relates to Belshazzar's blasphemous act… I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another (cp Da 5:23), nor My praise to graven images. (Is 42:8) It is interesting that several centuries earlier the Spirit records a similar bacchanalia (festival of Bacchus celebrated with dancing, song, and revelry) with similar results (!)… Now the lords of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice, for they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands.” When the people saw him, they praised their god, for they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hands, Even the destroyer of our country, Who has slain many of us.” It so happened when they were in high spirits, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may amuse us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he entertained them. And they made him stand between the pillars… 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life. (Jdg 16:23, 24, 25, 30-see notes) Comment: Samson was to have been Jehovah's "vessel", His instrument to liberate His people from Philistine tyranny in the days of the judges (Jdg 20:25-note). God drew the line when these pagan revelers exalted their gods (as did Belshazzar) and impugned and denigrated the Name of Jehovah by mocking one of His chosen "vessels". God is simply not mocked! And as John records in the Revelation of Jesus Christ the hearts of men do not get better (man is not evolving but devolving!) in the last days (during the "Tribulation" - Daniel's Seventieth Week). Even as idolatry was one of the main reasons for Babylon's fall, so too it will be one of the main reasons for the outpouring of God's final wrath… The rest of mankind (Context = The sounding of the 6th Trumpet, equating with the 2nd Woe, announces the death and destruction of 1/3 of the earth's remaining population and in this passage John highlights the incomprehensible recalcitrance and hardness of heart of the surviving Earth Dwellers! ~ "Stone hearts and Stone Idols" [Henry Morris]), who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands (problem is not their hands as much as their God opposing will - cp Ro 1:25-note), so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality (Note the frequent association of idolatry with immorality! When you create a "god" of your own making, you soon create a "moral government" in which your deceived heart [Jer 17:9] establishes the rules of "right and wrong"! And most of them are wrong in God's eyes!) nor of their thefts. (Rev 9:20-note, Rev 9:21-note) Comment: Tony