Daniel 5
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Daniel 5
Guzik - Remember that Daniel was troubled when he had to give Nebuchadnezzar bad news (Daniel 4:19). This isn’t the case here. (Ed: God will not strive with rebels forever [Ge 6:3, cp 2Cor 6:2]. There comes a day when the door of the ark is closed and all outside must perish eternally [Ge 7:16-17]. King Herod learned this truth. Acts 12:21-23) (Daniel 5 Commentary) Rich Cathers- Lesson - Ministry is free. Jesus told His disciples: (Mt 10:8KJV) "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." I think this goes beyond whether or not you get “paid” for ministry or for helping others. Why do you help others? Do you expect to get something in return? Sometimes we can find ourselves serving others to gain “respect”. And then when someone doesn’t show us any “respect”, we act surprised and think about quitting. I will read the inscription to the king - The psalmist writes… I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed. (Ps 119:46+). Comment: This is part of his liberty; he is free from fear of the greatest, proudest, and most tyrannical of men. David was called to stand before kings when he was an exile; and afterwards, when he was himself a monarch, he knew the tendency of men to sacrifice their religion to pomp and statecraft; but it was his resolve to do nothing of the kind. (note) A Profile of Courage - One of the most tragic, unforgettable nights in the Bible is described in Daniel 5:30, "That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain." It took courage for Daniel to confront the king that night. The prophet had good reason to hedge a bit about the interpretation of the words supernaturally scrawled on the wall of the banquet room. A lesser man might have been bought off by the huge reward or intimidated by the threat of the king's vengeance. It would have been easier to go along with the national council of prophets of Babylon and plead ignorance about the inscription. Or, since the king was bewildered by the writing, Daniel could have read only part of it and left out the pronouncement of death and doom. But Daniel was a profile of courage. With Belshazzar and a thousand drunken lords and dignitaries for his congregation, the brave old prophet declared God's whole counsel. What was the source of such courage? Daniel knew that he wasn't just standing before the king of Babylon; he was standing before the King of kings. Some will hate you, some will love you, Some will flatter, some will slight; Cease from man, and look above you, Trust in God and do the right. --Macleod It's easy to stand with a crowd; it takes courage to stand alone. Daniel 5:18 "O king, the Most High God granted sovereignty, grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. O king: Da 3:17,18 4:22 6:22 Ac 26:13,19 Most: Da 2:37,38 4:17,22-25,32 De 32:8 Ps 7:17 9:2 47:2 92:8 La 3:35,38 Ac 7:48 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE INDICTMENT… FAILURE TO LEARN FROM HISTORY! The Most High God granted (See study of Most High God) - God is sovereign even in granting sovereignty! (cp Da 1:2, Da 2:21, Da 2:37, 38, 4:17, Da 4:25, Da 4:32) Daniel begins his discourse as all godly discourse should begin -- with the Most High God! Maclaren sets the stage for the indictment of this arrogant king - Daniel’s tone is noticeably stern. He has no reverential preface, no softening of his message. His words are as if cut with steel on the rock. He brushes aside the promises of vulgar decorations and honors with undisguised contempt, and goes straight to his work of rousing a torpid conscience. (Daniel 5:17-31 Mene, Tekel, Peres) Daniel 5:19 "Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every language feared and trembled before him; whomever he wished he killed and whomever he wished he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated and whomever he wished he humbled. Bestowed: Da 3:4 4:22 Jer 25:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 27:5, 6, 7 Hab 2:5 Ro 13:1) whomever he wished: Da 2:12,13 3:6,20,21,29 Pr 16:14 Jn 19:11 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GOD'S GRANDEUR GIVEN TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR He bestowed on him - The emphasis is again on God's sovereignty over men and nations (Da 2:21-note), even the most powerful men on earth! The implication of course is that even Belshazzar's kingship was a gift of the Most High God, whether the king acknowledged that truth or not. Paul echoes the Most High God's sovereignty of rulers in the NT writing that… Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Ro 13:1-note) Jesus reminded Pilate of where his authority came from declaring… Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (Jn 19:11) He killed… he spared alive - This is only part of the "equation" for as Daniel explains to Belshazzar God is ultimately the One in whose hand are your (and every other person ever born!) life-breath and your ways (Da 5:23). Hannah's song eloquently speaks of God's sovereignty - "The bows of the mighty are shattered, But the feeble gird on strength. "Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease to hunger. Even the barren gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes. The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. "The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts."He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He set the world on them. "He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail. (1Sa 2:4-9+) Moses writes "See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded, and it is I who heal; And there is no one who can deliver from My hand." (Dt 32:39+) Job 5:18 "For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal. Ps 68:20 God is to us a God of deliverances; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death. Jesus declares to John "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades." (Rev 1:17-18) Daniel 5:20 "But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. When: Da 4:30-33,37 Ex 9:17 18:11 Job 15:25-27 40:11,12 Pr 16:5,18 Isa 14:12-17 Lk 1:51,52 18:14 Lifted up: 1Sa 6:6 2Ki 17:14 2Ch 36:13 Jer 19:15 Heb 3:13 deposed: Chaldean = made to come down, Isa 47:1 Jer 13:18 48:18 Eze 30:6 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD Heart lifted up - Puffed up or hardened (cp Ex 7:13, Isa 2:12-note, Pr 28:14). It is interesting that this same Aramaic verb (rum - 4x = Da 4:37, 5:19, 20, 23) is used in Da 4:37 where Nebuchadnezzar's declared "I Nebuchadnezzar… exalt… the King of heaven". One king (Nebuchadnezzar) was humbled and responded by lifting up the Most High God. The other king (Belshazzar) refused to be humbled instead and instead exalted himself over the Most High. Everyone who is proud (high, exalted, haughty) in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. (Pr 16:5, cp Pr 18:12, Isa 5:15) You save an afflicted people; but Your eyes are on the haughty whom You abase (bring down, humiliate, describes God's action of making one's heart and mind low, which is the best position for reception of His grace). (2Sa 22:28) James 4:6+ But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” His heart… lifted up… spirit… proud… behaved arrogantly - God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble (Jas 4:6-note) so before Nebuchadnezzar could receive grace, he had to be humbled by the hand of the Almighty. Such is the testimony of every person who repents and believes in Christ. God had to bring us in one way or another to that point in our lives where we realized that we were desperately sin sick and needed the provision that could only be obtained from God by grace through faith. Yes, we all had a "bit" of Belshazzar in us before God's Spirit granted us repentance, regeneration and rebirth, making us new creatures in Christ. His spirit became so proud (KJV = "his mind hardened in pride") - Literally the idea is his spirit became strong or grew strong. He was deposed from his royal throne - Why? Because of his pride and arrogance, the very sin of which Belshazzar was guilty. Belshazzar's sin of pride was against a "flood of light" for he was aware of the what and why that had befallen his pride filled grandfather! Sin is deceitful (cp Heb 3:13) and Belshazzar was deceived by the pride in his own heart! Where Is Your Heart? - When a Michigan man entered the hospital for tests, he never would have guessed what the doctors would find. A routine chest x-ray revealed that the man's heart was on the wrong side of his chest. Because of a rare reversed-organ condition, his heart was not where it should be. In Daniel 5, we read of a different kind of heart problem—one that is all too common. This chapter reminds us that pride is a spiritual condition in which the heart is in the wrong place. Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, two kings of Babylon, were told that they had misplaced hearts of arrogance and pride (Da 5:20,22). As a result, God judged both of them. Nebuchadnezzar was made low until he recognized that the Most High God ruled over all (Da 5:21), and Belshazzar was slain (Da 5:30). We need to examine ourselves often to see if our heart is in the right place. Do we depend on God daily? Do we acknowledge that all we have and are is by His mercy and grace? Do we live as His grateful servants, yielding to His will? Only as we recognize the importance of genuine humility and acknowledge our dependence on Him can we have a heart that's "in the right place." Lord, pride, that fearful enemy, So quickly takes control; I plead, this day, Your pardoning grace To cleanse my heart and soul. —DJD Pride is the mother of all sins. Daniel 5:21 "He was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. driven: Job 30:3-7 his heart was made like: Da 4:17,25,32,35,37 Ex 9:14, 15, 16 Ps 83:17,18 Eze 17:24 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries He was also driven away (Da 4:25,32,33-note) - Divine humiliation in preparation for divine exaltation (1Pe 5:6-note) Dwelling place with wild donkeys - New fact not mentioned in Daniel 4. Until - What an important time phrase (see expressions of time). Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar both deserved eternal separation from God (2Th 1:8, 9) but because of the longsuffering grace and mercy of God, Nebuchadnezzar came to a point of personal recognition that God is the only God, the only One deserving of the title Most High God. So in this tale of two kings, one repented and the other rejected! And such is the tale of every man ever born (Ro 5:12-note, Ep 2:1-note). Ruler over the realm of mankind… He sets over it whomever He wishes - This same phraseology is repeated 3 times in Daniel 4 (Da 4:17, 25, 32-note all answering to Da 2:21-note). Daniel 5:21 Power Struggle - The president of a company in Michigan had suffered a minor stroke, and he was not spending much time at the office. He didn't know that one of his sons, with the help of two vice presidents, was scheming to take over the firm. He learned of their plot just in time, though, and was able to retain control. In some parts of the world, power struggles result in assassinations, bloody coups, or civil wars. We see power struggles in politics all the time. They also occur in neighborhoods, families, and even in churches. Adonijah made a power move to grab the throne of Israel (1Ki 1:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). But God had other plans. Bathsheba (David's wife) and Nathan the prophet were able to stop the takeover (1Ki 1:11-31), and God's appointed leader, Solomon, soon became king (1Ki 1:38-40; 2:12). The Most High still rules over kingdoms of men, He gives the control to whomever He will; All people must bow to His sovereign plan, And know that His purposes He will fulfill. —Hess The most powerful position on earth is kneeling before the Lord of the universe. Daniel 5:22 "Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, You: Da 5:18 Ps 119:46 Mt 14:4 Ac 4:8-13 have: Ex 10:3 2Ch 33:23 36:12 Isa 26:10 Mt 21:32 Ac 5:29-33 1Pe 5:5,6 though: Lk 12:47 Jn 13:17 Jas 4:6,17 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries This seems to be one of the key verse in Belshazzar's life. The key verse in Nebuchadnezzar's life was Belshazzar's (and every man's) only hope… Da 4:37-note… all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride. Yet you - This presents a striking contrast between Nebuchadnezzar's willingness to surrender his heart to God (Yes, admittedly God was somewhat instrumental is bringing him to the end of himself) versus Belshazzar's steadfast refusal to humble his heart. Ray Pritchard - You should have known better, Daniel said. You should have learned from the past. But you managed to forget it, and thus the lessons of history were lost to you. ((God’s Graffiti - January 2000) There is a saying that "Those Who Forget History Are Doomed to Repeat It" but it can be more accurately abbreviated in Belshazzar's case as "Those who fail to respond to "HIS-story" are Doomed!" You… have not humbled your heart (Just like Pharaoh - Ex 10:3) - The Septuagint translate the Aramaic word for humbled (shepel = to be low, Da 4:37, 5:19, 22, Da 7:24) with the verb tapeinoo. which means to be bowed down, made low, humbled. Note the marked contrast with Belshazzar's failure to bow low, with his desire to exalt or elevate himself! Notice how different Daniel's interaction was with Nebuchadnezzar when he interpreted his "Tree Dream" ("appalled for a while" = Da 2:19, called him to "break away from" his sins = Da 2:27). Daniel had developed a relationship with Nebuchadnezzar and saw a heart that was, while not yet repentant, at least willing to hear the hard truth which would eventually bring about repentance. With Belshazzar the message God gives through the handwriting and His prophet's interpretation is clearly a message of judgment, for the time of repentance has passed. God (as He always does for He is full of mercy and lovingkindness) had given Belshazzar time to repent (the king knew what had happened to his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar) but he did not want to repent. God is longsuffering, but He is also just and eventually must judge sin. Before the worldwide flood Jehovah declares… My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years. (Ge 6:3) Comment: Notice that God would give man 120 years before the judgment of the Flood would fall and He even provided them with His "Noah, a preacher of righteousness" (2Pe 2:5-note), the right man at the right time. To the angel of the church at Thyatira (Rev 2:17-note) Jesus spoke directly even to wicked "Jezebel"… I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 'Behold, I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. (Rev 2:21-note, Rev 2:22-note) Paul's words could be aptly spoken to Belshazzar and his proud, unrepentant spirit… Or do you think lightly (Like Belshazzar!) of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Ro 2:4-note, Ro 2:5-note). Campbell remarks that "Belshazzar knew all about his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar's experience, but he did not learn from it. He did not profit in any way, did not heed the warning, did not learn from history and humble himself before God. As a sad result, judgment would fall very soon on this king and his kingdom. God expects men to respond to the light He gives. When they do not, judgment is the only alternative… God holds men responsible for the truth He reveals to them. To Belshazzar, only a comparatively small amount of truth was revealed, and he was held responsible. How much greater the responsibility and accountability of men today who are exposed to the Word of God by radio, television, the printed page, in churches, camps, conferences, and seminars—and yet do not believe!" (Borrow Daniel, decoder of dreams) When a person knows about God and yet repeatedly refuses to humble himself or herself and bow his or her heart to God's will, the final verdict is inevitable and judgment is certain as we see here with Belshazzar. Nebuchadnezzar had heard about God, had seen His great signs and wonders and had seen the holy life of His prophet Daniel and finally he was willing to bow. Now in Daniel 5, some 25 years later, we see that Belshazzar knew about God but in his pride he rejected Him. Belshazzar for reasons not stated did not have a personal relationship with Daniel until this chapter, but it was one chapter too late! Where the Scripture is silent, we must use caution, but Belshazzar's failure to associate with Daniel would seem to reflect his personal choice, for royal Queen was well aware of Daniel's holy reputation. The story of Belshazzar's rejection of God is but a picture of the saddest story ever told, for every man who knows and defiantly refuses His kindness (cp Ro 2:4) will one day suffer Belshazzar's fate of death followed by eternal separation from God. These two kings are in a sense representative of all mankind. One person like Nebuchadnezzar has a heart that is tender, that is willing to hear, that is willing to bow, while the other person like Belshazzar is defiantly and steadfastly resistant to God and His kindness. Even though you knew all this (All the history of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling and restoration - Da 5:18, 19, 20, 21) - As James taught centuries later, its not the hearing of the word but the doing of the word which is important (Jas 1:22-note) Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. (Jas 4:17) Jesus said that the… Slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, (Lk 12:47) Belshazzar had been exposed to the light of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling and exaltation by God. Greater light always brings greater degree of judgment/punishment as Jesus Himself taught… Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for [the] land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city. (Mt 10:15) Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 "Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in [the] day of judgment, than for you. 23 "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24 "Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in [the] day of judgment, than for you." (Mt 11:21, 22, 23, 24, cp Lk 11:31, 32, Mt 12:41, 42, Lk 10:12, 13, 14, 15)
Daniel 5
Guzik - The breath of the creature should praise the Creator, but Belshazzar blasphemed God with his breath. The ways of the creature should glorify the Creator, but Belshazzar used his ways to mock and offend God. Every creature owes something to the Creator. (Daniel 5 Commentary) Have not glorified (God) (cp Ps 115:1) - Instead they ridiculed Him with their drunken orgy and their pagan praise of idols. The most famous question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism is the first… Q. What is the chief end of man? A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. Belshazzar failed the glory test! Contrast Nebuchadnezzar acknowledgement even though a pagan king when he gave glory to God.. Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings (Da 2:47, cp Da 4:30) Whitcomb adds that "No pardon was available at all (contrast Da 4:27 for Nebuchadnezzar), for his conscience had become hopelessly seared, and his heart was judicially hardened." (Ibid) How do we as believers glorify God? (cp Mt 5:16-note). When we carry out the good works that He prepared for us in eternity past (Eph 2:10-note) in Christ, the world will see those supernatural works and will be given a proper opinion of our supernatural God and Father. The world is watching and is in desperate need to see our Great God in and through our lives as we allow Christ in us to flow through us in our thoughts, words and deeds. The world is watching! (Cp 1Co 6:18-note, 1Co 6:19-note, 1Co 6:20-note) Daniel 5:24 "Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out. Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The hand was sent from Him - The hand writing on the wall was a divine messenger sent from the same God in whose hand are your life-breadth. This inscription was written out - The reason for God's judgment could not be denied as it was easily visible and then interpreted by His prophet Daniel. Donald Campbell - Daniel proceeded to explain the handwriting that still remained on the wall. It has been said that Daniel could read it because he knew his Father's handwriting! (Borrow Daniel, decoder of dreams) Daniel 5:25 "Now this is the inscription that was written out: 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.' Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Adam
Daniel 5
Guzik - Given to the Medes and Persians: The ancient Greek historian Herodotus relates that the Persian King Cyrus conquered Babylon by diverting the flow of the Euphrates into a nearby swamp. This lowered the level of the river so his troops marched through the water and under the river-gates. They still would not have been able to enter had not the bronze gates of the inner walls been left inexplicably unlocked. This was exactly what God predicted in Isaiah 44:28 to Isaiah 45:7 and Jeremiah 51:57-58. God opened the gates of the city of Babylon for Cyrus, and put it in writing 200 years before it happened! “In October 539 BC, Cyrus advanced into lower Mesopotamia and, leaving Babylon till last, conquered and occupied the surrounding territory. Seeing which way the wind was blowing, Nabonidus of Babylon deserted his city, leaving it in the charge of his son Belshazzar … the taking of Babylon was as bloodless and effortless as Daniel 5:1-31 implies.” (Motyer, in his commentary on Isaiah) The fall of mystery Babylon will be like the fall of real Babylon - sudden, sure, and in the midst of her worst blasphemies. “Empires do not stand by human might, man-made machines and missiles. There is not a wall high enough nor thick enough to prevent a nation from falling when God pronounces that nation’s doom.” (Strauss). (Daniel 5 Commentary) Stortz comments "Think how risky it would be to tell a proud, rebellious king in front of all of his nobles that his kingdom is about to end. Belshazzar could have been so angry at the message that he would kill the messenger. If Daniel had that fear, he could have made up an interpretation of the handwriting on the wall that would have been more favorable, and no one would have ever known. He could have said, “That inscription means God loves you, and so do I.” But Daniel accepted the judgment of God as true and just; so he did not hide the message. I wish preachers today would not hide the message of God’s judgment upon the sins of men. Many must not believe God’s judgments are true or just, because they do not warn the people of the coming wrath of God. God’s coming judgment upon this nation ought to be resounding from the pulpits of our land. What nation can exist very long whose laws call evil good and good evil? (Ibid) Rich Cathers… Lesson - How does your “kingdom” measure up? There is a sense in which this is true of all of us. We are all found “wanting”. We all come up a “bit short” to God’s standards. Jesus said, (Mt 5:20KJV-note) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. The Pharisees were the most strictly religious people that were around in Jesus’ day. Perhaps they were some of the most religious people ever. Jesus said you had to “out do” the Pharisees. Even they weren’t good enough. He also said, Mt 5:48KJV-note) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Jesus said that the standard was perfection. We aren’t measured by our own standards, we are measured by God’s standards. We aren’t measured by comparing ourselves to other human beings. We are measured by comparing ourselves to God’s standards. (Ro 3:20, 21, 22, 23 ICB - notes) because no one can be made right with God by following the law. The law only shows us our sin. {21} But God has a way to make people right with him without the law. And God has now shown us that way which the law and the prophets told us about. {22} God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all are the same. {23} All people have sinned and are not good enough for God's glory. Every single one of us can be measured to God’s standards and found “wanting”. (Ro 3:24-note, Ro 3:25 ICB-note) People are made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ. {25} God gave Jesus as a way to forgive sin through faith. And all of this is because of the blood of Jesus' death. This showed that God always does what is right and fair. God was right in the past when he was patient and did not punish people for their sins. Instead of trying to measure up to God’s standards on our own, God offers us help. He offers to pay for our sins if we will learn to trust Him. How do you measure up? (Daniel 5) Daniel 5:29 Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom. Da 5:7,16 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Then Belshazzar - It is sad it did not read "Then Belshazzar repented" which would have honored God, but instead he sought to honor Daniel! His bestowal of honor was as they say "too little and too late." Judgment was already upon this deceived, foolish, hard hearted unrepentant king. Most of us relish the thought of a "promotion", but there are some promotions we do best to ignore and this is a prime example! Put a necklace of gold - Such necklaces could only be worn by the king's authority. In a way, this would have made Daniel a "marked man" and yet we know he survived and thrived under the reign of Darius the Mede. God's man is immortal until God has fulfilled that man's purpose for his life on earth! We see this principle in the Revelation, where the two witnesses are "immortal" until their job is done (their "job description" specified 1260 days)… And when (not before!) they have finished their testimony (Rev 11:3, 4, 5, 6-note), the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. (Rev 11:7-note)
Daniel 5
Guzik - Daniel held this post for only a few hours. This shows how temporary the awards and accolades of this world are. In the kingdom that succeeded Belshazzar Daniel was also promoted, but that was due to God, not to Belshazzar. (Daniel 5 Commentary) Daniel 5:30 That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain. Da 5:1,2 Isa 21:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 47:9 Jer 51:11,31,39,57 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries That same night - This resonates with "suddenly" (Da 5:5). What God decrees will come to pass! Solomon has an apt description of this prideful king… A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy. (Pr 29:1) Belshazzar was … Warned by God… … Found guilty by God … Sentenced by God That same night - God's justice and judgment were swift and sure. His Spirit will not strive with us forever (Ge 6:3) Pastor Ray Pritchard emphasizes that "Sinners like to believe that God will never punish them, or if punishment is coming, it is so far off in the distant future that they have plenty of time to repent and be ready to meet the Lord (cp Ec 8:11). This is a dangerous and even deadly attitude. God is not obligated to continually send his Spirit to convict us of our sin. The time may come when God says, “You have crossed the line,” and the Holy Spirit no longer works in a person’s heart. No one knows when that time is coming, and no one but God knows when the line has been crossed. But of this much we may be sure. The opportunity to get right with God ends with our death. After we die, there is only the judgment to come (He 9:27-note). It is foolish to presume upon the grace of God. He owes you nothing at all. If you reject his offer of salvation, there remains no other sacrifice for sin (He 10:26-note). If you turn away from Jesus, or if you put off trusting Him, where else will you go to have your sins forgiven? Those who take God’s grace for granted will end up eternally disappointed. (God’s Graffiti - January 2000) Solomon writes "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." (Ec 12:13,14) As the writer of Hebrews says… And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, was swift. (Heb 9:27-note) Comment: Belshazzar will have to give an account for his party--Party now, pay later. Since he had not humbled himself before God and did not know Him, he was assigned to the temporary "holding tank" of Sheol (Hell) and he will be resurrected one day to stand before the Judge of both great and small at the Great White Throne (Rev 20:11, 12, 13, 14, 15-note - note especially Rev 20:12-note where Belshazzar is "judged… according to his deeds", specifically his blasphemous toasting of his idols with God's holy vessels!) It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (He 10:31-note) As Solomon warns that "The Lord has made everything for its (or His) own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil. Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. (Pr 16:4, 5, cp Ec 8:11) Ray Pritchard sums up the message of Daniel 5… (1) Babylon became great because of the sovereign blessing of God. (2) When they became great, their pride made them forget God. (3) When they forgot God, they began to take Him for granted. (4) When they took Him for granted, God judged them and they were no longer a great nation Daniel 5 is in the Bible for a very particular reason—so that we will know that what happened to Babylon may also happen to us. Search through the rubble of history. See the great nations come and go: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome. And in the last hundred years the Communist empire and the Third Reich of Hitler have both come and gone. The tendency of every great nation is the same: To begin to believe that we will always be a superpower, to slowly push God out of the picture, to take him out of public life, to forbid the mention of his name, to ridicule those who still believe in him, to promote those who exalt man and down play God, to chafe at the absolutes, to rewrite the rule book, and to live by our own set of rules. Over time we take God for granted, turn to our own idols of technology, and begin to worship the things we make with our own hands. In the end God judges that nation and it is no longer great. And note this biblical fact. Judgment often comes at the hands of another nation God raises up for that very purpose. (God’s Graffiti - January 2000) Compare the quick and sure judgment of ancient Babylon with the coming future judgment of Babylon the great city (Da 4:30, Rev 18:21-note)… For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong. And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour (repeated in Rev 18:17-note, Rev 18:19-note) your judgment has come.' (Rev 18:8, 9, 10-note) The Apologetics Study Bible…Xenophon mentions that Babylon's Medo-Persian invaders "avenged themselves upon the wicked king" (Cyropaedia - go to page 261 to read Xenophon's detailed description of Babylon's fall), meaning they executed Belshazzar. (Online The Apologetics Study Bible- Understand Why You Believe) The fall of Babylon as recorded by the ancient historians Herodutus, Berosus and Xenophon verifies this - "Cyrus then dug a trench and diverted the flow of the Euphrates river into the new channel which led to an existing swamp. The level of the river then dropped to such a level that it became like a stream. His army was then able to take the city by marching through the shallow waters … The Babylonians at the time were celebrating intensely at a feast to one of their gods and they were taken totally by surprise." Rich Cathers draws the following lesson from this pathetic ending of a powerful but prideful man… Lesson - It’s not too late for you. You don’t have to resign yourself to thinking that it’s too late for you, that all his hopeless. (2Co 6:1, 2 NLT) As God's partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God's great kindness. {2} For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation. Illustration - Those inventive people, the Italians, have a custom. As midnight on New Year's Eve approaches, the streets are clear. There is no traffic; there are no pedestrians; even the policemen take cover. Then, at the stroke of 12, the windows of the houses fly open. To the sound of laughter, music and fireworks, each member of the family pitches out old crockery, detested ornaments, hated furniture and a whole catalogue of personal possessions which remind them of something in the past year they are determined to wipe out of their minds. -- House & Garden Today, God is giving you a chance to throw out the old and bring in the new. (2Cor 5:17KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (Daniel 5) Daniel 5:31 So Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two. Da 6:1, 9:1 Daniel 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries As has been said, Daniel 5's description of the passing of the baton from the golden to the silver kingdom of Medo-Persia came to pass just as God had predicted. The point is that God's Word is sure (2Pe 1:19-note). God's Word never fails (Josh 21:45, 23:14). No Word from God is devoid of power (Lk 1:37ASV). If God says it, that settles it regardless of whether we believe it, understand it or agree with it! Beloved of the Lord, Daniel 5 should cause all of us as believers… to have a more stable, sure faith (Ro 10:17-note) to have a greater knowledge of the greatness of our God that we might do exploits for His Name and His glory (cp Da 11:32b) to daily determine to live in holy conduct and godliness (enabled by the Spirit) (2Pe 3:11-note) Darius the Mede - The identity of Darius is uncertain. Clearly he was a ruler and clearly he was a Mede. He is mentioned again with Cyrus the Persian in Daniel 6:28 where both are classified as ruling over the Medo-Persian kingdom. Guzik interprets Darius "as a sub-king under Cyrus the Persian. He is referred to in secular history as Gubaru (See Gobryas - Wikipedia)." At about the age of sixty-two - Why mention the age? While one cannot be dogmatic, it is possible that his age is given to allow one to differentiate this Darius from another Darius who some have postulated was the king. Many scholars have noted that the name Darius may have been a title of honor much like the term Caesar or Augustus was in the Roman Empire. The other Darius who some have considered might have been king was named Darius I Hystaspes who began to reign in 522BC. Darius I Hystaspes would have been a relatively young man at this time, surely under age 30, and so the fact that this "Darius the Mede" was 62 would effectively exclude him as the ruler at the beginning of the Medo-Persian empire. Now are you really confused? See the Table below and note that Cyrus (who defeated Babylon) and Darius the Mede were apparently in effect "co-regents" over the Medo-Persian empire (see Criswell's note below). Daniel mentions this Darius in chapter 9 recording that "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans." (Da 9:1-note) The Apologetics Study Bible- Understand Why You Believe (online) - According to the Nabonidus Chronicle, Babylon fell to the Medo-Persians on the sixteenth of the month Tishri, in the autumn of 539 B.C. The Greek historians Herodotus and Xenophon supply fascinating details about Babylon's fall. The Nabonidus Chronicle and the Cyrus Cylinder both agree with Daniel that Babylon was captured without a major battle and that the citizens readily accepted Persian rule (Da 6:1-3). Darius was "made king" presumably as result of Cyrus granting him his regency. This would definitively exclude Darius I Hystaspes who in fact was of Persian not Median descent. SUMMARY OF THE EARLY MEDO-PERSIAN RULERS 539 Cyrus 530 Cambyses 522 Darius I Hystaspes 539 Darius the Mede (?Gubaru) 525 ----- So how do we resolve Da 5:31, which liberal, unbelieving critics have called an obvious "error" and further evidence of the fraudulent nature of this book? First note that Da 5:28 says the kingdom will be divided and given over to the Medes and Persians. Darius is a Mede and Cyrus is a Persian and Da 6:28 says Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. So the Spirit choose to mention Darius the Mede here even though historically it was Cyrus the Persian who defeated Babylon. There is no discrepancy or conflict for the one who has eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying! (cp this phrase used seven times in addressing the churches in the Revelation = Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22)! W A Criswell has a lengthy explanatory note stating that… At this point the most difficult historical problem in the book is confronted. None of the ancient historians and none of the cuneiform inscriptions have thus far confirmed the existence of a leader at that time named Darius. Our knowledge of the administration of Babylon following the Persian conquest is sketchy. It was made a Persian satrapy consisting of Babylonia and the Babylonian Empire west of the Euphrates ("Ebernari"). Cambyses, Cyrus's son, was declared king of Babylon but was shortly removed. An individual named Gubaru (not the same as Cyrus's general [Ed: his somewhat similar name Ugbaru has caused some confusion], who died in November, 539 B.C.) served as satrap. One named Gubaru is said to have appointed governors under him. Cyrus was soon engaged in military affairs that occupied him for most of the remainder of his reign. He consequently entrusted the administration of the empire to Gubaru. It may be Gubaru whom Daniel identifies as "Darius the Mede." Darius I ("the Great" = Darius I Hystaspes) was in his twenties when he began to reign in 522BC, and was not Median but Persian. Daniel intentionally distinguishes the Darius of his book by calling him "the Mede."… We know, however, that at least two of Cyrus's generals were Medes, and that he appointed Medes in administrative positions. The phrase "received the kingdom" (Da 5:31) can be translated "took over kingship." It has been suggested that "Darius" may have been a title meaning "The Royal One." (Believer's Study Bible: New King James Version. 1991. Thomas Nelson) A FEW OF GOD'S MANY PROPHECIES CONCERNING BABYLON As described below in the extra-biblical account by the ancient historian Xenophon, Cyrus the Persian proved to be God's instrument of judgment against Belshazzar and Babylon the great just as God's Word had prophesied through Isaiah over 150 years before Cyrus was even born… Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed (Masiyah - gives us our word "messiah"), whom I have taken by the right hand (Pr 21:1), to subdue nations before him and to loose the loins of kings (cp Da 5:6); to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut (cp Da 5:30 - read below how this was fulfilled): I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. (Why does God anoint Cyrus to be His instrument of judgment?) For the sake of Jacob My servant, and Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name (What amazing mercy and grace - Israel was in exile because of her idolatry and failure to keep the Sabbath years, and yet God still had concern for them! He had not forsaken them because of His faithfulness to keep His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. cp Nu 23:19). I have given you (Cyrus) a title of honor though you have not known Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these. “Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, and righteousness spring up with it. I, the Lord, have created it (This speaks of the time with His Righteous Branch, the Messiah, reigns during the Millennium). (Is 45:1-8) Comment: What does this fulfilled prophecy say about the trustworthiness of the Word of God and the God of the Word? (cp Josh 23:14+, Josh 21:45+, Pr 30:5) Jeremiah gives another prophecy (~605BC cp Jer 25:1, cp Da 1:1 = remember 3rd year by Babylonian reckoning which did not count first year of a king's rule) regarding Israel, Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon… Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Because you have not obeyed My words, 9 behold, I will send (Notice Who is in control!) and take all the families of the north, 'declares the LORD,' and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant (Jer 27:6, 43:10), and will bring them against this land (Israel, specifically the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin), and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them (This is exactly what happened to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem!), and make them a horror, and a hissing, and an everlasting desolation. 'Moreover, I will take from them the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. 11 'And this whole land (of Israel) shall be a desolation and a horror, and these nations (Israel as well as the Gentile nations) shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. (cp Lev 23:3, 4, 5, Lev 26:33, 34, 35, 2Chr 36:20, 21) 12 'Then it will be when seventy years are completed I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,' (as we see here in Da 5:30, 31) declares the LORD, 'for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it an everlasting desolation. (Jer 25:8, 9, 10, 11, 12) In spite of Babylon’s great defenses, it fell in one day’s time just as the sovereign, Most High God had foretold over 150 years earlier… “Now, then, hear this, you sensual one, who dwells securely, who says in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me. I will not sit as a widow, nor know loss of children.’ But these two things will come on you suddenly in one day: Loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in full measure In spite of your many sorceries, In spite of the great power of your spells. “You felt secure in your wickedness and said, ‘No one sees me,’ Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you; For you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.’ “But evil will come on you which you will not know how to charm away and disaster will fall on you for which you cannot atone and destruction about which you do not know will come on you suddenly. (Is 47:8, 9, 10, 11) According to the Nabonidus Chronicle, Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian empire on the 16th of the month Tishri, in the autumn of 539BC. XENOPHON'S DESCRIPTION OF BABYLON'S FALL Here are excerpts of Xenophon's historical account of the fall of Babylon… (From page 261) When Cyrus appeared before Babylon he stationed his whole fore about the city and then rode around it himself in company with his friends and the staff-officers of the allies; but when he had taken survey of the walls, he prepared to draw off his arm from the city. But a deserter came out and told him that they were going to attack him as soon as he began to draw his army off. "For," the man went on, "your lines looked weak to those who observed them from the walls." And it was no wonder that they appeared so; for, encompassing walls of such extent, the lines necessarily had but little depth… (From the Index - "The walls of Babylon, according to Herodotus, were 40 miles in circumference, 335 feet high and 85 feet wide at the top, and were broken by 100 gates-25 on each side.") When they had encamped, Cyrus called together his staff-officers and said: "Friends and allies, we have viewed the city on every side. But I am sure I cannot see how any one could take by storm walls so massive and so high; but the more men there are in the city, the sooner they can, I think, be brought by famine to capitulate, seeing that they will not come out and fight. Therefore, unless you have some other method to suggest, I propose that we use this method of laying siege to those gentlemen." "But," said Chrysantas, "does not this river flow through the midst of the city? And it is more than two stadia in width."… (Cyrus) erected many… towers (around the outside of the walls of Babylon)… so that he might have as many watch-towers as possible. Thus, then, his men were employed, while the enemy upon the walls (the Babylonians) laughed his siege-works to scorn, in the belief that they had provisions enough for more than 20 years. Upon hearing of this, Cyrus divided his army into 12 parts as if intending each part to be responsible for sentry duty during one month of each year; but the Babylonians, in their turn, when they heard of that, laughed much more scornfully still, at the thought of Phrygians and Lydians and Arabians and Cappadocians keeping guard against them for they considered all these to be more friendly to them than to the Persians. At last the ditches were completed. Then, when he heard that a certain festival had come round in Babylon, during which all Babylon was accustomed to drink and revel all night long, Cyrus took a large number of men, just as soon as it was dark, and opened up the heads of the trenches at the river. As soon as that was done, the water flowed down through the ditches in the night, and the bed of the river, where it traversed the city, became passable for men. When the problem of the river was thus solved, Cyrus gave orders to the his Persian colonels, infantry and cavalry, to marshal their regiments two abreast and come to him, and the rest, the allies, to follow in their rear, drawn up as before. They came, according to orders, and he bade his aides, both foot and horse, get into the dry channel of the river and see if it was possible to march in the bed of the river. And when they brought back word that it was, he called together the generals of both infantry and cavalry and spoke as follows: "My friends," said he, "the river has made way for us and given us an entrance into the city. Let us, therefore, enter in with dauntless hearts, fearing nothing and remembering that those against whom we are now to march are the same men that we have repeatedly defeated, and that, too, when they were all drawn up in battle line with their allies at their side, and when they were all wide awake and sober and fully armed; whereas now we are going to fall upon them at a time when many of them are asleep, many drunk, and none of them in battle array. And when they find out that we are inside the walls, in their panic fright they will be much more helpless still than they are now… But come, to arms! And with the help of the gods I will lead you on. And do you, Gadatas and Gobryas, show the streets, for you are familiar with them. And when we get inside the walls, lead us by the quickest route to the royal palace." "Aye," answered Gobryas and his staff, "in view of the revelry, it would not be at all surprising if the gates leading to the palace were open; for all the city is feasting this night. Still, we shall find a guard before the gates, for one is always posted there." "We must lose no time, the," said Cyrus. "Forward, that we may catch the men as unprepared as we can." When these words were spoken, they advanced. And of those they met on the way (Babylonians), some fell by their swords, some fled back into their houses, some shouted to them; and Gobryas and his men shouted back to them, as if they were fellow-revelers. They advanced as fast as they could and were soon at the palace. And Gobryas and Gadatas and troops found the gates leading to the palace locked, and those who had been appointed to attack the guard fell upon them as they were drinking by a blazing fire, and without waiting they dealt with them as with foes. But, as a noise and tumult ensued, those within heard the uproar, and at the king's command to see what the matter was, some of them opened the gates and ran out. And when Gadatas and his men saw the gates open they dashed in, in pursuit of the others as they fled back into the palace, and dealing blows right and left they came into the presence of the king; and they found him already risen with his dagger in his hand. And Gadatas and Gobryas and their followers overpowered him and those about the king perished also, one where he had sought some shelter, another while running away, another while actually trying to defend himself with whatever he could. Cyrus then sent the companies of cavalry around through the streets and gave them orders to cut down all whom they found out of doors, while he directed whose who understood Assyrian to proclaim to those in the their houses that they should stay there, for if any one should be caught outside, he would be put to death. While they were thus occupied, Gadatas and Gobryas came up and first of all they did homage to the gods, seeing that they had avenged themselves upon the wicked king (Belshazzar), and then they kissed Cyrus' hands and his feet with many tears of joy. And when day dawned and those in possession of the citadels discovered that the city was taken and the king slain, they surrendered the citadels, too… (Cyrus) furthermore ordered the heralds to make proclamation that all Babylonians deliver up their arms; and he ordered that wherever arms should be found in any house, all the occupants should be put to the sword. (Cyropaedia - see pp 261-277 for full description of Babylon's fall), Herodotus has a parallel account of the fall of Babylon in The History of the Persian Wars written about 430BC… He (Cyrus) turned the Euphrates by a canal into the basin, which was then a marsh, on which the river sank to such an extent that the natural bed of the stream became fordable…… Hereupon the Persians who had been left for the purpose at Babylon by the, river-side, entered the stream, which had now sunk so as to reach about midway up a man's thigh, and thus got into the town. Had the Babylonians been apprised of what Cyrus was about, or had they noticed their danger, they would never have allowed the Persians to enter the city, but would have destroyed them utterly; for they would have made fast all the street-gates which gave upon the river, and mounting upon the walls along both sides of the stream, would so have caught the enemy, as it were, in a trap. But, as it was, the Persians came upon them by surprise and so took the city. Owing to the vast size of the place, the inhabitants of the central parts (as the residents at Babylon declare) long after the outer portions of the town were taken, knew nothing of what had chanced, but as they were engaged in a festival, continued dancing and reveling until they learnt the capture but too certainly. Such, then, were the circumstances of the first taking of Babylon.” (Herodotus on Cyrus' capture of Babylon) Dr Charles Dyer who has written extensively on Babylon in Scripture and in history remarks that… If our tale of two cities (Jerusalem and Babylon) ended when Judah fell, it would seem as though the city of man had triumphed over the City of God. But the same prideful rebellion that caused confusion at Babel also brought about the fall of Babylon's kings. Babylon was like a haughty princess, tossing her head and proclaiming, "I did it my way"! Babylon occupied the world's center stage for only about two generations. The city rose to fame in 612 B.C. when Babylonian armies destroyed the city of Nineveh, and Babylon supplanted Assyria as the dominant power in the Middle East. Less than a century later, in 539 B.C., Babylon was conquered by Medo-Persia and gradually slipped back into obscurity. Seventeen days after Babylon fell to Cyrus's general, Cyrus himself entered the city. The average person in Babylon would not have noticed any major changes in daily affairs. Cyrus established Babylon as one of his capital cities and assumed the title "King of Babylon." (James B. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, 3d ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969, p316) He wisely tried to establish peace and to restore a sense of normality and order in the city (A K Grayson: Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles, Texts from Cuneiform Sources) When I (Cyrus) entered Babylon as a friend and [when] I established the seat of the government in the palace of the ruler under jubilation and rejoicing, Marduk, the great lord, [induced] the magnanimous inhabitants of Babylon [to love me], and I was daily endeavoring to worship him. My numerous troops walked around in Babylon in peace, I did not allow anybody to terrorize [any place] of the [country of Sumer] and Akkad. I strove for peace in Babylon and in all his [other] sacred cities. CYRUS, King of Babylon (Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts, p316) Babylon remained at peace throughout the reign of Cyrus and his successor, Cambyses. Following the death of Cambyses, Darius I assumed control of the MedoPersian Empire. The citizens of Babylon rebelled against Darius, and he was forced to recapture the city on two separate occasions. After his second suppression of a revolt, Herodotus reports that "Darius destroyed their walls and reft away all their gates, neither of which things Cyrus had done at the first taking of Babylon." (Herodotus 3.159) Though Babylon had fallen into difficult times, it continued to be an important and active city under the reign of the Medo-Persians. (Borrow The rise of Babylon : is Iraq at the center of the final drama?)