The phrase, the writing
is on the wall, is an English idiom which comes from this chapter. A person who refuses to "see the writing
on the wall" is seen as ignorant to what will likely occur in the near
future. Last year in June 2022 we were in the National
Art Gallery in London where we saw Rembrandt’s famous and striking 1635 painting, entitled Belshazzar’s
feast. By the way, the National Art gallery has so many biblical paintings - the gospel
literally shouts in that gallery, to
all who will care to look and listen.
In 1744 Georg
Friedrich Händel, the famous German composer, best known for his Messiah wrote an oratorio[1] entitled
“Belshazzar”.
1. 5:1-4 King Belshazzar: Historical
Background
At the end of Chapter 4 we have left Nebuchadnezzar as a
converted man (4:37). According to
historical sources he died in 562 B.C. after a 43 year reign, which included his
seven years of insanity (5:33). After
him Babylonia's mighty kingdom began to crumble. His son Evil
Merodach, mentioned in 2 Kings
25:27-30 and Jeremiah 52:31 - 34, ruled for 2 years, from 562-560 BC, when he was
assassinated by Neriglissar, his
brother-in-law, who then claimed the throne. Neriglissar died in 556 B.C.,
and was succeeded by his son Labashi
Marduk, who was assassinated that same year in a plot likely led by Belshazzar
the son of Nabonidus. Although Nabonidus was officially the king it
seems as if he was absent for long periods of time, conducting raids into other territories. Belshazzar, who was his eldest
son, appeared to have been caretaker king, while his father was away for these
long periods of time.
Rembrandt's "Belshazzar" painted in 1635
For a long time, Bible critics used Daniel chapter 5 as a
proof that the Book of Daniel was historically inaccurate. According to Berosus
and Abydenus (Babylonian historians), the last
King of Babylon was Nabonidus. But in
this book of Daniel, the last Babylonian
king is Belshazzar, as Darius the Mede now
takes over the kingdom (5:30).
Archaeology, the great friend of the Bible has since proved, both the
Babylonian historians and the Bible were correct. Assyrian inscriptions found in 1854 by J.E.
Taylor, who was British consul at Basra
(in modern day Iraq), reveal that Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus, and that he reigned as co-regent
with his father. Why then is Nebuchadnezzar spoken of in this chapter as the
‘father’ of Belshazzar in 5:2? The simplest answer is- the same sense as
David is called ‘father’ of Jesus in Lk. 1:32 - the meaning being simply that of ‘ancestor’ or the founder of a dynasty.
Now from the writings of a Greek historian named Herodotus
we know that at this
time the city of Babylon was being besieged by the Persians[2]
the ancestors of the modern day Iranians. This seemingly did not worry
Belshazzar, because his confidence was in the mighty walls that surrounded the
city. The walls by were 39 metres thick, 110 metres high and they had 250
watchtowers which were each 30 metres high. Belshazzar felt self- assured in
this bastion, this unassailable city. So,
he threw this party with a thousand of his nobles. But he made
himself contemptible in the eyes of the Sovereign God - by desecrating the holy
articles taken by Nebuchadnezzar from
the temple in Jerusalem, and in the act also praising the gods of gold
and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and
stone.5:4)
2. 5:5 – 9 Judgment begins
Suddenly and supernaturally, the fingers of a human hand
appeared and wrote a message on the plaster of the wall (5:5). The king’s response and reaction is recorded in 5:6. Why, do you think, Belshazzar became so fearful? Since he did not know the
meaning of this writing, why was he responding this way? The answer is simple.
His guilty conscience accused him at once. His face
showed it…”the kings colour changed, and
his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way and his knees knocked together…”.
One moment he was the life and soul of the party, the next - a frightened man. Take
note how quickly God's judgements can fall on the wicked…. In an instant! This
is reminiscent of the judgement of God at the end of the ages, when the wicked, in an instant, comprehend that they were wrong and deceived in their
arrogance.
The king now loudly calls for his wise men (5:7). As we have noted before in 2:10ff;
4:7ff - no one could read
nor interpret the writing (5:8).
3. 5:10 – 16 Daniel brought before the King
The queen, probably Belshazzar's mother, the daughter of
Nebuchadnezzar now remembers
Daniel, and how he had interpreted the previous dreams and visions of her
father. It seems as if Daniel, after Nebuchadnezzar's death appears to have
dropped into obscurity. This illustrates the sad fact, that some of the ablest
men are sometimes little recognized, while those with far inferior abilities hold
high office. Remember too, that by now, Daniel would have been quite an old man
- probably in his late seventies or
even early eighties.
The story is much the same, as we have seen in the previous
chapters. The unable magic team could not produce the needed information. Ah,
but there is the remembrance of this remarkable man, Daniel (5:10-12). Belshazzar is desperate to know
the meaning of these words , and in so doing makes big promises (5:16) as did his grandfather (2:6,48). In 5:17 we see the same consistent old Daniel, the man of God, the uncompromising, incorruptible man of God!
May the Lord multiply the calibre of such men among us today – men who fear God
and are not afraid of rulers and worldsystems!
4. 5:17 – 29 Daniel's interpretation
Daniel wastes no time to give Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson a
little history lesson. He reminds him
solemnly how God Almighty had dealt with Nebuchadnezzar, his grandfather (5:18-21). He loses no time to charge Belshazzar with arrogance against the God who had severely chastised his
grandfather – see 5:22-23. Belshazzar's sin was not a sin of ignorance. He
knew the history of the Jews and he knew what had happened to Nebuchadnezzar,
and yet he was not humbled by these facts. Though they know the faith of their
fathers, yet children often refuse to walk in these ways. When God gives us light,
He expects us to follow that illumination. And friends, if Belshazzar was held accountable for the
comparatively small amount of light
given him, then what about us today, who have the brightest of lights, the full revelation and
testimony of Jesus Christ?
Belshazzar wilfully defies the Sovereign God by abusing the sacred
objects from the Jewish temple, using these vessels once dedicated to the glory
of God, by praising the idol gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and
stone, which do not hear or know, and Daniel continues to remind him… ”But the God in whose hand is your breath,
and whose are all your ways, you have
not honoured.” (5:4, 23).
The message on the wall said: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. These four words from God (5:24) changed a raucous party into sudden panic, fear, terror and confusion.
The language is in Aramaic, and the words are interpreted for us in 5:26 -28: "Numbered, numbered, weighed and divided" . [3]
(i)
MENE : Your days are numbered, King
Belshazzar. God has brought your reign
to an end.
(ii)
TEKEL: Belshazzar, every action of your
life has been weighed by God. He has taken note of every opportunity which
was presented to you, from boyhood
until now. Your life has been weighed.
God has considered your life, and it falls short of the standard. This
is a reminder to us that when people poke fun at God, he does not ignore it. Nothing is forgotten. A
record is kept of every invitation to
come to Christ which is brushed aside. There is a note of every failure to take seriously His
command to repent. God notes it
all "It is not for
me", say some. "The cost is too great", say others. "Everybody will think that I am a
religious crank". "I am not an
extremist" . All these comments are heard in heaven and weighed,
and remembered by the God of Heaven
whom nothing escapes. Everybody's work
will be weighed on the last day. Some will receive an eternal
reward. Many will find themselves excluded from heaven; their
insistence on temporary pleasures will
have gained them nothing but eternal grief.
They have been weighed and have been found wanting.
(iii)
PARSIN: (plural of peres- meaning ‘half pieces’)
- This involves a word-play on the name of the Persians (pārās in Hebrew), suggesting not only
that they are to inherit Belshazzar's kingdom, but that they are two peoples
(two half pieces), Medes and Persians. Your kingdom is to be divided and given to the Medes and the Persians. In the N.T.
there are two instances, where the same is said in essence to the Jews:
a.
Matt. 21: 33-43 -
The parable of the tenants. This parable illustrates the fact that the tenants, who
have killed the servants of the landowner, shall be judged (21:41), and the land will be given to other tenants. The application which
Jesus gave is found in 21: 43,44.
The kingdom of God was taken from the Jews
and given to the gentiles.
b.
Acts 13:44 - 50 - When the Jews rejected the gospel
message preached to the Jews in Antioch-
Pisidia, Paul warned them that God would take away their privileges and would give them to the gentiles.
Something similar happens whenever the gospel is repeatedly
rejected. God’s voice to the conscience grows
weaker and weaker. An invisible line is eventually crossed, the conscience is
hardened and the land of no return is
entered into. Many, many people
that are on the broad road that leads to the city of destruction pass by
the narrow gate that leads to life,
where at its entrance gospel messengers
are calling and inviting all to come-
but oh so few listen!
The story of Belshazzar is found in our Bible and in its
entire context (OT and NT) teaches us,
that we can come to a point where we
have missed the gospel
opportunities presented, as is also
evident in Jesus’ parable of the rich fool (Lk. 12:16-21),
who thought that he was the master of his own destiny, the captain of his
own soul, and to whom God ultimately says,
"Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have
prepared whose will they be? "
The story of Belshazzar teaches us that we cannot go as far
as we like in sinning. Unbeknown to
Belshazzar, one more step along the
path of ungodliness will take him over that invisible line! There will be no more opportunity to find mercy for him. That very night he would be dead! God has called for the accounts to be
settled. Who knows, when God will say, "One more sin, and then the writing
will be on the wall for you!"
5. 5:30,31 POSTSCRIPT
In 5:30,31 On the very night that Daniel had spoken to Belshazzar, Darius the Mede ( The Medes were also an
Iranian tribe) in conjunction with Cyrus II of Persia
(c. 600–530 BC) diverted the river Euphrates, which flowed under the mighty
wall, and into the city of Babylon. It
was a brilliant move, and no one in Belshazzar’s kingdom
had ever thought that this
was possible. But so it was and the Median - Persian army
under Darius marched into the city and captured Babylon.
That night Belshazzar was killed, and
the divine prophecy was fulfilled. The golden head, gave way to the chest and
arms of silver! This is a fulfilment
of Daniel 2:32.
Again we are reminded
that history is His story. Are you listening?
[1]
Meriam- Webster defines oratorio as, “ a lengthy choral work usually of a
religious nature consisting chiefly of recitatives, arias, and choruses without
action or scenery.”
[2] Herodotus
: Persian Wars. Herodotus (484-425 BC) -
was a Greek historian and geographer from the Greek city of Halicarnassus, part
of the Persian Empire and a later citizen of Thurii in modern Calabria . [Wikipedia]
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