As we learned in the last article (or you can just catch up from Daniel 5:1-16), “king” Belshazzar of Babylon was throwing a party, drinking from goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, when a message was supernaturally written on the wall. At first, the king couldn’t find anyone to interpret what the words meant, but he listened to the queen and called up Daniel, a Jewish exile who was now in Babylon, but had originally lived in Judea.
At this point, I think that Daniel has been working for Babylonian kings for quite a while. He doesn’t really need anything from them, and – as we can learn from the prophecy’s details later in the chapter – honor from Belshazzar isn’t going to be worth nearly as much tomorrow.
Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
Daniel 5:17 NIV
Even though Daniel doesn’t need the king’s reward, the right thing to do is still the right thing to do, and we don’t always have to get something in return for doing it. Also, by declining any payment, Daniel can further demonstrate that he is merely sharing the truth, and not just trying to deceive the king in order to get something out of it.
There also seems to be less respect shown here between Belshazzar and Daniel, as compared to Daniel’s conversations with Nebuchadnezzar [ref. Mangano, p.223]. Nebuchadnezzar overstepped his bounds and became overconfident in himself, but eventually looked back to God and acknowledged Him. Here, Belshazzar had been flagrantly flaunting sacred items from God’s temple, despite having less political power than Nebuchadnezzar, and Belshazzar will soon pay the price [ref. Mangano, p.223-224].
In verses 18-21 , Daniel recounts some of the events from Daniel 4, where Nebuchadnezzar experienced discipline from God. Although God gave Nebuchadnezzar great political power, when Nebuchadnezzar became too proud, God humbled him. Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind for a while, and lived like an animal until he acknowledged God again, and God restored Nebuchadnezzar.
In that context, Daniel continues speaking to Belshazzar.
“But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.
Daniel 5:22-23 NIV
While Nebuchadnezzar’s condition may or may not have been widely publicized, Belshazzar knew better. He likely knew what led to Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment, and the testimony that Nebuchadnezzar gave when he was restored (see Daniel 4:34-37).
Yet, despite this dire warning of what had happened to a king as powerful as Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar still had the gall to insult God, who had both deposed and restored Nebuchadnezzar. It was bad enough to desecrate the looted vessels from God’s temple by drinking out of them, but despite knowing what God had done to Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar still worshiped idols rather than honoring God.
And, even if he had done this only because he was drunk, or because he didn’t want to appear weak in front of his guests, this was no excuse.
The idols hadn’t put Belshazzar in power, and they couldn’t keep him there. Despite the cautionary example from his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar failed to acknowledge the true God, and he had no valid excuse.
While Nebuchadnezzar was given a chance to repent (and he eventually accepted that opportunity), things would not go so well for Belshazzar. Let’s continue in the next article.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for June 23, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, June 23, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Esther & Daniel, by Mark Mangano. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
- The Bible and Archaeology, by J.A. Thompson, © 1962, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., p.166-171.
Those Who Sin Differently 