Daniel 5:1-31
Q.1. What prompted God to take action against Belshazzar? What gave the queen greater confidence in Daniel than in all the king’s counsellors? (Dan.5:1-16)
God acted against Belshazzar because of his impertinence in using the sacred vessels from the house of the Lord in his drunken orgy – 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 … 4 They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone (Dan.5:2 & 4). Belshazzar crossed the line when he was drunk. He used the sacred vessels to praise his puny gods. The writing on the wall frightened the life out of the king. He demanded to know what the words meant. None of his hired wise men – … the conjurers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners (Dan.5:7) could help him, even with the promise of reward and promotion. Fortunately, the queen remembered the successes of Daniel, and saved the day. (she did not seem to have been part of the ungodly festivities – Dan.5:10) – 11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans, and diviners. 12 This was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar… (Dan.5:11-12). The story reminds us that it is not wise to remove the godly influence of those who have gone before.
Q.2. What lesson had Belshazzar failed to learn from his father? What message did Daniel convey from God to the king? What was the outcome? (Dan.5:17-31)
Daniel reminded Belshazzar that his father had had his throne stripped from him, until he had acknowledged the God Who had given him greatness and power over the nations. Sadly, this king had learned nothing – 22 Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, 23 but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, hear, or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not glorified (Dan.5:22-23). The refusing to acknowledge God remains the monumental sin of this modern age. The writing on the wall was a graphic message to Belshazzar, that his life was weighed in the balance and found wanting. His rule was at an end, and his kingdom was about to be divided amongst the Medes and Persians – That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain (Dan.5:30).