Monday: An Uninvited Guest
Read Daniel 5:5-8. What happens, and why does the king respond as he does? In what ways does this account parallel Daniel chapter 2, and why is that parallel important? (See Ps. 96:5, Col. 1:15-17).
As Nebuchadnezzar does in previous crises (Dan. 2:2, Dan. 4:7), Belshazzar calls the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers to clarify the mysterious writing.
The Classic Bible Art Collection –Formerly Standard Publishing at GoodSalt.com
And to make sure that they give their best, the king promises them extravagant honors: (1) purple clothing, a color worn by royalty in ancient times (Esther 8:15); (2) a chain of gold, which was a sign of high social status (Gen. 41:42); and (3) the position of third ruler in the kingdom. This last reward reflects accurately the historical circumstances of Babylon at that time. Because Belshazzar was second ruler as co-regent with his father, Nabonidus, he offers the position of third ruler. But despite the tempting rewards, the sages once again fail to provide an explanation.
On top of all his sins, then, the king attempts to find wisdom in the wrong place. The Babylonian experts cannot uncover the meaning of the message. It is written in their own language, Aramaic, as we shall see tomorrow, but they cannot make sense of the words. This might remind us of what the Lord speaks through Isaiah: “For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden” (Isa. 29:14, NKJV). After quoting this verse the apostle Paul states: “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 1:20-21, NKJV).
Some truths are too important to be left for humans to try to figure out for themselves. That’s why God, instead, reveals these truths to us.
| Think about what the rewards were going to be, and given what was to soon follow, how worthless those rewards really were. What should this tell us about just how fleeting things in the world can be, and why we always need to keep the perspective of eternity in mind in all that we do? |
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Historically it is difficult to see just where Belshazzar's feast fits in. Here is what I think happened. The Babylonians Empire was essentially defeated at the Battle of Opis, somewhere north of Babylon. The Babylonians retreated to the city of Babylon and shut the gates. The Persians laid siege to Babylon and appear to have taken the city by diverting the waters from the canal that went through the city and entering the city under the canal gates. I think that Belshazzar's feast occurred during the siege.
The Babylonians were not taken by surprise and were probably fairly conscious of what the Persians were doing. This was coupled with the fact that the Persians were largely followers of Marduk the same God that the Babylonians traditionally followed. Belshazzar and his father were followers of the Moon God, Sin. So the Babylonians were probably pretty happy with the arrangement.
I think that Belshazzar's feast probably reflected the fact that he did not want to accept defeat. He could not see the "figurative writing on the wall." The fact that God saw fit to reinforce that with literal writing on the wall served only to emphasise that this was the end for Belshazzar. Interestingly his father was not in the city at the time and his life was spared.
History is not clear how Belshazzar died but there is some evidence that he was killed by his own courtiers. Given the tension between the worship of Marduk and Sin at the time, that would not be surprising.
Application of the handwriting on the wall today may symbolize the prophecies concerning the coming of the Lord and the signs preceding His coming. These are prophetic wake up calls. Eschatological promises serve as the writing on the wall: (Rev 22:12; Psalm 50:3; Jon 14:1-3; 1 15:51-58; 1 Thes 4:16-17; John 5:25-30). The escahatological signs equally also serve as the contemporary writing on the wall (Matthew 24; Mark 13 & Luke 21:-36) May the lesson this week wake us up from our spiritual stupor.(Isaiah 60:1 KJV- Arise and Shine!) Amen
By Pastor Samuel Asare
The world is constantly changing. Material things will pass away. This whole world will pass away. But what God has planned for us will last forever.
From when I was a teenager whenever a crisis happened we often told each other that it was a "Sign of the Times". Meaning the end was near, the "writing on the wall" was a sign of the time for Belshazzar's kingdom.
Although it may not be a sign of the very end the current corona-virus should make us think - because Jesus said a sign of the end would be Mat 24:7 And there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places.
Although this is a physical illness, just imagine how easily
a wrong belief could be spread all over the world, how people could be scared of the effect and put people in quarantine.
Though the coronavirus may not be a sign of the very end.
And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not get alarmed (troubled and frightened); it is necessary [that these things] take place, but the end is not yet.
Mark 13:7
There are many to be saved yet. I believe is the delay. We have the privlage of hastening the Lord's coming.
And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
Matthew 24:14
And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would endure and survive, but for the sake of the elect (God's chosen ones) those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:22
That does not necessarly mean God will shorten those days. It implys that we will get off our duffs and plug the hole in the Gospel, to hasten the Lord's coming.
Amen Corina is an important sighn of the soon return of Jesus