Sabbath: From Arrogance to Destruction
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Daniel 5:1-31, Rev. 17:4-6, Ps. 96:5, Col. 1:15-17, Rom. 1:16-32, Eccles. 8:11, Rev. 14:8.
Memory Text: “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:21, NKJV).
In Daniel chapter 5, the Word of God gives us a powerful example of human hubris that ends in a stunning and dramatic way. Though one could say that it takes Nebuchadnezzar a long time to learn his lesson, at least he learned it. His grandson, Belshazzar, does not. In using the temple vessels in a palace orgy, Belshazzar desecrates them. Such an act of desecration is tantamount not only to a challenge of God but an attack on God Himself. Thus, Belshazzar fills up the cup of his iniquities, acting in ways similar to the little horn (see Daniel chapter 8), which attacked the foundations of God’s sanctuary. By removing dominion from Belshazzar, God prefigures what He will accomplish against the enemies of His people in the very last days. The events narrated in Daniel chapter 5 took place in 539 B.C., on the night Babylon fell before the Medo-Persian army. Here occurs the transition from gold to silver, predicted in Daniel chapter 2. Once more it becomes evident that God rules in the affairs of the world.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 8.
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Historical Background:
Nebuchadnezzar reigned over Babylon for over 40 years. He married Amytis, a Mede. Like most ruler's marriages of that time, the marriage was really the result of an alliance. In this case it cemented the relationship between the Chaldeans (Babylonians) and the Medes. It resulted in a period of prosperity for Babylon and it was developed into a beautiful city, There is some doubt over the location of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with some sources suggesting that they were actually in Ninevah, but even if that were not the case there is sufficient archeological evidence, even today to indicate that it was a rich, powerful centre of commerce, education and religious festival.
As is often the case, after a long stable government, Babylon fell into a period of instability and turmoil. Ancient governments were not known for their peaceful transition from one ruler to the next. Nebuchadnezzar's son Amelies-Marduk reigned for only two years before he was assasinated by Neriglissar, a courtier from Nebuchadnezzar's court. He probably did not like the way the "youngster" was heading and had fond memories of his father. Neriglissar was old and did not last long either. He died and the next in line was his son, Labashi-Marduk, who incidentally was a grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. He was underage, and was assassinated after only nine months in a coup orchestrated by Nabonidus and his son Belshazzar. Nabonidus had been a courtier with Nebuchadnezzar. All of this jousting for position took place over a relatively short period of time and was largely confined to the court. The rest of the kingdom got on with the business of living and in all likelihood in the absence of the media and Facebook, may have only heard about it months after it all happened.
Nabonidus was not a Bablyonian and had a falling out with the local Marduk clergy because he was a worshiper of the moon god Sin. He moved out to the city of Tayma, leaving the affairs of Babylon to his son who ruled as regent. It was during this time when Belshazzar was ruling as regent that the event recorded in Daniel occurred.
At roughly the same time that this was happening, Cyrus the Achaemenid (Persian) ruler was cementing his position of power. He revolted against the Medes and won, thus becoming king of all the Iranians. Cyrus invaded Babylon and Nabonidus sent Belshazzar off to to battle with him. The Babylonians were essentially defeated at the Battle of Opis. The Archaemid engineers diverted the water from the canals that flowed through Babylon and took the city without a fight. Cyrus claimed to be the avenger of Marduk and consequently had sympathisers among the Babylonians who had been offended by Nabonidus's promotion of the Moon-god Sin. (Sounds a bit like the current Iraq/Iran conflict has very deep roots.)
Some of the accounts of Belshazzar's death indicate that he was killed by his own courtiers, and that makes sense if they were followers of Marduk and opposed to the the worship of the Moon-god Sin. It also explains why Cyrus took Babylon so easily.
I hope that gives a bit of the historical background to this week's study.
Thanks very much for sharing! Could you kindly add the source of the information next time?
God bless!
We’re asked common questions when people find out what we do. Are you a plumber? Get ready to remotely troubleshoot a leaky faucet. A doctor? Get ready for a rundown of mysterious aches and pains.
For counselors, somewhere near the top of that list is the question, “What problems do you see most?” Depression, anxiety, anger, marital conflict all make the cut, but my top answer may surprise you. It’s pride.
That pride should be the chart-topper actually shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone — and least of all to Christians. Proverbs 6:16–19 lists seven traits that God despises, and the very first — “haughty eyes” — is the proverbial way of talking about pride.
Pride is a prison that perpetuates anger, hurt, and foolishness while keeping at bay the restorative effects of conviction, humility, and reconciliation (Proverbs 11:2; 29:23; Galatians 6:3; James 4:6; Revelation 3:17–20). Later, in Proverbs 16:18, God tells us, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Not only would pride be your jailer, but it would also be your executioner.
Everyone Else Is the Problem!
Compare the reaction to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If ever there was one who had the right for his pride to be as big as life, it was the one through whom all life came into being. If Jesus had come into the world and demanded that all serve him, and do so immediately, it would not have been arrogant; it would have been appropriate. Yet as Philippians 2 tells us, he came not in the form of a ruler but a servant.
Christ’s call to us is to live in a way that evidences a similar service and thereby demarcates us as those whose citizenship is in heaven, not the world (Matthew 20:25–28). In this way, Christ redeems our service. What a joy it is to serve my spouse, my child, or those around me and reflect to them, even if only in part, something of the character of God.
Amen
Thank you so much elder Maurice for sharing such a great exposition of power struggle in Babylon leading to the death of Belshazzar.
Daniel sums up the night of desecration, "That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain,and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom..." Daniel 5:30
Interestingly the first part of Daniel's (prophetic) interpratation of king Nebuchadnezzar's dream has come to pass. “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours...Daniel 2: 39. Babylon is fallen, gold has given way to silver.
A powerful study in deed, the book of Daniel.God is sovereign!