The Handwriting on the Wall (Parts 2, 3, & 4)
Sunday, January 16
Daniel 5
I will present this message in four parts.
1-9 - The unfolding of the event
10 16 - Daniel is remembered
17-23 - The incrimination of the king
24-31 - Daniels prophetical introduction
Belshazzar was a grandson of the famous Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.
it is believed that he was in co-regent with king Nabonidus which will come into play in Part 2.
Belshazzar held nothing back in this gathering. His Lords and their wives and others were 1000+.
These types of grand feasts in the ancient world could last for days, weeks even months.
This one feast was a drunken, decrease font or do you feel in pure iniquity.
This feast appears like it was being done to celebrate the demon, pagan gods of the Babylonians.
Belshazzar was confident in his god’s and wanted everyone to celebrate them as well.
As this was going on history related to us that Babylon was Belshazzar’s and Neibou’s Alamo.
The Medes and Persians had already conquered most of the Kingdom the last obstacle was actually the city itself.
And it was a great city at that. Famous for its hanging gardens which was one of the ancient wonders of the known world
Babylon was a 14 miles square its outer walls were 87 feet thick where four Chariots could race side by side up on it with room to spare.
Her 87’ tall walls were 350’ feet tall with hundreds of towers interspaced towering yet another’ higher.
It had 100 great bronze gates spaced within the outer walls.
The great Euphrates River flowed through the middle of it. Inner walls were built alongside its banks to protect from an attack by water.
I surmise that the co-regent’s great confidence in these fortifications made them believe the Medo Persian siege against it.
The spouses are great feast to thank an honor and praise their gods for protecting them against the pressing enemies and at their gates.
The wine and maybe Meade was flowing as Belshazzar began to become more intoxicated, he became more brazen and bolder, and belligerent too.
He called for the gold from the Hebrew temple in Jerusalem to be brought in.
With his grandfather defeats Judah, he raised Jerusalem, took everything of value including these vessels from the temple.
That event began to prophesize 70-year captivity. This even by Belshazzar brought it to a close.
God's temple implements were brought in from either the main Pagan God Marduk temple where Nebuchadnezzar put them, or they were somewhere in storage.
Whatever the case, what was being done was a blatant act of disrespect for God of their servants the Hebrews.
Belshazzar and the rest of his cohorts likely pass these to one another in their drunken fever.
They continue to drink and gave praise to the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone. They were covering their bases as they stated earlier their main god was Marduk.
His images were made of wood called Elam.
They were plated with gold and silver.
As this craziness was going on of which I can close my eyes and hear the fast-paced music of the fifes, the flutes, harps, psalters, and envision the dancing and madness.
And suddenly out of nowhere somewhere close to Belshazzar in the shadowy darkness of candlelit wall a set of fingers appears and writes four words on a plaster covered wall.
Belshazzar watched as this was happening, and I would have to believe those near him saw it too.
Now imagine him and his people near him being in an absolute drunken state watching this go down, maybe rubbing their eyes wondering if they were imagining this or what?
The king started sobering up really quick. His face must have turned pale and ashen with fear.
He was an emotional mess; he was so scared that he peed his pants and he was shaking so badly that his knees were knocking together.
Immediately he calls for those he believes could tell him what was written. The astrologers or stargazers
The Cauldrons or the great minds and intellects. The soothsayers were the seers and the sorcerers. This was the same step that his grandfather had done in chapter 2 when he would recall a dream and was seeking its interpretation. Daniel 2:1-3
Again, as his grandfather had done, he promised a reward to the person who could interpret it.
Here Belshazzar promised.
Scarlet clothes – honored and regal wear.
2. A chain of gold – signifying great importance.
Elevated to third person or authority in the government.
Why the third person and not the second?
Belshazzar as noted earlier was co-regent with his father.
Thus, though his father help the greater authority.
His father held the 1st position, Belshazzar the 2nd. The 3rd was the highest place of authority that he could offer.
None of them could interpret the words just like Nebuchadnezzar wise men could not interpret his dream.
This sent the King into a real tailspin.
The handwriting caused the King to have.
He became agitated
It charged the party atmosphere mood of the king to fear to terror.
The Lords and I believe the wisemen were all astonished and dumbfounded by the kings demeanor and reactions.
Part 2 Daniel is remembered.
The queen mother of Belshazzar’s mother and Nabonidus wife entered the banquet hall likely being informed of what was going on at the feast.
She spoke and addressed her son with the proper respect.
She encouraged him be telling him not to let his thoughts get out of control nor for his countenance to be affected.
She told him that there was a man she knew that was gifted with the ability on interpretation and wisdom of the gods.
She said he had the spirit of the gods notice not the spirit of God, remember that these were pagans.
She recounted this man’s involvement in her father in-laws dream and how this man did what the supposed wise men were incapable of doing.
She then gave a great character reference.
He had an excellent spirit, had knowledge and understanding, could interpret dreams, could decipher words and dreams and he brought comfort to those seeking it.
The man’s name was then revealing Daniel.
Her advice to her son: call for Daniel and he will show you the interpretation.
Belshazzar heeded her advice. He had nothing else to lose.
Daniel was called for and was brought before the King.
Nearly 70 years had passed since the great event in Nebuchadnezzar dream occurred.
18 years old. In Chapter 8 we find this event was in the king’s 3rd year of reign.
Add 3-21 years old.
Add the 70 years of captivity.
He was around 91 years old now.
It appears that his great deed of the past had been nearly forgotten, I drew that from the king’s question.
Are you Daniel the Israelites brought here from Judah? Who my grandfather brought?
It could also be possible that Belshazzar knew him as a middle-aged man. But his features had changed as they will do with age, and he didn’t recognize him.