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Drunken Feast of Belshazzar: The Writing on the Wall

Drunken Feast of Belshazzar: The Writing on the Wall. Daniel 5. Daniel 5:1. “Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.”. The King’s Feast. Daniel 5:2.

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Drunken Feast of Belshazzar: The Writing on the Wall

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  1. Drunken Feast of Belshazzar: The Writing on the Wall Daniel 5

  2. Daniel 5:1 “Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.” The King’s Feast

  3. Daniel 5:2 “While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple...” The King’s Feast

  4. Daniel 5:2 “... which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.” The King’s Feast

  5. Daniel 5:3 “Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.” The King’s Feast

  6. Daniel 5:4 “They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.” The King’s Feast

  7. Belshazzar’s Extravagant Feast • He is the present king in Babylon. • “King of the Chaldeans” (5:30) • External evidence all speaks of Belshazzar as the “son of the king.” • His father was Nabonidus. • Leadership was entrusted to him, as his father was away on another campaign, probably in Tema. • Belshazzar shared co-regency with his father, Nabondius, but he was subordinate to his father.

  8. Belshazzar’s Extravagant Feast • Nabondius was king, and Belshazzar was the king’s son. • The populace regarded him as the king. • Called and managed as a king. • Desecrated the Temple vessels—disrespectful conduct. • Royal feasts oforiental antiquitywereextravagant.

  9. Belshazzar’s Irreverent Conduct • The wine-induced drunkenness, along with the lasciviousness with the concubines, resulted in anorgy. • Insulting to the God in heaven! • Blasphemous and irreverent conduct. • Used thevesselsdedicated to use in the house of God to arrive at a drunken stupor and praise their pagan idols!

  10. Belshazzar’s Irreverent Conduct • The vessels had been brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar—Belshazzar’s grandfather.(Ezra 1:7-11) • The orientals used the word father in eight different ways. • It was used in the sense of an “ancestor.” • Drunken Revelry isoffensiveto the God of Heaven! • Loss of the sense of things being holy is always a sign of moral rottenness and inward decay!

  11. Daniel 5:5 “In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.” Writing Hand

  12. Daniel 5:6 “Then the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.” Writing Hand

  13. The Writing Fingers • The pale king • King’s terror is brought about by the writing of the armless hand’s fingers on the wall. • King’s color changed. • He was literally and absolutely terrified! • His hips loosened and his knees knocked together!

  14. Daniel 5:7 “The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon...” Cries for Counselors

  15. Daniel 5:7 “... Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom” The Reward

  16. Daniel 5:8 “Now all the king's wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.” Powerless

  17. Powerless Wise Men • Powerless wise men • “A third ruler in the kingdom” • “One of three” • Nabonidus, Belshazzar, Daniel • Purple—color of royalty • Necklace—ornament worn by prominent ranking persons • Reward is great, but the ability of the wise men is not up to the task!

  18. Daniel 5:9 “Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.” Lords Astonished

  19. The King Is Troubled • Perplexed lords • King and his lords are all the more bothered when they see the inability of the Chaldean wise men to interpret the writing. • “Thrown into confusion” • Whole party became a tumult!

  20. Daniel 5:10 “The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, ‘O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change.’” The Prudent Queen

  21. Daniel 5:11 “There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods...” The Prudent Queen

  22. Daniel 5:11 “... were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father-your father the king-made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.” The Prudent Queen

  23. Daniel 5:12 “Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.” The Prudent Queen

  24. The Prudent Queen • This is the queen-mother, not Belshazzar’s wife. • Nitocris, wife of Nabonidus; daughter of Nebuchadnezzar. • Verse 2 tells us the wives were already there. • In verse 11, the queen speaks in such a way as to suggest a mother speaking to her son, rather than a wife to her husband, the king.

  25. The Prudent Queen • She was cognizant of past events previouslyunknown to Belshazzar. (either mother or grandmother) • Stored in her memory were facts concerning the relationship that existed between Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel. • Good indicator she was his daughter. • She was high-ranking and entered the banquet hall of her own accord.

  26. The Prudent Queen • Her language was similar to Nebuchadnezzar’s—she spoke highly of Daniel. • “Excellent spirit” (able to interpret) 1 Kings 10:1 • “Knowledge” (able to solve riddles)Numbers 12:8 • “Understanding” (able to give meaning)Psalm 49:4

  27. Daniel 5:13 “Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, ‘Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?’” Daniel Before the King

  28. Daniel 5:14 “I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.” Daniel Before the King

  29. Daniel 5:15 “Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing.” Daniel Before the King

  30. Daniel 5:16 “And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation...” Daniel Before the King

  31. Daniel 5:16 “... you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel Before the King

  32. Daniel Before the King • King’s request and promised reward • King avoids Daniel’s Babylonian name—similar to his own • “I” king’s introduction reveals a tone of haughtiness and arrogance in his heart. • He is skeptical—”if…”

  33. Daniel 5:17 “Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, ‘Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.’” Daniel Desires No Reward

  34. Daniel’s Conduct • Prophet’s reply and rejection… • Not due to rudeness • Contemptuousness • Arrogance • Prophet’s rejection of the reward • Is not due to fear or deceit • No desire for worldly gain, or position and advantage • He had other values and standards

  35. Daniel’s Conduct • Prophet’s conduct… • Come what may, he will declare the truth. • “Things and power” will not alter his words. • The man of God is free from the bondage of these things! • The prophet promises to “read the writing” and make the “interpretation known” to the king…

  36. Daniel 5:18 “O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor.” Daniel Reminds the King…

  37. Daniel 5:19 “And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed...” Daniel Reminds the King…

  38. Daniel 5:19 “... whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down.” Daniel Reminds the King…

  39. Daniel 5:20 “But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.” Daniel Reminds the King…

  40. Daniel 5:21 “Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen...” Daniel Reminds the King…

  41. Daniel 5:21 “... and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.” Daniel Reminds the King…

  42. Daniel Recalls… • Daniel reminds the king of his grandfather’s greatness and his pride • Manifests the difference in power in Nabonidus and Belshazzar • Though not equal in greatness to his father, Belshazzar had become proud, before Him who is able to “abase the proud” • Nebuchadnezzar’s experience related--“until he knew that Ruler is God.”

  43. Daniel 5:22 “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this.” Daniel’s Rebuke

  44. Daniel 5:23 “And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them...” Daniel’s Rebuke

  45. Daniel 5:23 “... And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.” Daniel’s Rebuke

  46. Daniel’s Rebuke • Daniel reproves Belshazzar • Belshazzar had not taken the past to heart. • He knew these things but had not humbled his heart. • “Lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven.” • Vaunted the God of heaven • Praised godswhich “were not gods” • Failed to glorify the one true God who held Belshazzar’s life in His hands!

  47. Daniel’s Rebuke • Literally, Belshazzar’s life was in God’s hands! • Job 20:20; Acts 17:26 • He owned all of his ways. • Jeremiah 10:23; Acts 17:28 • Idols of wood and stone and ”finely spun philosophies” were little more than pure stupidity. • They were creations of the minds and hands of men.

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