DANIEL LESSON 6


     We will begin this lesson in Daniel 5:1 "Belshazzar the king made
a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the
thousand."

     We must quickly make note that this is not Daniel, whose name had
been changed to Belteshazzar. Belshazzar, the king, was not the son of
Nebuchadnezzar, but the grandson. History tells us his mother,
Nitocris, was the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar. Belshazzar is the last
king of Babylon. It appears, they are having a great feast. A thousand
people are in attendance, so this is a very big party. They were
drinking wine at the feast, so we may assume it was a festive
occasion.

     Daniel 5:2 "Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to
bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar
had taken out of the temple which [was] in Jerusalem; that the king,
and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein."

     This calls Nebuchadnezzar his father, but he was his grandfather,
as we said in the verse above. These atheists had no idea what they
were doing. The silver and the gold vessels were holy, and dedicated
to God alone. To drink from these vessels, would be a terrible sin
before God.

     Daniel 5:3 "Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken
out of the temple of the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem; and
the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in
them."

     This is such a terrible thing to do, that judgement will be
swift. Look, with me, at the following New Testament Scripture about
the same thing. I Thessalonians 5:3 "For when they shall say, Peace
and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon
a woman with child; and they shall not escape."  God will not overlook
this act of disrespect for His holy things. They have sealed their own
fate, by this terrible thing they have done.

     Daniel 5:4 "They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of
silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone."

     As if defiling His holy things is not enough, they worship false
gods using God's vessels. All of these idols made of earthly things do
not bring life. They have no power to help anyone. They can only
destroy. Even the destruction does not come directly from them. God
brings the destruction, as judgement against them.

     Daniel 5:5  "In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand,
and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of
the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote."

     These fingers and hand came out of the total darkness, and came
to a lighted area of the wall near the lamp to write. This is where
the statement {handwriting on the wall} came from. This is the hand of
God.  The finger of God had written the Ten Commandments. This is the
same finger, but with an entirely different purpose. This judgement is
for the eyes of the king.

     Daniel 5:6 "Then the king's countenance was changed, and his
thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed,
and his knees smote one against another."

     The fear of the king is so great, when this happens, that horror
came upon his face, and his knees began to quake. He was quaking so
badly that the joints of his hips come loose. The Scripture is similar
to the following from the New Testament. Luke 21:26 "Men's hearts
failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are
coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

     Daniel 5:7 "The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the
Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said to the
wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me
the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have]
a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the
kingdom."

     This king is unfamiliar with Daniel. He calls for all the wise
men, to see if anyone can tell him what this means. "Scarlet", here,
is speaking of purple. Purple symbolizes royalty. This robe would be
showing the wearer to be of very high rank. The third ruler of the
kingdom is saying he would rule over one-third of the kingdom. This
"chain of Gold" shows the power of authority he would have. We must
realize that Daniel had been in the court of the kings for nearly 70
years at this point. Daniel had been one of the first captives, and
this happens near the end of the captivity. The captivity was for 70
years.

     Daniel 5:8 "Then came in all the king's wise [men]: but they
could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the
interpretation thereof."

     These wise men were speaking of the sorcerers, and the
astrologers, and the soothsayers. They had no real power, so certainly
they could not tell of this message from God.

     Daniel 5:9 "Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his
countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied."

     Their astonishment was at the hand that wrote.

     Daniel 5:10   "[Now] the queen by reason of the words of the king
and his lords came into the banquet house: [and] the queen spake and
said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor
let thy countenance be changed:"

     This is speaking of the queen mother, who remembers the
interpretations of the king's dreams by Daniel. Perhaps, this king was
unfamiliar with Daniel, since it was Nebuchadnezzar who had benefited
from the interpretations of Daniel. She, at least, brings hope.

     Daniel 5:11 "There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom [is] the
spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and
understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in
him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, [I say], thy
father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, [and]
soothsayers;"

     Again, Belshazzar, the king is called the son of Nebuchadnezzar,
when, in fact, he is his grandson. It appears from this, Daniel had
not been prominent in this king's court. This is, also, different from
interpreting dreams. Perhaps, this is why he did not call for Daniel
before. This queen recognizes the fact that Daniel is a man of God.

     Daniel 5:12 "Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and
understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences,
and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king
named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the
interpretation."

     We see from this, that Daniel had done much more than interpret
two dreams for the king. He was in charge of the eunuchs, after he had
interpreted the first dream for Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar had
renamed him Belteshazar. She has no doubt that Daniel can tell them
what this handwriting is. He has made a good reputation, as being a
man of God.

     Daniel 5:13 "Then was Daniel brought in before the king. [And]
the king spake and said unto Daniel, [Art] thou that Daniel, which
[art] of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my
father brought out of Jewry?"

     We see that this king was not acquainted with Daniel at all.
Daniel had, probably, been demoted after the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.
The king wants to make sure he is the right Daniel.

     Daniel 5:14 "I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the
gods [is] in thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent
wisdom is found in thee."

     Even the unsaved world recognizes a person who is in good
relationship with God. We can see from the verse above, that this
king's information is hear-say. He has heard of Daniel. Notice, light
is mentioned in connection with wisdom and understanding. Isaiah 9:2
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that
dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light
shined." II Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."  This is
all saying, that Daniel is inhabited of his God. His power is God's
power in him.
     Daniel 5:15 "And now the wise [men], the astrologers, have been
brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make
known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the
interpretation of the thing:"

     The wise men, spoken of in this verse, are the worldly wise. They
have no power of God working within them. They would be of no help.

     Daniel 5:16 "And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make
interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the
writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt
be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about thy neck,
and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom."

     Again, this is back to Daniel. He will be greatly rewarded of the
king, when he tells what this writing is. All of the things mentioned,
like the scarlet robe and the gold chain, show his authority to rule.

     Daniel 5:17  "Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let
thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will
read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the
interpretation."

     Daniel is saying to him, forget the gifts. He will interpret the
writing on the wall. Not only will Daniel read the writing, but he
will explain the interpretation of it, as well, to the king.

     Daniel 5:18 "O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar
thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:"

     This first statement is, probably, a shock to the king. He had
not given the most high God credit for anything. In fact, they had
many false gods in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar's power to conquer was
because God used him to fulfill His purpose.

     Daniel 5:19 "And for the majesty that he gave him, all people,
nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would
he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up;
and whom he would he put down."

     This power had seemed to be unlimited. He was a very powerful
king, as long as he was doing the will of God.

     Daniel 5:20 "But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind
hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they
took his glory from him:"

     When he went further than God had wanted him to, he was removed
as king. Pride comes before a fall. This is what Jesus had to say
about those who exalt themselves. Luke 18:14 "I tell you, this man
went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every
one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted."

     Daniel 5:21 "And he was driven from the sons of men; and his
heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling [was] with the wild
asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with
the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the
kingdom of men, and [that] he appointeth over it whomsoever he will."

     This experience happened to him, to make him realize that it was
not by his own might he had become so powerful. He was left to eat
grass as an animal, until he recognized God. It is God who makes a man
king. It is, also, God who brings them down. John 19:11 "Jesus
answered, Thou couldest have no power [at all] against me, except it
were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee
hath the greater sin."

     Daniel 5:22 "And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled
thine heart, though thou knewest all this;"

     Now, we see Daniel explaining to Belshazzar that it will be no
different with him. He is so proud, he has not given God credit for
making him king. He is not an humble man. God will bring him down.

     Daniel 5:23 "But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of
heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee,
and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk
wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of
brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and
the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways,
hast thou not glorified:"

     The things of God are to be holy. They are not to be used by
common man. This was blasphemy to use his holy vessels in such a
manner. Belshazzar, and all these people, worshipped things of this
world. They did not worship the One True God. God breathed the breath
of life into man, before man could even live. The man's very life
depends upon God. Things you can see with your eyes are part of God's
creation and are not to be worshipped. They have worshipped God's
creation and not the Creator God.

     Daniel 5:24 "Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and
this writing was written."

     Daniel explains, first, that this hand is God's hand. This
writing is a judgement of God. God has weighed Belshazzar in the
balance, and found him guilty.

     Daniel 5:25  And this [is] the writing that was written, "MENE,
MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN."

     This was a miracle of God that Daniel could read the words. The
more wonderful miracle is that Daniel knew this language, even in the
natural. God can write in any language. He wanted Daniel to interpret
the message, so he wrote it in a language Daniel knew. Jesus spoke a
very similar message to this. Luke 12:20 "But God said unto him,
[Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose
shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"

     Daniel 5:26 "This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God
hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it."

     The fact that this judgement was pronounced twice, showed it was
soon to happen.

     Daniel 5:27 "TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art
found wanting."

     God is a just God. He does not judge, before He carefully
considers. He has considered, and now the judgement has come.

     Daniel 5:28 "PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the
Medes and Persians."

     We have studied in previous lessons, the great fortification of
Babylon. This must seem impossible to the king, because of that.
UPHARSIN, means divided. We must remember that Daniel was not only
reading the words on the wall, but interpreting them, as well. God
told Daniel the Medes and the Persians would take Babylon.

     Daniel 5:29 "Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel
with scarlet, and [put] a chain of gold about his neck, and made a
proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the
kingdom."

     Daniel had not asked for these gifts, but Belshazzar gave them
anyway. One thing we must realize here, Belshazzar did not reject the
interpretation of Daniel. He knew what Daniel said was true.

     Daniel 5:30  "In that night was Belshazzar the king of the
Chaldeans slain."

     That very night the fulfillment came, and Belshazzar was killed.
Babylon fell to Darius. Jeremiah 50:24 "I have laid a snare for thee,
and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art
found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD."

     Daniel 5:31 "And Darius the Median took the kingdom, [being]
about threescore and two years old."

     Babylon has fallen into the hands of the Medes. Darius is 62
years old, when he took the kingdom of Babylon.









                          Daniel 6 Questions


1.  What was the new king's name?
2.  What must we quickly take note of about this name?
3.  Who was his mother?
4.  Who was her father?
5.  What had the thousand people gathered for?
6.  What did the king command to be brought to drink from?
7.  Why should they not drink from these vessels?
8.  Quote 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 3.
9.  Who drank from the vessels?
10. What did they do, besides drink wine from the holy vessels?
11. What power do false gods have?
12. What unusual thing happens in verse 5?
13. Who saw it?
14. What are these fingers?
15. What effect did this have on the king?
16. Quote Luke chapter 21 verse 26.
17. What will the king do, for the person who can tell him what this
    means?
18. Who did the king call for, to interpret the meaning of this for
    him?
19. What is "scarlet" speaking of?
20. What does the chain of Gold show?
21. Could the men Belshazzar called give him the interpretation?
22. Who came to the king, and told him of Daniel?
23. How did she describe Daniel?
24. Belshazzar is Nebuchadnezzar's _______________.
25. Did Belshazzar take her advice?
26. Quote Isaiah chapter 9 verse 2.
27. Quote 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 6.
28. What power does Daniel have?
29. What was Daniel promised by Belshazzar?
30. What was Daniel's answer to Belshazzar?
31. Who had made Nebuchadnezzar king?
32. Why did God bring him down?
33. Quote John chapter 19 verse 11.
34. Why is God against Belshazzar?
35. Who gives man life?
36. What did the hand write on the wall?
37. What does MENE mean?
38. What does TEKEL mean?
39. What does UPHARSIN mean?
40. When was the judgement fulfilled?
41. Who became ruler?