Kingdom Down: A Study in DanielSample

Party Like It’s 539 (BC)

Throughout the Bible, God has feasts and festivals, when people are supposed to take a day off, get together, have something to eat, have something to drink, throw a party, celebrate, and rejoice in His Kingdom. We call these holidays, which literally means holy days, and they're days set apart for the Lord. In this chapter, Belshazzar has a counterfeit holiday. They're getting together to do that which is abominable in the sight of God. His grandpa is Nebuchadnezzar, who was a mighty king and warrior and he was sort of prominent in the storyline up till chapter four. Belshazzar’s dad, Nabonidus, was king, but dad was away, so this kid is assuming the throne. Dad's away, so the spoiled rich kid throws a big drunken party at his house.

Commentators will estimate that there were upwards of 15,000 people at the party. This is a big party. Two things are happening: sexual deviancy with concubines and drinking alcohol out of God’s holy goblets stolen from the temple. Both of these are shameful acts, and God won’t tolerate it, so he appears by writing something on the wall.

Just a finger shows up, not a full man. Imagine that. It's God's way of saying, “this is not heavy or hard for me.” God uses His finger in Exodus 8 to take down the entire nation of Egypt. In Exodus 31, as well, God shows up and He writes the 10 Commandments with His finger.

Now this guy is probably thinking, how much have I had to drink; I'm not in a good place, but then he looks around and everybody's seeing the same thing. The party stopped, the DJ ended, the dancing was over, and everybody was worried.

Again, just like generations before him, Belshazzar calls in the “wise” men, but his grandma finds out about it too. She is the queen, and comes in and suggests he bring in Daniel. And they refer to him here by his God-given name, because it doesn't matter what they call him, he doesn't accept it, he knows who he is by his identity and relationship to God. It doesn't matter what other people call you. If God says you're loved, you're loved. If God says you're forgiven, you're forgiven. If God says you're clean, you're clean. If God says you're saved, you're saved. That's how he can make it through Babylon. He’s in his 80’s now, so he’s been working for the king for a long time.

Then Daniel answers and tells the king that he doesn’t need his money, power, or fame. Sometimes people will give a lot of money to have a leader, especially a religious or spiritual leader, tell them what they want to hear, so that they can justify that which God does not. And what Daniel is saying is, “I’m not in this for the money, I'm in this for the Lord, I'm not for hire.” He's a prophet, not a politician.

Daniel reads the literal writing on the wall, which is where that phrase actually originates: Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin. Daniel gets right to interpreting. Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end, it's over now. It took generations to build an empire, it took minutes for God to take it down. Tekel, you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting; God's not pleased with your life. Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and the Persians, two joint military forces that come together against a common enemy.

That very night, Belshazzar was killed. Now you might think that God is being judgmental here, but 150 years prior, through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 13, God says he will raise up the Medes against them to overthrow them. I'm not shocked at the end that God judges them, I'm shocked that he waited 150 years. Belshazzar knew exactly what was coming to him, yet he didn’t repent. Just like his grandpa. Just like his dad.

Do you find more security in your position, wealth, or influence than in God? What sins have you carried on from your forefathers?