Daniel 5:1-30
Introduction: We are continuing our series in Daniel to learn from his example of exile in Babylon and understand how it can be significant for us today. After King Nebuchadnezzar conquered and ransacked Jerusalem, life as normal was gone for Daniel. He couldn’t worship at the temple. He was taken captive to Babylon, and he was called to serve in a tense political and cultural climate. In exile, Daniel had to wrestle with core questions of faith like never before. There is a profound application for our lives as we are also living in a kind of exile: a post-Christian, politically toxic, painfully divided, pandemic-centered world, where everything has changed. The hopeful truth we can learn from Daniel is that his life in exile shaped his faith and character for the better. Even when the future seems unclear, God is still in control, and He calls us to humble ourselves and draw near to Him.
A Tale of Two Kings | A contrast between two kings set the tone for God’s final judgment on Babylon as witnessed by Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar had built Babylon into a great empire. He was a conqueror, a strong ruler, and a terror to anyone who opposed him. King Belshazzar was the opposite: a partier and a drunkard who built nothing. He held a feast and desecrated gold and silver vessels originally taken from the temple in Jerusalem to commemorate his idols. Nebuchadnezzar had eventually humbled himself before God, but Belshazzar refused to do the same even though he knew of God’s sovereignty. The writing on the wall, interpreted by Daniel, is a stark reminder of what will come of those who do not humble themselves before an almighty God. After Daniel interpreted the message, King Belshazzar was killed, and his kingdom was divided and given into the hands of the Medes. At the movement of a finger, the great kingdom of Babylon was no more.
1. A Comedy
The story of King Belshazzar is one of comedy. The circumstances of his fear and his mother’s consolation of him are certainly comedic, but what is more laughable is when earthly rulers lift themselves up to the place of God. Our proud claims, attempts at glory, and illusions of power are laughable to God. God is characteristically opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble (Ps 2:4, Jam 4:6). We must not take this to mean that all human affairs are so far beneath Him that He does not consider us and our suffering. God always wants to reorient us to Himself, and He does so in a variety of ways. The writing on the wall can help us clear up our thinking, take a lighter stance toward our circumstances, and redirect us to what is most important. Consider today. If God is real and Jesus is at His right hand, then anyone who acts like this isn’t true, especially politicians and leaders, are themselves part of a comedy. The writing is on the wall for every human kingdom, every Tower of Babel, and every Babylon, so let us not join in Belshazzar’s feast!
2. A Tragedy
The story of King Belshazzar is one of tragedy. It is about what happens when a person does not humble their heart before God. The writing is on the wall for all human pride. The tragedy is when we know this but don’t humble our hearts
The Tragedy of Prideful Knowledge - King Belshazzar did not humble himself even though he “knew” about God and what had happened with Nebuchadnezzar before him (5:22). King Belshazzar did not allow his head knowledge to impact his heart. Knowledge alone won’t change us until we humble our hearts. Daniel’s words to Belshazzar are equally true for us: “But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in his hand and who controls the whole course of your life” (5:23). The writing on the wall is not just for someone else. It is for us, and our hearts must embrace it.
The Tragedy of Distraction - King Belshazzar was feasting when he should have been mourning and grieving his sin. We know that Belshazzar did not humble his heart before God, but a good question is: how do we humble our heartsw? The book of James helps us here: The gap between the head and the heart is the gap of grieving. James reminds us that humbling ourselves is mourning, and drawing near to God is grieving (Jam 4:7-10). He is not saying to live in perpetual gloom but to mourn and grieve when necessary. Let us not forget that even in a pandemic, it is possible to feast and miss the writing on the wall. Anything we build apart from God in pride is opposed by God and will fall
3. A Victory
The story of King Belshazzar is not merely a comedy about when people try to play God, nor a tragedy of living in pride, but also a victory for the kingdom of God. When God seemed most absent and weak, mocked by Belshazzar’s idolatrous feast, He was working out a victory that no one in Babylon could stop. God took out Babylon by the movement of a finger, and it points to something much greater: God is always in control. The writing is on the wall for all sin, all idolatry, all injustice, evil, and even death itself.
Even though the future is often unclear, and everything can seem like a fog around us, this story tells us that some things remain clear and apparent. The writing is on the wall for all human pride and arrogance. God’s kingdom has come to us in Jesus Christ. God is in control, and He is working things together for good. Just when it seemed like God was absent and mocked, He was working a victory over Babylon that would bring down the prideful kingdom forever. When Jesus was being mocked and ridiculed on the cross, he was bringing an end to all sin, suffering and death. He was opening up his kingdom to the humble. In Jesus, we have something better than a finger writing on a wall to remind us. His victory over sin, evil and human pride, assure us that, even when we can’t see it – He is at work and will never forsake the humble who take refuge in Him.
REFLECT OR DISCUSS
What about the message is most relevant to you today? What encouraged you? Challenged you?
Have you ever experienced a time in life in which the “writing was on the wall”? How did your realization impact your behavior?
Read Psalm 2. How does God’s laughter help us return to reason?
Can you think of any other biblical examples in which a character’s pride gets in the way of their relationship with God? What are ways in which your pride gets in the way of your relationship with God?
Which tragedy - prideful knowledge or distraction - is most relevant to you? Have you ever acted like Belshazzar? How? How did it turn out?
Read James 4:7-10. What about this passage challenges you as you humble yourself and “draw near to God?” What place does morning and grieving have in humbling our hearts and keeping us from pride? What are ways we can learn to lament and mourn over all the challenges we are facing currently?
How could God be working in your life today to remind you of your victory in Christ? Is there some head knowledge that has yet to sink into your heart?