Handwriting on the Wall - Daniel 5:1-16

1 King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.

2 Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.
3 Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.
4 They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5 Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.
6 Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
7 The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.
10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.

11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,
12 because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.
14 I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter.
16 But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, 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 5:1-16

*How would you feel if you suddenly saw just a hand writing something on your wall as you were doing something you knew was wrong?

Devotion from Global Media Outreach 

The Fiery Furnace and the Tree Judgment - Daniel 3 and 4

We have read the events from the life of King Nebuchadnezzar in the last several lessons. Daniel’s three friends were saved from the fiery furnace – not because they deserved to be, but as a picture of God’s ability to save us even though we go through events or dangers that seem impossible to survive. These men did not cry out to God asking Him why He allowed such things to be, wondering if they had done something wrong, or seeking legal help to protect them. They simply said they knew they were disobeying the king’s command and he could do to them as he chose because they would never, for any reason at all, give up their faith in God.

Why is this story in the Bible? It could well be an encouragement to the people of Israel in the last days when the leader of the whole world seeks to destroy them, and they have no protection from his anger. They have only God in trust. Just as the furnace was made 7 times hotter than before, the people of Israel who trust in God will be preserved through 7 years of the worst persecution any people-group in all of earth’s history will have ever endured. Jesus will also walk with them through that furnace of hatred.

It is also an encouragement to us today as we face hard times or even death. Death holds no fear for those who understand God’s promises, to those who are eagerly waiting for Him to bring us to His home. The only concern we might have is for those we love who will be left if we die – and concern for them is why we spend every possible moment with those we love to make certain they also believe in Jesus and have accepted Him as their Savior. Even though Daniel was not present at this event, he knew his friends believed and followed God.

Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream, also interpreted by only Daniel, became the judgement of God against this king. The fact that these words are written by King Nebuchadnezzar himself, telling what happened to him, shows us that he saw God’s hand in his punishment and restoration. He gives us his own testimony of how, after he had endured God’s judgment as the dream had prophesied, he turned to God in faith.

Prophetically, there is a close relationship between Daniel 3 and Revelation 13. Where Daniel 3 is the beginning of the Times of the Gentiles (we will understand this term better in a later lesson), Revelation is the end of this Time. The fiery furnace is a type or picture of the Seven-Year-Tribulation. Nebuchadnezzar’s 7 years of madness are also a picture of the Seven-Year-Tribulation. Just as Nebuchadnezzar’s dream-statue was political Babylon which he replaced with the religious statue, so the world’s political governments will be replaced with “religious” Babylon in the last days.

*Of these three stories you have read in the past few days, which touches your life the most? Why?

Taken from Global Media Outreach 

A King's Punishment - Daniel 4:19-37

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,
21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived—
22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.
23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’
24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,
25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.

27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,
32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”
33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.  Daniel 4:19-37

We will talk about these verses in the next lesson.

The King's Humbling Dream - Daniel 4:1-18

1 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you!
2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion endures from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.
5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.
6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.
8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying,
9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.
10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.
11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.
12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.

14 He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
16 Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him.
17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’
18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”  Daniel 4:1-18

We will talk about these verses in a few lessons from now.

A Fiery Furnace Experience - Daniel 3:8-30

8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.
9 They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!
10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.
11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 But even if He does not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.

20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.
22 Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.

29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.  Daniel 3:8-30

We will talk about these verses in a few lessons from now.

The King's Golden Image - Daniel 3:1-7

  

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”
7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.   Daniel 3:1-7
 
 
This statue King Nebuchadnezzar created was about 90 feet, or 27.5 meters, tall. The late Pastor and Professor Lehman Strauss stated that this statue and the one of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2 are too much alike to not be connected. The difference is that what God showed the king in his dream was political in nature while this statue was intended as a religious figure. In the dream image, only the head was made of gold, but in this statue, the entire form was of gold. Since many scholars believe there was a period of about 20 years between the dream and this statue, they believe this statue was created in the king’s later years in an attempt to hold on to the power that the “head of gold” in the dream had implied.

Another thing of note here is the three mentions of the number 6 – the image’s height (60 cubits), its width (6 cubits), and the number of instruments used in the celebration (6 named in verse 7). The number “666” is a reference to the Antichrist in Revelation 13:18. In general, the number 6 in the Bible is the number associated with mankind, while the number 7 is the number of completeness and perfection relating to God.

Another question often asked is why Daniel is not mentioned as being present in this chapter. Dr. Strauss again reminds his readers that Daniel had been promoted to a high position in King Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom, so it is highly possible the king waited until Daniel was gone out of country on an assignment so he would not be part of this religious ceremony.

*In what way are you being pressured today to worship other gods?

Rewards for Service - Daniel 2:46-49

Continuing from our last lesson with the understanding of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar saw, we study the meanings of the different metals in the statue. Gold is the most valuable and iron the least. But gold is the softest, and iron is the strongest. Gold speaks of power, and the interesting thing we will see later in Daniel, when he was thrown to the lions, is that King Darius, pictured by silver, did not have the power to change the law Daniel’s enemies had written with the intention of destroying him. He was not as powerful as King Nebuchadnezzar. Bronze, representing the Grecian Empire, is also interesting in that Greece used bronze for weapons. For the “legs of iron” as a picture of Rome, Rome was eventually divided into two sections, east and west, with two capitols – Constantinople and Rome. When we arrive at Daniel’s visions of the empire that is pictured in the ten toes of iron and clay, we will study this future kingdom in more detail.

 

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him.
47 The king answered and said Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”
48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.  Daniel 2:46-49


In these last verses of Daniel 2, we see King Nebuchadnezzar’s response to Daniel’s interpretation of his dream. While he acknowledges God in these verses, we will see in the next chapter that he was still a proud man who believed the picture that had been painted of him in his dream.

Verse 48 is an interesting verse. Have you ever wondered how the “Magi” of Matthew 2 knew what to look for when Jesus was born? The answer is here. About 400 years before Jesus’ birth, Daniel became the leader of the wise men of Babylon. We know Daniel was not shy about telling people about God, so this is very likely the place and time when they began to look for these signs in the heavens. Later, Daniel would also have a vision that would give the year that Jesus would be crucified, so they also knew WHEN to look for the signs in the heavens.

One more privilege Daniel claimed from the king was the promotion of his three friends to leadership positions in King Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.

*Thought questions: In what way is your testimony for Jesus today powerful enough to be remembered many years into the future, long after you have died? Is there anything you can do to make it last that long?