Daniel 5. The Power of Holiness
Daniel 5. The Power of Holiness
A little introduction:
Chapters 4 and 5 really belong together as they both look at the interaction between God as king and a human king. In chapter 5 we see a king who is proud and who dares to “shake his fist at God”. A king with no thought of repentance or any acknowledgement of God.
BELSHAZZAR was probably the same Belshazzar mentioned in the Neo-Babylonian tablets which refer to King Nabonidus as the final king of the Babylonian Empire. Because of his frequent and long military campaigns in Arabia, Belshazzar acted as regent in Babylon.
Read verses 1-4. What do these verses suggest about the situation Belshazzar was in?
Read verses 5-8. How did God respond to B’s defiance, and with what result?
Read verses 9-17. What do you make of B’s reaction? What temptations did Daniel face?
Read verses 18-24. Compare the two kings, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.
Read verses 25-30. This was a cryptic message. Try to work out what it meant.
We now need to take chapters 4 and 5 as a single unit. Reflect on the two kings and note in particular ways in which B ruled badly.
Further reflection and PRAYER:
In what ways do rulers today “Shake their fist at God”?
Are the best rulers Christians?
Look at 1 Timothy 2 verses 1-8. What does Paul urge us to do for those in authority?
What do you think “authority exercised under the kingship of God” might look like in practice?
Having looked at these questions you might now like to turn to prayer
The following notes offer some guidance for leaders, but are available to all
These comments are not to be seen as the “correct answer” – they are offered as a means of helping the discussions.
Read verses 1-4. What do these verses suggest about the situation Belshazzar was in?
It seems as if Belshazzar (B) was needing to bolster his kingdom and his right to be seen as king. He therefore tried to buy respect and support with food, wine and entertainment. Is this why he organised such a lavish banquet? His action of using the sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem was not just an act of defiance against Nebuchadnezzar, but also against the God of Israel. Perhaps he had drunk too much wine, but his actions were an attempt to mock Israel’s God.
Read verses 5-8. How did God respond to B’s defiance, and with what result?
The gods of silver, wood, iron etc. remained silent. The God of Israel took action! Despite B’s attempts to get his advisers to offer advice they, like the Babylonian gods, remained mute.
Read verses 9-17. What do you make of B’s reaction? What temptations did Daniel face?
B realized that what had happened was divine in origin, and so sought an interpretation. Huge incentives were offered to Daniel.
Read verses 18-24. Compare the two kings, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.
Daniel realised that the dream was linked to the incident with N. N had in many ways been a “great” king, but he came to acknowledge that his rule was given to him by a far greater ruler, God.
B on the other hand refused to humble himself before the Lord of Heaven, the ruler of all. It was as if he wanted to have a duel with God by drinking from the sacred vessels and praising the gods of silver, gold etc. He failed to honour the One who held his hand in his life.
Read verses 25-30. This was a cryptic message. Try to work out what it meant.
The message was short and to the point. It was a cryptic message which the wise men could not understand as each word was a pun:
MENE – related to the verb MNH = “numbered”
TEKEL – related to the verb TQL = “weighed”
PARSIN – related to the verb PRS = “divided”
B’s kingdom would be divided, half to the Medes and half to the Persians. Daniel was richly rewarded, but that night B also received his reward, killed by a new king from a new nation.
DARIUS THE MEDE. Who was he? Biblical writers were aware that Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon, and there was no Darius on the throne until 522BC. Scholars have come up with various solutions, but the most likely is that Darius and Cyrus are one and the same.
We now need to take chapters 4 and 5 as a single unit. Reflect on the two kings and note in particular ways in which B ruled badly.
Those who ruled badly:
Refused to humble themselves
Refused to acknowledge the ultimate rule of God
Refused to treat God’s possessions and people with respect
B failed to learn from the past. He defied the God of Heaven; he profaned what had been dedicated to the God of Heaven; he worshipped lifeless idols; he never even recognised the God to whom he owed his kingship. And God acted swiftly by putting another king in his place.
Proverbs 16 verse 18
If time, you may find it helpful to summarise what has been taught so far:
As Creator of the world, God is the one true King
The kingship of God is leading to a chosen goal
It is God who delegates his kingship to earthly rulers, and he requires them to serve the needs of those whom they rule over
God’s kingly rule is a rule of justice and mercy
We all need to accept that whatever “rule” we have is a gift of God – and we need to use whatever power we have wisely
Old Testament writers were aware of the nature of God as king – for example, Psalm 145 verses 8-16.
N took great pride in his successes, yet he eventually came to realise (as a result of living for some years in the wild) God’s ultimate sovereignty.
B on the other hand saw himself as “in control” and dared to challenge and defy God’s rule. History is full of such rulers; from those who take the power delegated to them by God and seek to use it for self-interest. And judgement will come, sooner or later.
And there will come a time when God’s kingdom is fully established on earth. Isaiah wrote of how this would come about (Isaiah 52.13 – 53.12) and it has done in Jesus, the one who came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10.45). And one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD (Philippians 2.6-11).