The Writing on the Wall
Daniel 5
November 3, 2002
Intro:
A. [It’s Over Your Head, Citation: C.D. Monismith, Salem, Ore. Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."]
One quarter while teaching an adult Sunday school class, I decided, It’s time to be up-to-date and innovative. I need to try something new for our class.
We were studying one of the Old Testament books.
I found an overhead projector and tried to teach myself how to use it.
Then I wrote an outline on an overhead transparency to display for the class.
When Sunday morning came, I had the projector all set up.
At the right moment in the lesson, I flipped on the overhead.
The beautiful outline flashed on the wall for all to see.
To emphasize a significant spiritual truth in the passage, I grabbed one of the special markers, walked over and started writing in bold letters on the outline.
The class burst out laughing.
Why are they laughing? I thought to myself. This is the crucial point!
Then it hit me.
I was writing on the wall.
It seems I’d been a little unclear on the overhead concept.
The class wouldn’t let me forget it.
In fact, for many weeks they wouldn’t allow me to remove my brilliant insight from the wall.
1. I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase about the writing on the wall.
2. Today, we come to the fifth chapter of Daniel where that phrase originated.
B. Background…There are several matters that I need to explain as we make this transition into chapter 5…
1. About 20 years have passed since chapter 4 and in those 20 years many things have happened…
2. One is that Nebuchadnezzar is no longer king, now there is a King named Belshazzar.
a. The historians are in disagreement as to just what the procession has been from Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar.
b. The only thing they agree on is that Nebuchadnezzar did not hand the kingdom over to Belshazzar.
c. There have been several kings in between Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, but the non-Christian historians are in disagreement as to exactly who they were.
d. All we know is that it is now the fall of 539 B.C. and Nebuchadnezzar is no longer king and Belshazzar is the king.
3. Another matter that we need to make sure of is the difference between Daniel and the king.
a. Daniel has become known as Belteshazzar, while the new king’s name is Belshazzar.
b. If it has a “te” in the middle its Daniel, if it doesn’t have a “te” it is the king.
c. So make sure you don’t get confused between Daniel (Belteshazzar) and King Belshazzar.
4. Another is that even though Nebuchadnezzar is referred to as Belshazzar’s “father,” that is not literally the case.
a. The Hebrew did not have a word for grandfather or great grandfather.
b. Therefore the word father was used for anyone who was an ancestor of the person.
c. The historians tell us that Belshazzar’s father was Nabonidus and Nebuchadnezzar was possibly Belshazzar’s grandfather.
5. One other thing is that although there is a woman referred to as the “queen”, she is not Belshazzar’s wife.
a. The queen referred to is not Belshazzar’s wife, she was probably his father’s wife or possible his grandfather’s wife.
b. The Brit’s would probably refer to her as the Queen Mother.
I. Belshazzar
A. Brazenness
Daniel 5:1-4 (NIV), King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. 3 So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. 4 As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
1. This was just outright brazenness on the part of King Belshazzar.
2. Belshazzar had an absolute contempt for anything and anyone.
3. The historians tell us that they were actually in the midst of a war when this event took place.
4. Belshazzar was actually co-reigning with his father Nabonidus.
5. The enemy had actually already captured Nabonidus.
6. The enemy was actually outside the walls besieging the city at the moment this event was taking place.
7. Belshazzar was brazenly holding a feast at the very moment that the city was under siege and his father had been in captivity for several months.
8. Belshazzar had no respect for his father, he had no respect for the enemy, and…he had no respect for the true God.
9. He brought in the articles from the temple of our God and began drinking from them.
10. Belshazzar had no respect for his father, he had no respect for the enemy, and he had no respect for the true God.
B. Fearfulness
Daniel 5:5-6 (NIV), Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
1. But even though Belshazzar had brazenly done what he did, God found a way to strike fear in his heart.
2. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “the writing on the wall” this is where it came from.
3. There in the midst of this royal party, a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall near the light in the royal palace.
4. This struck fear in the brazen heart of the king.
5. The king watched in utter fear as the hand wrote on the wall.
6. Daniel says the king’s face turned pale and he was so scared that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
7. It often takes a frightening experience to get the attention of someone this brazen.
II. Wise men
A. Quietness
Daniel 5:7-9 (NIV), The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom." 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9 So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
1. The king called out for the wise men of the kingdom.
2. The king told the wise men that whoever could read the writing would be greatly rewarded.
3. But the wise men were utterly silent.
4. The wise men had no idea what the writing on the wall said.
5. So now the king has become even more terrified and his face grew even more pale.
6. The wise men were baffled and quieted.
III. The Queen
A. Calmness
Daniel 5:10-12 (NIV), The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "O king, live forever!" she said. "Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father--your father the king, I say--appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. 12 This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."
1. Now the “queen” (as I said) is not Belshazzar’s wife, but rather his mother or grandmother.
2. Verse three told us that Belshazzar’s wives and concubines were there at the party with him.
3. But verse ten tells us that the queen was outside the banquet hall and heard the voices of the king and the wise men.
4. She came in and reminded Belshazzar about Daniel who had been appointed chief of the wise men by his forefather King Nebuchadnezzar.
5. She tried to calm the king down and reassure him because she believed that Daniel could do what the rest could not do.
B. Effectiveness
Daniel 5:13-16 (NIV), So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. 15 The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. 16 Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
1. The queen mother was effective at getting the king to calm down and not being so alarmed.
2. The queen mother was effective at getting Belshazzar to call on Daniel to interpret the writing.
3. Belshazzar called Daniel in and offered him the same rewards that he had offered the other wise men.
IV. Daniel
A. Humbleness
Daniel 5:17 (NIV), Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
1. Daniel was very humble about the whole thing, just as he had been with Nebuchadnezzar twenty years prior.
2. Daniel told the king that he didn’t need the rewards, but he would interpret the writing nonetheless.
B. Mindfulness
Daniel 5:18-21 (NIV), "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes.
1. It had been twenty years since all of this had happened to Nebuchadnezzar in chapter four, but Daniel is still mindful of it all.
2. It had been twenty years since all of this had happened to Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel realized that it was something that should never be forgotten.
C. Boldness
Daniel 5:22-31 (NIV), "But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. 25 "This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN 26 "This is what these words mean: Mene : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 27 Tekel : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. 28 Peres : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 29 Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, 31 and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
1. It had been twenty years since all of this had happened to Nebuchadnezzar, but it is clear that God intended for every generation to remember it and be mindful of it.
2. It had been twenty years since all of this had happened to Nebuchadnezzar, and even though Belshazzar had known all about it, he had brazenly lived in rebellion to the Lord of heaven.
3. It had been twenty years since all of this had happened to Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel boldly told the king that since he had set himself up against God, He was now going to pronounce judgment on him.
4. Daniel boldly told Belshazzar that God had weighed him on the scales and found him wanting.
5. That very night, his kingdom would be handed over to the Medes and the Persians.
6. Even though Belshazzar had brazenly held a banquet laughing at the people besieging his city at that very moment, God showed him how weak he really was.
7. The historians tell us that the attacking army came through the city walls and right into the banquet hall that night and killed Belshazzar.
V. Somerset
A. Submissiveness
Daniel 5:17 (NIV), Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
1. I believe the first thing God would say to us at Somerset about this story is that we need to be submissive.
2. Ephesians 5:21 (NIV), Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
3. Frankly, we’ve had some trouble with that in the past here at Somerset.
4. We have had those who have thought that they were in charge and they had no concern for submitting to others.
5. Unfortunately we had many here who thought they owned the church and everyone else should do everything the way they wanted it done.
6. But that is clearly not the Christ like way!
7. Mark 10:45 (NIV), For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
8. We are to be submissive to one another.
9. There is an old slogan in the restoration movement that I intend to keep pounding home that says, “In essentials: unity; in non-essentials: liberty; and in all things: love.”
a. If there is an essential Scripture that is being violated, we need to take a stand.
b. But if it is just someone’s opinion, then we need to allow people the freedom to express and exercise that opinion.
c. But no matter what, we need to show love.
10.We have got to put others above ourselves if we’re going to expect God to prosper us.
11.We have got to be submissive to one another if this church is going to thrive and grow.
12.We cannot just sit in the pews and get upset when someone doesn’t do something the way we think it should be done.
13.I believe we have a group of people here that will be submissive—will you prove me right?
B. Mindfulness & Responsiveness
Daniel 5:22-23 (NIV), "But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.
1. We’ve also had a problem with this.
2. We’ve had folks who did not want to be held accountable for what has been said.
3. I have been continually asked why I repeat some topics; the answer is because I believe God wants us to remember and live out what He has taught us.
4. [Illustration]
There is a story of a young pastor, fresh out of Bible College, who was in his first pastorate.
The young man took to the platform his first Sunday and preached a wonderful sermon on love.
The people were so happy that they had hired this fine young man and told him how much they appreciated his very first sermon.
The following week the young man took to the platform and preached the very same sermon about love.
They were somewhat confused, but still told him how good a sermon it was.
The third week, he took to the platform and (you guessed it!) preached the same sermon about love.
Not surprisingly, they called an emergency board meeting immediately after church and they decided to have a talk with the young pastor.
They asked him if he had just been too busy to write a new sermon—he said no.
They asked him if that was the only sermon that he had in his files—he said no.
They asked him if he just hadn’t been able to come up with a new sermon idea—he said no.
So they asked him why he had preached the same sermon for three Sunday’s in a row.
The young pastor responded, “When you start doing the first one, I’ll move on to the second one.”
5. I believe that God gives us his Word and He gives us messengers to teach us His Word and He expects us to remember and live by what He teaches us.
6. Notice here that God expected His people to remember what he said through His prophet twenty years before.
7. God doesn’t give us His Word and send us messengers so that we can come to church and be entertained and go home and continue to live however we want to live.
8. God doesn’t give us messages in the church and expect the church to continue on as if nothing had ever happened.
9. [Illustration]
One of the topics that I have repeated is worship.
I can remember nearly every time that I have preached on worship, I have had people come to me and tell me that they couldn’t wait until next Sunday to see how good the worship was going to be now that we have been taught, but every time the worship stayed the same.
That is because we have had people here who didn’t care about what was taught and didn’t think God cared whether they did what God wanted or not.
I’ve actually had people say that they don’t need any sermons, they just come to sing.
That smacks of the same attitude that Nebuchadnezzar had and forgot what Daniel had told him 12 months before and it smacks of the same attitude that Belshazzar had.
10.Sadly, God has weighed the attitudes of some of our people and found them wanting and has moved them somewhere else.
11.And we need to remember what happened to Nebuchadnezzar, and Belshazzar, and everyone else in the Bible who weren’t mindful and responsive to what God said.
12.One of the important things that we need to be mindful of and responsive to this week is the election.
a. God expects us to mindful what He says is right and what He says is wrong and be responsive by voting appropriately for candidates that He would vote—regardless of politically affiliation.
b. Out in the foyer, I want to encourage you to take a voter guide before you go.
c. I want to encourage you to pray and consider fasting about this election that we can get godly people in leadership in this country and state.
d. We need to vote for those who oppose taxing churches—which is something many want to do in Indiana to make up some of this shortfall.
e. We need to vote for those who oppose pornography in public libraries.
f. We need to vote for those who oppose gambling.
g. We need to vote for those who oppose so-called homosexual rights.
h. We need to vote for those who oppose abortion.
i. We need to vote for those who support the display of the Ten Commandments.
j. Do you see that God expects us to be mindful of Him and responsive to Him by voting for people who agree with Him and not just vote for people we like or people who are in a particular party?
13.Now I want to make a clear distinction here today as well…
a. I have been accused of being a dictator.
b. I have been accused of asking you people to worship me.
c. I have been accused of leading you to slaughter.
d. I have been referred to as Jim Jones.
e. I want to make it very clear that I am only a messenger and I am not asking you or anyone else to bow to me.
f. I am pointing you to Christ and asking you to bow to Him.
g. Yes, I am asking you to follow me as I follow Christ-just as the apostle Paul did.
h. I am simply asking you to come here to listen to what the Spirit has to say to you through my voice.
i. And I am asking you to be mindful and responsive to what the Spirit says to you.
14.And I am also asking this family to make this a safe place for people to do that.
a. I am asking this family to make this a grace place.
b. I am asking this family to make it a safe place to confess when the Spirit convicts you of sin.
c. I am asking this family not to be shocked or judgmental of someone who confesses to sin when the Spirit convicts them.
d. I am asking this family to make it a safe place to admit that you’re a sinner and not have to worry about it being spread all over town.
e. I am asking this family to make it safe for a Nebuchadnezzar or a Belshazzar to get himself right with God before their life is ended.
f. We need to provide a loving and safe place for all of us and all of Putnam County to come and get ourselves right with God!
g. We’ve seen the writing on the wall, and we need to be mindful and responsive to whatever and wherever God leads us!
Conclusion:
A. [America’s Sin of Self-Sufficiency, Citation: Richard Halverson, "The Question Facing Us," Preaching Today, Tape 46.]
In 1863 President Lincoln designated April 30th as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. Let me read a portion of his proclamation on that occasion:
"It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, who owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by a history that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord. The awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has grown, but we have forgotten God."
B. How do you need to respond to God today?
