The last words of Nebuchadnezzar the Bible records are words of praise to the Lord, “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt, and honor the King of Heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” (Daniel 4:37) A very difficult lesson for anyone to learn; a lesson that Nebuchadnezzar had to learn the hard way. When we enter chapter five of the book of Daniel, we meet a new king, Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson. Unfortunately, Belshazzar has received none of the benefits of Nebuchadnezzar’s painfully learned spiritual truths. About the only trait of his grandfather’s that is visible is the pride the he had discarded. The important trait of a responsive heart to God that Nebuchadnezzar had gained is clearly absent in the life of Belshazzar. Today we will look at how one generation’s revival became the future generation’s rebellion. More importantly we want to discover how God humbles those who walk in pride.
I. Putting everything into its proper historical setting.
A. After Nebuchadnezzar’s death, it wasn’t long until the traits of greed and ambition began to sweep through hi family.
1. Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Evil-Merodach, reigned only two years before his power-hungry brother-in-law, General Neriglissar assassinated him and stole the crown.
2. After a six year reign Neriglissar died and his son Labashi-Marduk became seated on the throne.
3. After two months Labashi-Marduk was murdered by Nabonidus.
4. Nabonidus spent most of his reign away from Babylon, securing the border and strengthen the empire.
5. He appointed his son Belshazzar, as co-ruler and left him in charge of Babylon.
6. In his heavily fortified city Belshazzar reclined comfortably in his easy chair.
7. No enemy had been able to storm the city in over a thousand years. This was about to change.
B. Off in the distance, the Medo-Persian king Cyrus and his army were making their way toward Babylon.
1. Noticing the growing threat, Nabonidus and his army headed them off along the Tigris River.
2. A great battle took place causing Nabonidus and his troops to withdraw leaving Cyrus a clear road to Babylon.
3. Belshazzar just shrugged his shoulders after the news even as Cyrus besieged the city he was not even worried.
4. Besides they had twenty years worth of food in the city’s huge granaries. Cyrus would run out of provisions long before they would.
5. So the arrogant king scoffed at Cyrus’ siege and came up with an idea of how to show his confidence in his victory over Cyrus. He threw a party.
II. A party that the nation would long remember.
A. Belshazzar being drunk from wine felt a sense of great invincibility beginning to build in his heart.
1. He is the greatest king of the world.
2. Greater than Cyrus, greater than Nebuchadnezzar and even greater than God Himself.
3. A brazen act of blasphemy that no other Babylonian king before him even dared to do.
B. Belshazzar’s blasphemy was without equal.
1. Nebuchadnezzar had stored Israel’s temple treasures, showing respect for their value as sacred treasures.
2. By using them to toast his own gods, Belshazzar shows his contempt for both his grandfather and the God he grew to worship.
3. Unlike the idols and false gods who all respond to praise and desecration in pretty much the same way—dumb as a rock—the true God doesn’t tolerate such actions.
C. God’s hand of judgment.
1. Belshazzar sees a hand of a man appear and begin writing on the wall of the palace.
2. Belshazzar must realize deep down inside the message spells judgment, but he proceeds to call the nation’s wise men together to interpret the message.
3. Just as in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, God’s message leaves the Babylonian wise men dumbfounded.
4. After seeing their helplessness Belshazzar becomes more pale and overtaken with fear.
5. The queen probably Belshazzar’s grandmother is the only one in the court who thinks to summon Daniel.
III. A man deserving of admiration.
A. It has been many years since Daniel had been summoned by the king.
1. Daniel now in his eighties still carries himself in steadiness resulting from a lifetime of faith in God.
2. Before the young king Daniel stands strong, his character firmly rooted and his integrity unshakable.
3. Belshazzar sees Daniel as only on of the exiles from Judah that his grandfather had imported.
4. Daniel is offered the same riches for his interpretation as the other wise men, but Daniel can not be bought.
B. Before Daniel reveals the meaning he gives the young king a lesson in history.
1. Daniel reminds the king that all of Nebuchadnezzar’s power, even to being able to take God’s people captive came from God.
2. This was a lesson that was hard for Nebuchadnezzar to learn as well.
3. All crowns of authority belong to the Lord, who gives them and takes them away.
4. Not even kings have the right to boast before God.
C. Having built his case from the past, Daniel confronts Belshazzar with the charges against him.
1. The guilt weighs even heavier on Belshazzar’s shoulders because he knows the truth about God through his grandfather’s experience.
2. The knowledge however, has done nothing to change his life.
3. How foolish for Belshazzar to worship lifeless objects instead of the One who holds his life in his hand.
4. Now that hand is about to take everything in which he boasted: his throne, his kingdom and his life.
D. Daniel reads the inscription like a foreman of the jury announcing a verdict.
1. The interpretation basically means that God has numbered his kingdom and put an end to it.
2. Belshazzar seems unmoved by the verdict revealed from God and elevates Daniel to third in command over the entire kingdom.
3. The king acts like he doesn’t realize that the party is over.
4. Unknown to Belshazzar, Cyrus’ ingenious commander diverts the Euphrates River, lowering the level of the water running through Babylon.
5. That same night the Medo-Persian army waded in under the river gates, took the city by surprise and killing Belshazzar.
IV. Two lessons for us to apply in our world.
A. God’s judgment may seem slow, but it is thorough.
1. By A.D. 200, the once mighty Babylon, with its towering walls and beautiful gardens was totally deserted.
2. Today it isn’t even a whistle stop along the Baghdad rail line.
3. We do not need to wonder if God will do something about all the evil that goes on in the world today.
4. He long ago saw its beginning and determined its end.
B. Never underestimate the power of one solitary, godly life.
1. Against the backdrop of judgment stood one reassuring and constant light: Daniel.
2. He endured because he courageously spoke God’s truth and refused to compromise his character.
3. Are we doing the same?
4. Our life may be the only light some people will ever see.
A U.S. Air Force transport plane with its captain and 5 crew members was flying over Alaska in the mid-50s when they entered an unusually fierce snowstorm. The navigator contacted an air base only to be told that he had veered several hundred miles off course. Correct coordinates were given to the navigator, who continued to insist that his own calculations could not be that far off. Soon the plane ran low on fuel. The six men decided to abandon the plane and parachute to safety, but because of the -70 degree Fahrenheit temperature and winds that gusted to 50 mph, they were all frozen within minutes of hitting the ground. A friend of mine was part of the rescue team that discovered and retrieved the bodies 3 days later. As a result of the navigator’s pride, 5 other people went to their deaths. Proverbs 12:15 tells us that "the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise." The results may not always be so dramatic, but we must all be careful to seek the counsel of God and wise individuals before making decisions of lasting significance.
