Bible Study - Impact (5) - Confront Sin - Daniel 5:17-28 - November 15, 2015

Bible Study – Impact (5) – Confront Sin – November 15, 2015

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Game Changer: How to Impact Your World.”

Our focus scripture is Daniel 5:17-28.

Call sin what it is and point to what GOD says about it.

King Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C. He reigned for 43 years. His son, Evil-Merodach ruled from 562 to 560 B.C.; his brother-in-law, Neriglissar ruled from 560-556 B.C.;  Labashi-Marduk reigned for two months in 556 B.C.; Nabonidus (NAB-uh-NIGH-duhs) ruled from 556 to 539 B.C.; Belshazzar (bel-SHAZ-uhr), the son of Nabonidus co-ruled with his father from 553 to 539 B.C.

Our study fast forwards to the period of King Belshazzar’s rule. Daniel served the kingdom from 605-536 B.C. The Medes and the Persians joined forces to defeat Babylon. Darius and his soldiers diverted the river that ran through Babylon and walked into the city on the dry riverbed in 539 B.C.

The events described in Chapter 5 occurred about 25 years after King Nebuchadnezzar’s death. Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by three different descendants. These events occurred when King Nebuchadnezzar’s son-in-law, Nabonidus, became king but he was more of an absentee king. He liked to travel, thus Belshazzar became the vice-regent. Belshazzar enjoyed the good life which being in charge of the kingdom offered him. King Nebuchadnezzar was the grandfather of Belshazzar. Belshazzar knew how GOD had dealt with his grandfather, as we will read later. Yet Belshazzar showed disdain for sacred things and openly defied the One True GOD of the Israelites. GOD will not be mocked. GOD sent a profound message to Belshazzar.

This is a message to all of us today. GOD will not be mocked! HE is still sovereign and on HIS throne. JESUS has revealed HIM physically and Spiritually. All who place their faith in CHRIST will receive eternal life and will become GOD’S Sons or Daughters. But HIS desire is for all of HIS true children to obediently serve HIM as they are led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Let’s read Daniel 5:1-16:  (Background - Belshazzar's Feast)

1 King Belshazzar held a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles and drank wine in their presence. 

2 Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines could drink from them. 

When things other than GOD’S power controls us, we as humans do dumb things which bring us down. While this orgy was going on, the river was being diverted to allow the enemy to walk in to conquer Babylon. Satan diverts our attention from GOD to destroy us.  

3 So they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines drank from them. 

4 They drank the wine and praised their gods made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

The Handwriting on the Wall

5 At that moment the fingers of a man's hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the king's palace wall next to the lampstand. As the king watched the hand that was writing, 

6 his face turned pale, and his thoughts so terrified him that his hip joints shook and his knees knocked together. 

7 The king called out to bring in the mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. He said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this inscription and gives me its interpretation will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around his neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom." 

8 So all the king's wise men came in, but none could read the inscription or make known its interpretation to him. 

9 Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face turned pale, and his nobles were bewildered. 

10 Because of the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen came to the banquet hall. "May the king live forever," she said. "Don't let your thoughts terrify you or your face be pale. 

11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your predecessor he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the diviners, mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. Your own predecessor, the king, 

12[did this] because Daniel, the one the king named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and perception, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems. Therefore, summon Daniel, and he will give the interpretation."

Daniel before the King

13 Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the Judean exiles that my predecessor the king brought from Judah? 

14 I've heard that you have the spirit of the gods in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. 

15 Now the wise men and mediums were brought before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not give its interpretation. 

16 However, I have heard about you that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around your neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom." 

Daniel was offered expensive gifts and power, if he could interpret what had happened.

Let’s read Daniel 5:17-21:

17 Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him. 

Daniel’s response to the king’s offer reflected the heart of Daniel toward GOD. Material things are not important, but Spiritual things are of great importance. 

Daniel’s desire was for the king to repent and place his trust in GOD as King Nebuchadnezzar had done.

18 Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar. 

19 Because of the greatness He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. 

20 But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him. 

21 He was driven away from people, his mind was like an animal's, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of men and sets anyone He wants over it. 

Daniel reviewed how GOD had dealt with King Nebuchadnezzar which ultimately led to Nebuchadnezzar living like an animal for a period of time; likely seven years. When Nebuchadnezzar finally looked up to heaven and acknowledged the One True GOD, his sanity was restored.

GOD is sovereign and orchestrates all events. HE alone places those HE chooses over things upon earth and removes them as well according to HIS plans and purpose.

Let’s read Daniel 5:22-24:

22 "But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 

What Daniel was revealing to Belshazzar was something he KNEW. It was not hearsay but fact.

23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them, you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life. 

24 Therefore, He sent the hand, and this writing was inscribed.

GOD holds us accountable for what we know. Belshazzar knew about the One True GOD but his ego got in his way and he exalted himself above the One True GOD. GOD will not be mocked and HE is sovereign.

Why do we have the Bible? The Bible is just as relevant to us today as the day it was written. The Bible reveals the nature and expectations of GOD. Today, we know the truth through JESUS the CHRIST and the expectations of GOD for living as HIS children. Are we measuring up? Are we abusing or taking lightly the Holy things of GOD by compromising?

Let’s read Daniel 5:25-31:

The Inscription's Interpretation

25 "This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN

The king’s sages likely knew the words but did not know the message the words communicated. The word “MENE” was stated twice which likely communicated the profound, irreversible nature of things already happening. Some Bible scholars relate these words to specific weight measure: mina, shekel and parsin, meaning “half,” such as “half-mina,” “half-shekel” or “half-parsin.” P. 116 in Herschel Hobbs Commentary, LifeWay, fall, 2015, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175. The idea was that Belshazzar failed to measure up to GOD’S standard.

26 This is the interpretation of the message: MENE [means that] God has numbered [the days of] your kingdom and brought it to an end. 

MENE relates to counting or being numbered. The days of Babylon were numbered and were coming to an end. Babylon was secure as a city but little did the king know how vulnerable the city was. The fact that “MENE” was repeated twice, revealed the impending doom.

27 TEKEL[means that] you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient. 

“Weighed” carried the idea of a balance where a standard weight was placed on one side and the thing to be measured on the other side. Simply GOD had placed Belshazzar on the scales and he failed to measure up according to GOD’S righteousness.

28 PERES [means that] your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 

PERES is the singular form of “UPHARSIN.” It carried the idea of “half” or to break into half or divide. [P.117 of Hobbs Commentary.] The word “PERES” related to Persia, thus Babylon would be divided between the Medes and the Persians.

In fact, while Daniel was telling this to Belshazzar, the enemy was coming into the city and Belshazzar would be killed that night, as we will read in verse 30.

29 Then Belshazzar gave an order, and they clothed Daniel in purple, [placed] a gold chain around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 

Contrary to Daniel’s rejection of the gifts the king wanted to give him, the king gave Daniel gifts. Why? Could it be that if he honored Daniel in such a lavish way, the One True GOD would not carry out HIS plan to conquer Babylon? GOD cannot be bribed. HE says what HE means and means what HE says.

30 That very night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed, 

31 and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of 62.

GOD will not be mocked. HE had revealed Himself in a very visible and mighty way through King Nebuchadnezzar to the royal household but they turned their backs on the One True GOD. GOD gave King Belshazzar and all those in the banquet a very real and graphic sign of HIS presence and sovereignty. GOD’S desire is for all to know truth and to abide by truth. HE will not be mocked. This is a message to us today.

True repentance may change the course of events but sin always has consequences. If you have not repented of your sins, now is that opportunity. 

Please ask CHRIST to forgive you for your sins and ask HIM to come into your heart now and experience the indwelling Holy Spirit and the assurance of eternal life through the miracle of rebirth as GOD’S Son or Daughter. Get to know GOD and CHRIST by reading the Bible, such as the Book of John or Mark and talk to HIM by praying.

As GOD’S child you can come into HIS presence and call HIM “Daddy.” If you have issues with HIM tell HIM and ask HIM to help you resolve them so that you can obediently serve HIM without hindrance. Ask HIM to help you grow and mature Spiritually. 

Growth does not happen overnight, it is a process of daily living and experiencing HIS presence in your life. Salvation is just the beginning of a life long journey. Blessings!!!