Click here to listen to this week’s episode of Further In, in which members of the Passion City Church DC team discuss the passage of scripture we’re studying and consider how to apply the truths of God’s word to our lives.

This week’s reading: Daniel 5

Before diving into Chapter 5, it’s helpful to recall the events of Daniel 4. Nebuchadnezzar, the proud king of Babylon, was humbled by God, living like an animal for a time until he repented and acknowledged the LORD. By the end of his life, Nebuchadnezzar was praising the one true God.

In Daniel 5, we see a new ruler on the throne. Years after Nebuchadnezzar’s reign ended, we meet… Belshazzar. The Greek historian Xenophon referred to Belshazzar as “the wicked king.” He also recorded a moment when Belshazzar murdered a governor’s son on a hunting trip out of jealousy. Pride, violence, and arrogance marked Belshazzar. Interestingly, most historians believed the records of Belshazzar to be ancient myths until archeological evidence was found supporting the existence of Belshazzar in the 19th century. 

As the saying goes, “Pride comes before the fall.” It is Belshazzar’s pride that leads to the collapse of Babylon. The fall of Babylon has been recorded by many historians, but Daniel 5 tells the collapse of one of the greatest empires in history from Heaven’s perspective…

—Read Daniel 5—

What happened?

Daniel 5 opens with prideful, petty, and violent King Belshazzar holding a lavish banquet for his nobles. In a drunken act of disrespect, he ordered that the sacred vessels from the temple in Jerusalem be brought out so he and his guests could drink from them (Daniel 5:1-4). These were the same vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken during his conquest of Jerusalem, and they were meant to be holy and set apart for God. But Belshazzar used them for a drunken party, praising false gods. The sensual party turned sacrilegious as Belshazzar mocked the LORD of heaven.

Suddenly, a hand appeared and began writing on the wall. The mysterious writing terrified Belshazzar, and none of his wise men could interpret it. His mother remembered Daniel, who had once served Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was brought in to interpret the writing (Daniel 5:5-16).

Daniel boldly confronted Belshazzar. He reminded him of Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling experience and how God had taught Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge His rule. Despite knowing all this, Belshazzar refused to humble himself and continued to worship lifeless objects. 

What was the writing on the wall? MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN— a message of judgment. Daniel explained that Belshazzar’s days were numbered, he had been weighed and found wanting, and his kingdom would be divided and given to the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5:17-28). To be found “wanting” was to be found lacking or deficient. Because of his refusal to repent, Belshazzar lacked any sort of right standing with God and would be divided and judged. 

That very night, Belshazzar was killed, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, fulfilling God’s judgment (Daniel 5:30-31).

What to remember?

• King Belshazzar (the new ruler of Babylon) displays his power with a great feast (5:1-2)
• At the feast, King Belshazzar mocks the LORD’s vessels (5:3)
• The hand writes on the wall (5:5-9)
• Daniel recalls Nebuchadnezzar’s story and confronts Belshazzar (5:18-23)
• Daniel interprets the writing on the wall (5:25-28)
• Belshazzar is judged and killed, and the kingdom falls (5:30-31)

Meditation

• You have been weighed and found wanting (5:27)

Belshazzar was weighed in God’s balance and found wanting… or lacking. His refusal to repent led to his downfall. Similar to Belshazzar, we all feel a sense in which we have been weighed in God’s balance and lack righteousness within ourselves. We are helpless within our own means before judgment… 

However, the beauty of the Gospel is that “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). In the world’s greatest moment of love, Jesus bore our judgment so that we could have his righteousness. Unlike Belshazzar, we do not turn inward to find righteousness within ourselves (because it’s lacking!), but we turn to Jesus, who became our righteousness on the cross.

• You did not honor the God who holds your life in His hands (5:23)

Daniel’s rebuke of Belshazzar hits hard: You have not honored the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways. Belshazzar failed to recognize that his life and his kingdom were derivative from God. 

We often forget that every breath we take is sustained by God’s hand. This moment reminds us that every aspect of our life is under God’s sovereign control. Do you live with an awareness of God’s constant provision in your life? Do you honor Him in the way you live, work, and interact with others? 

Prayer

Father,

Help me to live with a heart 

that is humble before you.

May I live each day with a sense of your holiness

and a deep desire to walk in your ways.

I love you, LORD.

Amen.