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Dan. 5:5-9

Lesson # Dan. 5:5-9 Study Material - Dan. 5:5-9 You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth. Dan. 5:5-9 5 Suddenly the fingers of a man's hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. 6 Then the king's face grew pale, and his thoughts alarmed him; and his hip joints went slack, and his knees began knocking together. 7 The king called aloud to bring in the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, 'Any man who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me will be clothed with purple, and have a necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom.' 8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, his face grew even paler, and his nobles were perplexed. Judgment is eminent, yet no clap of thunder, no lightening, no loud noise or angel of death standing overhead with flaming sword drawn. None of these, but there is the hand of a man seen and the silent writing on the wall. This hand is seen from the back side of the hand and opposite the lampstand, clear and plainly seen by all in the room. You can imagine the surprise. At first there is a party with laughter and jokes, the slapping on backs, and food being consumed, then suddenly out of nowhere this hand appears high in the air and against the opposite wall. The room no doubt fell silent during the writing. Then the hand would disappear just as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind the writing on the wall. Now everyone is talking, 'Did you see that? What was that? A hand. Whose hand? What did it write? What are those words? What do they mean? I'm outa here!!!' The noise from the banquet room would be very loud and disturbing. The call for the conjurers, advisors, and so forth would raise quite a stir which would bring the queen to the room to see what this noise was all about. Belshazzar called for everyone but Daniel. Either he was so distraught that he did not think of Daniel, or more likely, he did not know of Daniel, and obviously did not use him for advise during his (Belshazzar's) reign as king. The unknown strikes fear and terror to those who know nothing of the truth. Here again the city is surrounded and the party is being conducted rather than prudent planning. Ignoring the problem at hand is not a valid option nor will it bring a solution. Belshazzar has led a pattern of wicked living. He is indulging himself in his vices to say the least. His office is that of king. With it goes a great deal of responsibility toward those citizens of the nation. But he is squandering the resources of the city in the face of military disaster. People without wisdom in their soul have no ability to make decisions, nor even lead others out of trouble. Belshazzar was not making decisions to face his enemies. He was not addressing the problems that were about to face the citizens of the city. He was a coward at best. And cowards are loud, mouthy, arrogant, cocky, that is up and until they face something that is totally unexplainable and beyond their comprehension. The words of God are all that are necessary to gain our attention and for us to be able to learn His will. A miracle to be sure, but miracles are not intended for spiritual growth, but only for getting our attention. Once God has our attention, then it is our responsibility to want to learn, and then to actually take the steps to learn His will. Belshazzar had ignored God for all of his life, presumably, or at least now he is, and so God gets his attention on the last day of his life. Who among us can know the last day of our lives? None of us of course. So if we procrastinate in learning Gods Word and growing up spiritually, then we risk God calling us home earlier than we expect and we miss out on many opportunities of life. Likewise if we face problems with indecision or even disregard, then we will not see the solutions that often are obvious. Belshazzar offers quite a prize for the answer to the words, yet none was forthcoming. We cannot bribe others and expect to get through life on the abilities, or lack thereof, of others. God intends for us to be independent in life. But independence comes with a price, wisdom. It comes with a responsibility, and even accountability (as we will see soon enough in Belshazzar's case). Freedom is never free, but comes with a price. Much of the Babylonian army is lying out on the battle field dead or dying while the king is having a party. The citizens are huddled in their homes or hiding places while the king is unable to make any decisions other than to ridicule God. And now four simple words appear before him, illuminated by the light of the lampstand similar to the lampstand that stood in the Temple of Solomon. The lampstand is the illumination of the Word of God. God does the writing, not man. God makes the decisions not man. Gods decisions are final. Are they irreversible? Well, Belshazzar could have fallen down on his face with a serious change of attitude and humility and begged for Gods help. Would God hear him? If he were a believer, if he confessed his sins and was in fellowship, then yes God would hear his plea and if sincere and not simply manipulative, then God could very well give him a victory against those enemies surrounding the city. But Belshazzar was defiant and unchanged in his soul. The writing of God was unclear to him and unexplainable to him by those advisors who lacked wisdom in their souls as well. Only believers with doctrine in their souls can see and understand Gods Word. Only to believers who live as residents in fellowship and are advancing toward spiritual maturity will He make known His purpose. Daniel will know the answer to the riddle. Actually it is not really a riddle, but to negative people it is just like a riddle. The answer eludes them. Now the king is very ill. Terror is gripping him, and his strength which was so tough before through the wine, is now limp and useless. That lion is approaching. Do you suppose that Belshazzar saw him coming? End Of Lesson Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.

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