The Mighty Measuring of Mocking

The Mighty Measuring of Mocking

Daniel 5

The proud never expect to be humbled. The hare never expected to be ousted by the tortoise. Ivan Drago never expected to lose to Rocky Balboa. Dave Kiehn never expected to lose to Lisa Vodin. I was twelve years old, battling for the dodgeball championship of Lincoln Elementary School. As the school-wide dodgeball tournament ended, two aspiring champions were left standing:  Dave Kiehn and Lisa Vodin. While the entire school looked on, young Dave Kiehn was about to make a name for himself as the Dodgeball King. He gathered up a handful of Nerf balls ready to make his attack, only to have Lisa loft a ball through the air and hit his foot. The proud never expect to be humbled. It was tough for a twelve- year-old boy to lose the dodgeball championship to a twelve-year-old girl in front of the whole school. But, it would not be the last time I was humbled in my pride. The proud never expect to be humbled, but the proud will be humbled. 

It is good to be humbled. But it is even better to choose to be humble rather than to walk in pride. The last words of the famous proud King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, are recorded in Daniel 4.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just, and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:37

This verse is the hinge of the book. It was a great reminder to the Israelites who walked in pride, who rebelled against God, who were humbled from their privileged places in Jerusalem before being humbled in their exile and defeat against Babylon. It was also a reminder to the Israelites that even though they were humbled now, they would one day be exalted. They needed to learn the lesson of humility. We all do. King Nebuchadnezzar learned the lesson before his death, but the rest, those in his kingdom and those who came after him, did not. 

Friends, every time we approach the Word of God, we must remember this lesson. Those who walk in pride, God is able to humble. When God’s Word confronts us with our pride, will we humble ourselves or will we remain in our self-exaltation? And if we have humbled ourselves and aligned ourselves with God, will we trust that He is able to humble those who stand against us? If God is for us, who could be against us? If God is for us, it does not matter who stands against us! When we come to God’s Word, we either need to be reminded of our pride and be humbled, or we need to be reminded that one day those who walk in pride against God, God is able to humble. Which one are you today? 

The Mocking of God (v. 1-4)

Daniel 4 ends with the great King Nebuchadnezzar testifying that God is the Most High and is able to give the kingdom to whomever he wills and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 5 begins with one of his descendants. KIng Belshazzar, about twenty years after Nebuchadnezzar has died, feasting in the palace mocking the King of heaven. 

King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. Daniel 5:1

Kings often ate by themselves away from people, but notice that the text twice repeats the size of the crowd. King Belshazzar had this great feast in front of a thousand of his lords, and he drank his wine in front of a thousand. The author wants us to know at the outset that King Belshazzar is showing off and it only gets worse. 

Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.  Daniel 5:1

Belshazzar tasted the wine, or more accurately felt the effects of the wine, and proceeded to blaspheme God, the King of heaven, by taking the things made to worship Him and instead using them to mock Him in a drunken celebration. This chapter notes six times that Nebuchadnezzar was the father of Belshazzar.  Based on history it is unclear whether Belshazzar was Nebuchadnezzar’s son or one of his close descendants but, regardless, the author wants to show a close relationship between them. Belshazzar would have been familiar with Nebuchadnezzar and his testimony which makes this defiance of using the vessels from the temple so alarming. 

Belshazzar makes a terrible choice, a choice that would change his life forever. I think it would be wise for us to take note of how alcohol may have affected Belshazzar’s judgment. The text notes that it wasn’t until he felt the effects of the wine that he called for the vessels to be brought. The alcohol impaired his judgment and led him to make a terrible decision. 

Friends, be careful with alcohol. Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. If you lack self control, I would encourage you to avoid alcohol. It may lead you to mock God and bring judgment upon yourself. The blasphemy was in Belshazzar’s heart before he took a sip of wine, but the wine helped bring it out. And it led to verse 4, “They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.” The names of the Babylonian gods are not mentioned here because the author wants us to see that these gods are not gods at all. There is no life in them. One of the historical psalms of Israel offers this warning to the nations and encouragement to his people, 

Your name, O LORD, endures forever,

your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.

For the LORD will vindicate his people

and have compassion on his servants.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

They have mouths, but do not speak;

they have eyes, but do not see;

they have ears, but do not hear,

nor is there any breath in their mouths.

Those who make them become like them,

so do all who trust in them. 

Psalm 135:13–18

The Lord will vindicate his people over and against lifeless gods and those who worship them will become like them: lifeless as well. 

What are you trusting in today? You may not be toasting and drinking to gold and silver, but you may be trusting in them. Friend, take a hard look at what you are trusting in. Galatians 6:7–8,

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 

Are you sowing to the flesh or the Spirit? If you’re sowing to the the flesh, be warned. You will be like Belshazzar. If you’re sowing to the Spirit, know that God will vindicate His people. Those who mock Him will be judged, but those who trust in Him will reap eternal life. Stay the course.

The Measuring of God (v. 5-9)

Belshazzar made a serious miscalculation. He thought of himself more highly than he ought. He mocked God. He walked in pride. Now, he would be humbled.

Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. Daniel 5:5–6

Immediately the fingers of God pronounced judgment on Belshazzar. We do not know what exactly went through his head at that moment, but we can assume it was fear. Something miraculous just happened. A human hand appeared and wrote on the wall opposite the lampstand for all to see. The literal reading of his “limbs gave way” means “the knots of his loins were loosened,” leading some scholars to think he soiled himself. He wanted to show off his power, but instead was embarrassed in front of the thousand. God will not be mocked. 

Belshazzar does not know what the writing says, but he is pretty sure it is not a good thing. Daniel 5:7–9,

The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.

The writing would have been a series of consonances without any vowels making it impossible to interpret. He needed help. He called all the wise men of Babylon to help him as King Nebuchadnezzar his father had done, but they could not help the king. He was greatly alarmed. 

When the handwriting goes on the wall, the judgment has been pronounced on Belshazzar. His opportunity for repentance has passed. Sometimes I have said, “God’s patience will run out.” It is a little unclear. God can never run out of patience, because he is patient. Love is patient and kind. God is patient and kind. In 2 Peter 3:1–15, Peter speaks of God’s patient in judgment,

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation.

What we see happen to Belshazzar, will one day happen to the world. Belshazzar mocked God and immediately his judgment was given. Belshazzar was an object of God’s patience, but became an object of his wrath. So it will be for everyone who does not turn from their pride and trust in God.

The Lord is withholding judgment against the world. God is patient toward you not wanting anyone to perish. Each day he withholds his judgment, God is offering patience to those who are rebelling against him. God is patient toward you now, but the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night meaning it will come quickly and without warning. Do not presume on the Lord’s patience, for it will not be extended to you forever. 

Belshazzar is a warning to everyone who thinks they can live anyway they want now without consequences. God will not be mocked. You will reap what you sow. If you sow defiance and rebellion against God, you will be judged. But as long as you have breath in your lungs, God is patient toward you. Repent while there is still time. 

The Message of God (v. 10-28)

God will provide his message through his messenger. Daniel, who is probably in his 80s, is called upon yet again to give the message of God. Daniel 5:10–12,

The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”

Notice again how the queen mother reminds Belshazzar of his father Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel is summoned but notice how Belshazzar treats him with contempt. Daniel 5:13–16,

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” 

Belshazzar treats Daniel as a captive, one of the exiles of Judah, showing he does not have much confidence in Daniel. 

Remember Daniel and Belshazzar are human beings. They have their own history and emotions. The Scripture only gives us glimpses. Belshazzar was given the name of the gods of Babylon. He may have resented his father from forsaking the Babylon gods and turning to worship the God of the Israelites. He may have resented Daniel for his relationship with Nebuchadnezzar. We do not know all the details, but Belshazzar would have known of Daniel as he would have known of the recent history of his empire. Daniel was an old man and has served faithfully as one of the wise men of Babylon for decades. He may have been retired or he may have been demoted once Nebuchadnezzar died. He may have resented Belshazzar when he walked in that room. We do not know all the details, but Daniel gives the proud Belshazzar a little bit of a history before interpreting God’s message of judgment. Daniel 5:17–21,

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.

The last line has been the theme of the book so far, “the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.” God is sovereign. The Lord reigns. God made sure Nebuchadnezzar knew it and Nebuchadnezzar made sure his kingdom knew it. And now God will make sure Belshazzar and his people know it. Daniel 5:22–23,

And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.

You knew all this, but you did not humble your heart but instead lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. God holds your very breath in his hands and you have not honored him. 

Beloved, we will be held accountable for what we know. Daniel looked at Belshazzar and said you knew all this but have lived in pride anyway. Let it not be said of us. You know the Lord. You know his grace. You know his abundant mercy. You know he humbles the proud. You know sin is destructive. You know it. So let us live as we do. Daniel finally gives the interpretation, Daniel 5:24–28,

“Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” 

Three words, one message. Judgment has come. Mene is written twice for emphasis. God has numbered the days of your kingdom. The pride of the leader brought judgment upon the whole nation. Mene, the days are numbered. Tekel, you have been weighed in the balance scales and you have been found without righteousness. Parsin, again your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. It appears the Medes and Persians were outside the walls but Belshazzar did not consider them a threat. The kingdom of Babylon will end this very night. 

God’s message is clear. If you try to lift yourself up over the Most High, you will be brought low. There is only one who is above us. We are creatures; He is the Creator. He who walks in pride, God is able to humble. 

The Might of God (v. 29-31)

Belshazzar walked in pride, and God was able to humble him. God does not make empty threats without the power to back them up. Daniel 5:29–31,

Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. 

That very night Belshazzar, not just the king, the Chaldean or Babylonian king was killed and his kingdom handed over to the Medes and Persians. God fulfilled his judgment against the kingdom of Babylon. The Most High God rules over the kingdom of men and sets it over whom he will. 

Beloved, how encouraging is it that God is in charge? He is sovereign over all. He has given the kingdom to his Son. Paul makes this point in Acts 17:29–31,

Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 

The writing is on the wall, the day of judgment is fixed. We are not called to bow to gold or silver or stone, but to repent for the world will be judged in righteousness by a man whom God has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. 

Friend, the reality is all of us are like Belshazzar in that if we are put on the balance scale of righteousness all of us would be found wanting for the Bible says there is no righteous, no not one. And this is why God appointed the man Christ Jesus to be our mediator before the Father as he offered his life as a ransom for all. 

Jesus Christ perfectly obeyed the Father and lived a life of righteousness. He is the only one worthy to judge according to righteousness. And the man Christ Jesus chose to die for man. He chose to die for men who bowed down to gold and silver and stone. He chose to die to men and women who bowed down to money and sex and pleasure. He chose to die for all who would humble themselves and trust in him. Jesus was appointed to die for men, but because of his righteousness God raised him from the dead. Notice that in Acts 17:31, judgment is guaranteed because Jesus was raised from the dead. Those who walk in pride, he is able to humble and those who walk in humility, he is able to lift up. Jesus are our firstfruits guaranteeing our inheritance. He was exalted first so now we know we can be exalted with him, if and only if, we humble ourselves and know God is the Most High who rules over the kingdom of men. 

What comfort would the fall of Babylon have been for the people of Israel? God is able to destroy the mightiest of earthly kingdoms. How comforting is that for us? As the Israelites were in exile in Babylon, we are still exiles in “Babylon,” And God has promised one day the kingdom of Satan, identified so often as Babylon will be destroyed. Revelation 18:1–3; 21

After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice,

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!

She has become a dwelling place for demons,

a haunt for every unclean spirit,

a haunt for every unclean bird,

a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.

For all nations have drunk

the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,

and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,

and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living….

Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,

“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,

and will be found no more;

God will vindicate his people and those who worship lifeless stones will become like them and be found no more. 

Babylon will one day be fully and finally destroyed. The feast of debauchery and drunkenness will end, and make way for a new feast, the feast of the Lamb. Revelation 19:6–9,

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God

the Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and exult

and give him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and his Bride has made herself ready;

it was granted her to clothe herself

with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 

Beloved, the handwriting is on the wall. Judgment will come to the proud and salvation will come to the humble. Those who walk in pride, God is able to humble. And those who walk with Lamb, will be exalted and feast for all eternity. 

The exiles in Babylon took great comfort that God was in control. I pray we, exiles, would do the same. The Most High God rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. One day the kingdom will be given to us, until then, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus who has been appointed to judge the world in righteousness. And our guarantee is his resurrection from the dead. If we share in death like his, we will certainly share in a resurrection like his. The handwriting is on the wall. Our salvation is sure.