Daniel - 1
HANDWRITING ON THE WALL
… based on Daniel 5:1-9
I want you to help me finish some common phrases:
Happy as a _____ (clam)
Dead as a _________ (doornail)
Feather in his ____ (cap)
It’s raining _____ ____ _____ (cats & dogs)
Fly off ____ _______ (the handle)
Those are phrases we’re all familiar with …
but do we know where they came from?
“Happy as a clam”
Originally was “happy as a clam at high tide” … since clams are gathered
only when the tide is out, they are “happy” at high tide when they’re safe.
“Dead as a doornail”
The doornail is the knob on which the hammer of a door knocker strikes … since this nail is knocked on many times each day it was presumed to be “dead”.
“Feather is his cap”
American Indians added a new “feather” to their headgear
for every enemy slain.
“Raining cats & dogs”
Comes from mythology where the “cat” symbolized heavy rain & the “dog” represented storms & wind.
“Fly off the handle”
This expression refers to the head of an axe coming loose
as a woodchopper vents his anger by chopping violently.
Well, how about … “seeing the handwriting on the wall”?
We know exactly what the expression means … but, where did it come from originally? Well, if you went to S.S. as a kid, you probably know the answer.
It came from the book of Daniel in the Bible.
Daniel is a wonderful book, full of lots of great stories; more Bible stories,
in fact, than most of the other O.T. books. There’s the story of Daniel himself in the lion’s pit. (Daniel 6:11-21) There’s the one about Shadrach,
Meshach, & Abednego in the blazing furnace. (Daniel 3:19-25)
And there’s the fascinating account about “the handwriting on the wall” …
& the need of Daniel to decipher it. I’d like to look at that story this morning & again next week, & ask the question … “what does it mean?”
Every story that’s in Scripture is there for some significant reason.
So, we need to understand it in its’ original cultural context, & then we’re called to apply it to our lives today. So, here’s the story. Once again,
we’re going to be looking at the 1st ½ today, & finish it up next week.
And let me warn you in advance … this is the gloomy part.
So, listen now to Good News, as recorded in Daniel, to us, who have gathered here for worship. Within our hearing comes the Word of the Lord …
One night King Belshazzar invited a thousand noblemen to a great banquet, and they drank wine together. While they were drinking, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups and bowls which his father Nebuchadnezzar had carried off from the Temple in Jerusalem. The king sent for them so that he, his noblemen, his wives, and his concubines could drink out of them. At once the gold cups and bowls were brought in, and they all drank wine out of them and praised gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Suddenly a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster wall of the palace, where the light from the lamps was shining most brightly. And the king saw the hand as it was writing.
He turned pale and was so frightened that his knees began to shake. He shouted for someone to bring in the magicians, wizards, and astrologers. When they came in, the king said to them, “Anyone who can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in robes of royal purple, wear a gold chain of honor around his neck, and be the third in power in the kingdom.” The royal advisers came forward, but none of them could read the writing or tell the king what it meant. In his distress King Belshazzar grew even paler, and his noblemen had no idea what to do. (Daniel 5:1-9)
“The grass withers & flowers fade,
but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)
May the Lord grant that we may engage in contemplating the mysteries of His Heavenly wisdom with really increasing devotion, to His glory and to our edification. Amen
Over the years I’ve heard 5,280 sermons, & for the most part,
I’ve forgotten exact words or phrases that were preached.
But I do remember the way that Billy Graham began one of his messages, probably 50 years ago now … “Belshazzar gave a party.”
And what a party it was! And it wasn’t just for a couple of hours,
like we used to do on New Year's Eve! This was a party that lasted for days,
if not weeks. When you’re inviting a 1,000 noblemen from all over this huge kingdom, it would take some of them a long time to even get there.
So, when you come to a party,
it better be longer than just a few hours. his party lasted for many days …
& apparently went downhill rather quickly as the wine began to flow.
Let’s talk about Belshazzar for a moment. We’re told that Nebuchadnezzar was Belshazzar’s “father.” Actually, Nebuchadnezzar was his grandfather, Nabonidus was really his Dad. When ancestors are referred to in Scripture the word “father” is often used.
(“Grandfather” & “great-grandfather” are unknown terms in the O.T.)
So let me explain what’s going on here. Nabonidus became King following the short reigns of a couple of worthless descendants of Nebuchadnezzar, who had ruled Babylon for 43 years.
Scripture portrays Nebuchadnezzar as a wise pagan King,
who was ready to recognize the superiority of Israel’s God. His descendant, Nabonidus, spent much of his reign in the west, fighting the Arabians …
& as a result, left his oldest son, Belshazzar, in charge back in Babylon.
Bible scholars suggest that this kid was little more than a spoiled brat who cared more about partying than he did about ruling.
Now, about this party … from what we can tell,
there seems to be several things going on. The 1st is an illusion of power. Only the powerful people have been invited. These are the people,
who in one way or another, have achieved something, or are in the “right” family. The same thing happens today. The guest lists of fancy parties are those who have “connections” or “influence.”
So, the powerful people are at Belshazzar’s party. There’s the illusion that these people can do anything they want. But we must remember that Belshazzar’s power is really the result of his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar.
He had done nothing to earn it. It was given to him.
The 2nd thing that comes out of this party is the illusion of permanence.
There’s the sense that the empire, & the people who are running it will always be there. (Nebuchadnezzar had built the famous “Hanging Gardens Of Babylon” … one of the “7 Wonders Of The Ancient World.”
Where is it today?)
Why is it, in the human experience, generation after generation,
these 2 things seem to go together …
the illusion of power & the illusion of permanence?
The 3rd thing is much more explicit. It’s the illusion of independence.
It’s the idea that Belshazzar & his people can do anything they darn well please. So, Belshazzar gave this huge party which boasted 1,000 guests …
where wine, women, & song, were the order of the day.
“While they were drinking, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold
& silver cups & bowls which his father Nebuchadnezzar had carried off from the Temple in Jerusalem. The king sent for them so that he,
his noblemen, his wives, & his concubines could drink out of them.”
I have a feeling that that statement is here in Scripture for a very special reason. This isn’t just a piece of historical trivia. When God places something in this Book, it’s for the purpose of … “teaching the truth,
rebuking error, correcting faults, & giving instruction for right living.”
(2 Timothy 3:16)
In the last chapter of 2 Chronicles there’s a record of Babylonian armies attacking Jerusalem. We’re told that God “permitted” Nebuchadnezzar to invade Jerusalem & totally destroy it. (2 Chronicles 36:17)
Why? Because over & over & over again God warned His people …
“if you don’t obey me, if you don’t live up to your covenant with me,
I’m going to permit the consequences of judgment.” (2 Chronicles 36:16)
And finally, when He had it up to here with the rebellious nature of the Israelites, God raised up Nebuchadnezzar & “permitted” him to go & destroy that city as an act of judgment.
Over & over we see this in Scripture. If people refuse to be faithful,
God permits the consequences of their unfaithful choices. Nebuchadnezzar was the “consequence” of Israel’s choice. So, Nebuchadnezzar “looted the Temple, the Temple treasury … & took everything back to Babylon.”
(2 Chronicles 36:18)
Fast forward 58 years. Belshazzar was throwing a party; a party that was unashamedly blasphemous. It was designed to exalt the gods of Babylon & mock the true God of Israel. Belshazzar wanted to have a “good” time,
& wanted to make certain everyone else did too, so I’m sure that no expense was too great. These feasts were traditionally wild & unrestrained, & the fact that he invited his wives & concubines has led Bible scholars to believe that the party turned into a drunken orgy.
(Women normally wouldn’t be included in such events.)
So, here’s this huge party where everyone is drinking excessively, which as it does today, creates all kinds of problems. Scripture teaches …
“Drinking too much makes you loud & foolish. It’s stupid to get drunk.”
(The Proverbs 20:1) And that’s certainly the case here.
We can almost see this “caged monster” inside Belshazzar being released.
We can almost hear his boastful spirit calling out to some of the servants,
probably to the horror of a few of the guests … “Hey, go get those Jewish holy cups & bring them here so that we can drink out of them.”
Picture the scene … the servants come back with the holy vessels …
the dancing stops … the musicians put down their instruments …
the house lights are turned up … Belshazzar takes the goblet, fills it with his own private wine & then, smirking with arrogance, slopped the wine to his inebriated lips. And as it dribbled down his beard, 1,000 people looked on in amazement at such a daring act. He had taken his arrogance to a new level.
The place was then filled with cheering & loud applause.
The music & dancing started up again … but now with a new fervor.
So, what’s the big deal? … It’s the motive behind it. Scripture reports … they “praised gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, & stone,”
with these items that were originally made for the God of Israel. (Exodus 20:5)
These cups & bowls had been dedicated to the Lord & were only to be used in the Temple for the specific purpose for which they were made … the worship of God. But Belshazzar didn’t care about any of that. All he cared about was himself, & having a “good” time. In other words, blasphemy was taking place. Belshazzar was bragging … “I’m independent of the God of Heaven & earth. I have no need to please the God of Jerusalem.”
Well, “Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God.
You will reap exactly what you plant.” (Galatians 6:7)
The sin of Belshazzar was that he used holy things for his own benefit,
& not for the use God had intended. Belshazzar took the sacred cups & bowls & then treated them as if they were playthings for his own pleasure.
Let’s stop here & do some self-examination. Again,
that’s what we need to do when we study Scripture … put ourselves into the situation. It’s easy to see Belshazzar’s sin here … but what about us? Do we take the “holy things” that God has given us & use them solely for our own pleasure & enjoyment, with no thought of the One who provided them? I hate to say it … but I see that taking place in the Church universal right now.
In fact, I’m amazed at some of the things going on in the name of God.
What’s the purpose of the Church? … Why did Jesus establish the Church? … The Church is not here for us. Let me say that again.
The Church is not here for us, for you & me, & for our good pleasure.
The Church is here for the world
We are here to give ourselves away
The Church is here to be the servant of the world for Christ
We do not come together as a mutual admiration society
We come together to pray for & give compassion to a world that is broken & bleeding
We are not here for ourselves
We are here for others
We are here to worship & serve God
Belshazzar is perhaps the supreme O.T. example of the Rich Fool in Jesus’ parable. Having already given in to his lust for more “outrageous entertainment” … (in the case of the Rich Fool, his lust for more wealth, bigger barns) … Belshazzar is blinded to the possibility that God is about to say to him … “You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life.”
(Luke 12:20)
We get the feeling at the end of this story that God is looking down at Belshazzar & thinking … “I raised you up. I permitted you to do some things.
But you’ve gone too far. I see the condition of your soul.”
I remember, boy, it must be 40 years ago now, reading James Stewart’s book, “Den Of Thieves.” It was about the unraveling of some of the big investment brokers on Wall Street who went to jail in the late 1980’s. This was Ivan Boesky & Michael Milken, along with some others.
One night these guys, who were making $400-$500 million a year, went to a fancy restaurant in N.Y.C. They each placed their order. And when it came Boesky’s turn, he asked the waiter … “Do you have all these things on the menu?” “Yes, of course,” he answered. “Well then, bring them all!”
About 30 minutes later out comes cart after cart with every dinner the restaurant had to offer. And Boesky walks around & arrogantly samples each one. Finally, he announces … “I’ll take that one.” And later,
when he leaves the restaurant, he pays a bill of 10’s of 1,000’s of $’s.
He was someone who thought he was powerful, & permanent, & independent. But the book describes his downfall. It’s as if God looked down on him & said
… “it’s over.” And after spending several years in prison & paying fines of 100’s of millions of $’s, & getting divorced from his wife, he spent the rest of his life living simply in La Jolla, CA. He died last year. That’s what happened with Belshazzar. There were all these illusions going on that the people at this party could do whatever they wanted.
So, the party is rolling, the alcohol is flowing, & the wickedness is growing.
But then, just before everything collapses totally … something strange happens. God unexpectedly appears … & all activity halts.
Something unusual happened; a hand began writing on the wall.
Well, can you imagine? I can see all eyes turning toward Belshazzar.
Now I don’t know if anyone has ever kept a record of the shortest period of time it took for someone o sober up … but this instance would have to be in the running! And not only did Belshazzar immediately become sober
… we’re told that he went to pieces.
“He turned pale & was so frightened that his knees began to shake.”
(That’s there to give us a contrast to his normal demeanor.) I especially like the New English Bible Translation … “The color drained from his face.” Belshazzar looked like he’d see a ghost & it upset him so badly that his body was shaking in fright. Suddenly, he’s not so powerful, he’s not so permanent,
& he’s not so independent.
Those sacred cups & bowls symbolized the presence & power of Almighty God. Belshazzar had lived in rebellion against God, & during this party he fully demonstrated it. What Nebuchadnezzar had not dared to contemplate, even in his worst moments, Belshazzar did matter-of-factly. He knew exactly what those items were & from where they had come.
He didn’t sin in ignorance but with full knowledge. Paul writes …
“Because those people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, he has given them over to corrupted minds, so that they do they things that they should not do. … They know that God’s law says that people who live in this way deserve death. Yet, not only do they continue to do these very things, but they even approve of others who do them.” (Romans 1:28,32)
Belshazzar sought to mock God … but ... but …
Belshazzar’s sinful heart caused his spiritual blindness & deafness.
It wasn’t his drunken state that created the problem;
he had already fallen spiritually. But suddenly his “blindness” was gone with the writing on the wall. And he was about to discover that this very night he would “have to give up his life.”
Scripture teaches that … “arrogant people are on the way to ruin.”
(The Proverbs 18:12)
Now for me, the sad thing about this story is that nothing is said about Belshazzar’s soul. We’re only told about his physical reaction.
And the inference is … spiritually there’s nothing there.
There’s nothing there to permit him to read the handwriting & understand it.
I remember watching a show on TV a couple of years ago about Heaven,
or I guess it was more about the afterlife or the world to come.
The interviewer talked to a bunch of well-known individuals about what they thought happens after we pass, & what they expected to find there.
Each one described what he or she imagined life after death would be like.
Almost without exception, their view of the afterlife was a reflection of their own strongest desires for comfort & pleasure. And, as I recall, not one of them even mentioned the presence of God. They wanted Heaven to be Godless. It was the ultimate evidence of their own godlessness.
Well, if only a fraction of the teaching of Scripture is true … they’re in for the rudest of awakenings, like that which Belshazzar experienced.
(2 Corinthians 5:10)
“He turned pale & his knees began to shake.”
Suddenly this hand appears & begins to write.
Belshazzar didn’t know what the message was so he summoned all of the magicians, wizards, & astrologers of Babylon together hoping one of them could decipher the meaning behind these words. He promised that he would promote the individual who could interpret the message to him to be the 3rd highest ruler in the kingdom, (behind him & his father, of course).
But these “wise men” were just as clueless as Belshazzar.
Belshazzar is pulling out all the stops to find out what those words meant. He had always used his “power” to get what he wanted. But now it doesn’t work. The “smart” people in the kingdom can’t perform. No one knows what the handwriting means. And “Belshazzar grew even paler.”
You know, we live in a kind of world like that today.
We have all these people running around who fancy themselves into thinking they know what’s best for our godless society.
And certainly, we need to have intelligent people … but it’s those who have a heart for God that can decipher “the handwriting on the wall.”
Those experts of the day tried to perform & couldn’t.
And Belshazzar was left without an answer.
We need to be able to read “the handwriting on the wall.”
There are times when God says to us … “you’re drifting, you’re going in a dangerous direction. Read the handwriting before it’s too late.”
Belshazzar’s soul was so dead that he couldn’t read the words.
He didn’t even know where the hand came from.
We can’t let that happen to us. Next week the story gets better.
MARANA THA
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