Burning Bush Blogs
Equipping Men with Biblical Knowledge and Leadership Skills
Category: Personal Study
Thread: Crazy Stories of the Bible
Post Topic: Handwriting on the wall – Four-day study
Post in Thread: #5
Previous: Insane King of Babylon
Scripture: Daniel 5:1-31
Background
In 586 BC, the Babylonian empire, led by Nebuchadnezzar, overthrew the southern kingdom of Judah. They took many of the best and brightest young men such as Daniel into captivity in Babylon. At its height, Babylon became a glorious city and empire. The previous post in this series of crazy stories in the Bible highlight’s Nebuchadnezzar’s wild story where he goes mad for seven years.
Nebuchadnezzar’s descendant, Belshazzar, didn’t learn much from his grandfather’s resistance to God. Our story picks up in 539 BC, where an aging Daniel is still alive, but his influence has dissipated under the new regime.
Part I – Handwriting on the Wall
Note – this is part I of a four-part study of the crazy events that inspired the expression “the handwriting is on the wall.”
We suggest reading each part as a single day’s Bible study.
Scripture:
Passage: Daniel 5:1-12
Daniel 5:5-6
Key Verses:
5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.
Observations
Events – Defiling the holy artifacts
- King Belshazzar threw a massive party for all the noblemen and the diplomats. The wine was flowing and the music blaring.
- The elites of Babylon were oblivious to the dangers lurking outside their city, perhaps lulled to a false sense of security by their towering sets of redundant walls surrounding the stronghold.
- Belshazzar decides to take the party to another level.
- Perhaps someone cracked a joke about his grandfather going mad. Maybe there was a comment about the God of the Hebrews that Nebuchadnezzar had followed in his last days.
- Belshazzar called for the relics confiscated from the Jewish holy temple when his grandfather had overrun Jerusalem.
- They brought in the golden goblets and drank from them, singing the praises of their own false gods.
Events – the handwriting
- Out of nowhere, a ghostly hand appears and begins to write on the wall in a foreign tongue.
- Talk about a buzz-kill!
- Can you imagine the scene, with all these pompous drunkards screaming and racing for the other side of the banquet hall?
- Belshazzar is rightly terrified, and begs his sages and advisors for an explanation. They’re all befuddled.
- The queen remembers Daniel, and advised calling for him.
- She sings his praises, declaring all he had done for Nebuchadnezzar. She describes his wisdom as being like that of the gods.
Interpretation
Author/Genre
Daniel wrote this book. What a life he led with incredible stories. This section of Daniel is historical narrative. Chapters 7-12 are apocalyptic.
Setting
- Camped all around Babylon, King Cyrus of Persia, with his soldiers, waited for his chance. Cyrus had been sieging Babylon for four months. He had a brilliant plan. (See Part IV).
- Belshazzar knew that Cyrus was out there, but Babylon was the most fortified city in the known world.
- The walls were 300 feet high (30 stories high) – and eighty feet thick.
- Hundreds of watch towers rose up another hundred feet.
- The river Euphrates ran through the center of Babylon, so they had water.
- Herodotus said they had enough food inside the walls to last a 20-year siege.
For history buffs, detailed information about the stronghold of Babylon can be found here: Military architecture of Babylon
Imagine
Put yourself in Belshazzar’s shoes. Unmatched power. You’ve been co-regent of mighty Babylon with your father Nabonidus for fourteen years. But he’s always in Arabia, so you’re the boss of the whole place. The most powerful man in the world, you think.
Of course you’re aware Cyrus is lurking out there but you’ve not been concerned . . . UNTIL THE APPARITION—THE HAND, THE STRANGE WORDS. Suddenly, that awful memory – Grandpa Neb eating grass in the field – mooing idiotically for hours—and that one slave always lurking around him. Some Hebrew, wasn’t it?
Takeaways
- Belshazzar knew the story of his grandfather. He was 14 years old when Nebuchadnezzar went mad. Somehow he had rationalized it away, and did not share trust in the true God.
- In fact, Belshazzar mocked God, by drinking wine out of the cups from the temple.
- His pride wouldn’t allow him to accept the reality of God’s sovereignty.
- God sobered him real quick with the hand. Yet to whom did Belshazzar turn first? His own wizards and sorcerers.
- Just speculation, but I bet the queen was a believer, who finally had the chance to speak up about Daniel.
- She reminded Belshazzar of the story of Nebuchadnezzar, and how Daniel had successfully interpreted his dream.
Correlation
Daniel 4:37 – Daniel 4 tells the story of Nebuchadnezzar going mad, and then being restored by God after seven years. The closing verse of the chapter, verse 37, is written by Nebuchadnezzar himself after the restoration:
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Daniel 4:37
- Nebuchadnezzar identifies his primary shortcoming: pride
- After being humbled, he learned to exalt and glorify the King of heaven
- Two generations later, Belshazzar’s pride led to defiling the holy utensils from the temple and defying the God of heaven
Application
Generic Applications
- Pride: man’s downfall. Nebuchadnezzar learned about pride the hard way. But God kept him on the throne for 43 years in total. He died October 7, 562 BC.
- The fourth king after Nebuchadnezzar was Belshazzar’s father, who fled to Arabia, making Belshazzar co-regent. Three kings had been murdered. Maybe Nabonidus was smart to run.
- Belshazzar took power in 553 BC. How obvious is it that he also suffered from an exaggerated, puffed-up view of his own power and importance?
Personalize it
- What am I most proud of in my life or my accomplishments? Do I suffer from a puffed-up view of myself?
- It is good to take a healthy pride in our work, family, and accomplishments.
- But let’s take time to thank God for allowing these good things in my life. For enabling me to achieve.
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.
Part II – Integrity over Influence
Note – this is part II of a four-part study of the crazy events that inspired the expression “the handwriting is on the wall.”
Scripture
Passage: Daniel 5:13-17
Key Verse:
Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
Daniel 5:17
Observations
Events
- Belshazzar apparently had no previous contact with Daniel.
- He flattered Daniel and offered him gifts and power – he promised to elevate Daniel to 3rd highest in the land.
- Daniel agreed to interpret the handwriting on the wall, but declined any rewards.
Interpretation
Imagine
They bring the Hebrew before you. He doesn’t look like much. What is he, over 70? Thin. Shuffling in. If he’s so great, why haven’t we been using him? You look closer, and realize something’s different. He doesn’t quake before you like most servants. He’s hunched with age, yet his chin is up. His eyes, alert. Almost piercing.
The goblets! From his people’s temple! I should have hid them – is he going to cooperate? I can’t bear to look at that wall. If I have to beg this man for answers, I’ll do it. Where’s my attendant with the purple robe and gold jewelry?
Takeaways
- Belshazzar was so desperate that his interaction with Daniel was not a command but a favor asked.
- Daniel had seen rulers come and go. Standing before this one didn’t impress him.
- Daniel knew who the true King was and is. He’d bow only before God.
- But, Daniel also had to consider who was asking. His very life may have been in jeopardy by giving bad news.
- The king, in this case though, didn’t threaten.
- He flattered Daniel and promised rewards.
- We can be assured that Daniel would not have spoken any differently, even if Belshazzar had threatened his life.
- Maybe it would be wise to slow down and consider motives before quickly agreeing.
- For many people, it’s nearly impossible to ever say no.
- We may resort to making up excuses.
- It depends on the favor and how much we know about the situation.
- Are they flattering us to get something?
- Will the decision to help cause problems later?
- Or, if we don’t help out, will we miss a chance to honor God by blessing another?
Correlation
2 Samuel 12:1-14
- Here we have another story of a man sent before a king to deliver a message the king won’t want to hear.
- The prophet Nathan was sent to rebuke King David for his affair with a married woman and his disgusting behavior afterward.
- He wisely began with a parable about a pet lamb stolen by a rich man and used as food for a visitor.
- When David realized the story was about him, he repented in a prayer for the ages – Psalm 51:1-19.
Application
Generic Applications
- We should respect authority. God has allowed them to be in their positions of power…
- …but we should not be in awe of our leaders. They don’t all follow God’s precepts. They’re flawed humans, like us.
- Giving bad news is tough.
- Think about doctors who need to tell a patient he has two months to live.
- What if that doctor had the same news for a mass murderer on death row? Would it be as hard?
Personalize it
- Daniel and Nathan were directed by God to confront their leaders. Does that mean it’s always appropriate for us to point out others’ shortcomings?
- It’s important to understand context. These were both God’s prophets. Delivering God’s message was their calling.
- But, is God calling me to confront someone’s sin?
- Am I just being judgmental? Do I need to clean up my own life first?
- Have I prayed about it to be certain this is what God wants me to do?
- How will this person respond? I need to prepare myself for their reaction.
- Am I able to choose integrity over influence and wealth, as Daniel did?
- Influence and wealth are not evil in and of themselves.
- But a position of power within a corrupt regime would not have been a good look for a prophet of God like Daniel.
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.
Part III – Judgment
Note – this is part III of a four-part study of the crazy events that inspired the expression “the handwriting is on the wall.”
Scripture
Passage: Daniel 5:18-29
Key Verses:
25 “This is the inscription that was written:
Daniel 5:25-28
mene, mene, tekel, parsin
26 “Here is what these words mean:
Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
27 Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
28 Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
Observations
History Lesson
Yo, King, don’t you remember what happened to your grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar? He had all the power in the world. Could kill or spare anyone’s life at a whim. He could promote or humble anyone he wanted. He built this great city that you now claim as yours. He was full of himself. But because of his pride, God humbled him. He lost his throne. Lived in the fields with the donkeys and ate the same grass they did. He learned his lesson, and acknowledged the one true God.
Did you learn this lesson from him? No! You’re worse than he ever was! Look at the goblets you’re drinking out of tonight. You’re shaking your fist at God in pure arrogance just like Nebuchadnezzar had.
- Daniel didn’t pull any punches. He started with the story of Nebuchadnezzar. Then rightly accused Belshazzar of making the same mistakes, and worse.
- The comparison was obvious. The conclusions, frightening.
You’ve been weighed and measured and have been found wanting
Guess what, O mighty king? That hand you saw – it was sent by God. And you’re not going to like what it said.
- Daniel informed Belshazzar that the hand without a body had been sent by God. The same God that had humbled Nebuchadnezzar.
- The handwriting on the wall delivered the following sobering message:
- God has numbered your days and brought your reign to an end.
- You have been weighed and found wanting.
- Your kingdom is to be destroyed and divided among the Medes and Persians.
Interpretation
Imagine
The room goes silent after Daniel finishes his interpretation. A few noblemen sneak out the side door. Your legs wobble. You tell yourself to act like a king. Do something! Maybe you can pacify his God. You call for the purple robe to placed around Daniel’s shoulders. You announce that he’s now third-highest in the entire kingdom of Babylon.
Even so, nervous eyes glance toward the exits. Another table clears. In the scramble, a gleaming goblet clangs to the floor, red wine trickling out of it, like a dark trail of blood staining the tiles. Accusing.
Takeaways
- Nobody likes to think about judgment.
- Belshazzar certainly didn’t worry his mind over it.
- How foolish it is, though, to live without thought of consequences.
Correlation
- Belshazzar’s plan was to eat, drink, and be merry. Judgment wasn’t on his radar.
- The Epicureans would have loved him.
- Acts 17:16-31 – While in Athens, the apostle Paul encountered Epicureans and Stoics.
- They accused him of babbling about foreign gods. But they did ask him to explain, and he gave them the gospel.
- He made it clear there would be a day of judgment. “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Application
Generic Applications
- Actions have consequences.
- Judgment is coming. For Belshazzar, it was on this earth. But someday, the entire world will be judged. We need to be ready for that day.
- Great news – we don’t need to fear the judgment as believers.
- It’s been 2000 years since Jesus walked the Holy Land. Is the handwriting on the wall again?
Personalize it
- How does thinking about judgment affect how we live day to day and moment to moment?
- How we tell others?
- How we live? Do we live as though we believe it?
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.
Part IV – Invasion
Note – this is part IV of a four-part study of the crazy events that inspired the expression “the handwriting is on the wall.”
Scripture
Passage: Daniel 5:30-31
Key Verses:
30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, 31 and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
Daniel 5:30-31
Observations
Historical Events / Context
- Context
- The top man in the Meda-Persian Empire was the Persian king Cyrus the Great. He reigned between 539-530 BC.
- The Medes and Persians joined when Cyrus conquered the Medes.
- Cyrus appointed Darius, a Mede, to take charge of Babylon after they conquered Belshazzar.
- They reigned at the same time, but Darius answered to Cyrus.
- How did the Persians overthrow the stronghold of Babylon in one night?
- It wasn’t one night – Cyrus was perplexed for a while at how to get troops inside the walls. It was a stalemate.
- He engineered an ingenious plan – his forces dug canals to divert enough water from the rivers running through Babylon to allow his men to wade right on in.
- The Babylonians were so confident in their impenetrable defenses that they didn’t even notice what was happening – if they’d have noticed, they could have stopped it. Instead, the city was essentially taken without a fight.
- This account from the historian Herodotus is fascinating, and it lines up with the book of Daniel (I pick up his account after he describes the water being diverted):
Hereupon the Persians who had been left for the purpose at Babylon by the river-side, entered the stream, which had now sunk so as to reach about midway up a man’s thigh, and thus got into the town. Had the Babylonians been apprised of what Cyrus was about, or had they noticed their danger, they would never have allowed the Persians to enter the city, but would have destroyed them utterly; for they would have made fast all the street gates which gave access to the river, and mounting upon the walls along both sides of the stream, would so have caught the enemy, as it were, in a trap. But, as it was, the Persians came upon them by surprise and so took the city. Owing to the vast size of the place, the inhabitants of the central parts (as the residents at Babylon declare) long after the outer portions of the town were taken, knew nothing of what had chanced, but as they were engaged in a festival, continued dancing and reveling until they learnt about the capture. Such, then, were the circumstances of the first taking of Babylon.
Scripture Says
Simply – Belshazzar was killed by the invaders the very night he saw the handwriting on the wall.
Interpretation
Takeaways
- Belshazzar only had minutes, or hours, to consider the words of Daniel.
- Did he truly repent in that short timeframe? It’s impossible to say.
- If he did truly repent, he’ll be in heaven with Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel. But he still suffered the consequences of his actions during his time on earth.
Correlation
- Isaiah 13:19-22 – Over a century before the events of Daniel 5, Isaiah prophesied it.
- Isaiah 45:1 – Before Cyrus was even born (150 years before), the prophet Isaiah named him by name, prophesying how he would be used by God to build an empire and subdue nations.
- Isaiah 44:28 – The prophet names Cyrus by name here too, declaring how he’d be used by God to return the Israelites back to the promised land, out of captivity.
- The fulfillment of this prophecy is described in 2 Chronicles 36:22-23.
- Cyrus even helped financially (Ezra 1:4-11).
Application
Generic Applications
- The prophecies of Isaiah, naming Cyrus the Persian by name, are mind-blowing.
- God has a plan. For Daniel and others living in exile in pagan Babylon, it might have seemed impossible to understand that plan.
- God sent them prophets like Isaiah to give hope.
- Today we have all of Scripture to give us hope, even when things don’t make sense.
- I like to think God also sent Isaiah to give us assurance of the truth of Scripture.
Personalize it
- The fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies – the mysterious hand – the handwriting on the wall – all these can give us hope during difficult days.
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.
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