Daniel 5, 6, Handwriting on the wall and the Lion`s Den
Daniel 5- Handwriting on the wallWhen we come to Daniel 5, Nebuchadnezzar had died after a 43-year reign. and now, King Belshazzar is ruling over theBabylonian part of the empire. He is throwing a great banquet for 1000 high ranking people.He mocked God by using the sacred vessels from the temple of God to toast Babylon`s pagan gods."Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall ofthe king`s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote: Then the king`scolor changed and his thoughts alarmed him, his limbs gave way and his knees knocked together" (5:5-6)
The distraught king was visibly shaken. He promised whoever could interpret the writing, to be clothedin purple, and have a chain of gold around his neck and be third in command. None of the paganwise men had a clue of the meaning. The queen entered and suggested he ask Daniel.Daniel was summoned to come and interpret the words for him but he made it clear that he was not motivated by the king`s gifts.He began by telling him how God had dealt with Nebuchadnezzars great pride and humbled him in the grassy fields, to live and eat like wild animals. He reminded Belshazzar that he had not humbled his heart, knowing this, and lifted himself up against the Lord. Meme, Meme, Tekel, and Parsinwas the writing, meaning God had numbered the days of his kingdom and broughtit to an end. He had been weighed on God`s scales and found lacking. His kingdom was to bedivided and given tot he Medes and Persians.That very night, Belshazzar, was killed.Darius the Mede received the kingdom.In Summary:Throughout his entire life, Daniel demonstrated integrity and faithful obedience to God. He was notmotivated by the kings' threats nor their rewards. He was aware that God alone, was his judge.To think about:Reflect on your motivations as you make decisions. Do your motives need God to transform them?"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lordyou will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Col. 3:23-24
Daniel 6- the Lion`s DenAs Daniel served the new king, Darius, his talent, experience, and integrity quickly distinguishedhim. Darius had plans to set him over the whole kingdom. This pending promotionprovoked other administrators and satraps to look for a way to remove him. His integrity andtruthfulness angered his peers. The only way they could do it was for them to finda connection with the law of his God. This scheming hatched a devious plot to eliminate him.They suggested to Darius, a 30 day period in which all prayer would be dedicated to him.When Daniel heard the king's decree, he refused to change his habit of daily prayer. Hequietly submitted himself to God, praying as he had always prayed, allowing God to behis judge and defender. His enemies used his faith as an excuse to target him. They hurriedto Darius with the news. He was greatly distressed. He regarded Daniel highly but he hadto follow through with his decree. He gave the order for Daniels`s punishment. He spoketo Daniel, as he was sealing the den`s entrance with his own signet ring, "May your God, whom you serve continually deliver you!" (6;16)He couldn`t sleep all night and hurried to the lions' den at dawn`s first light. He cried outin anguish, hoping against hope, "O Daniel servant of the living God, has your God, whom youserve continually been able to deliver you from the lions?" Daniel responded,"O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lion's mouths, and they have not harmed me because I was found blameless before Him. and also before you, O king, I have done no harm" (6:21-22)The king praises Daniel`s God.In summary:In Chapter 6 as well as chapter 3, the heroes were loyal servants of the government, but theyrefused to compromise their faith, even when threatened with death. In both chapters,jealous fellow officials brought the charges. The believers faced what looked like certain death.But they were miraculously saved by God, who showed His overwhelming power to the kings involved.To think about:No matter how bad things get, God is still in control. God encourages us to call out to him ingood times as well as bad, just as Daniel was in the habit of doing.How consistent is your prayer life? He is waiting.....
