Read Daniel
5-6 & 1
John 4
To discover:
As you read consider how
God’s sovereignty is displayed.
To ponder:
Structurally these chapters parallel chapters 3-4, making
similar points. Belshazzar is Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson (although here called
son, which was a common way to speak of such a descendent). He shows great
contempt for God by drinking at a banquet from Jerusalem ’s
temple goblets, whilst praising the gods of gold, silver, bronze, wood and
stone. This was an attempt to proudly affirm his greatness and that of his gods
to the thousand nobles he was hosting (5v1-4). But he is utterly terrified when
a human finger appears and writes something on his palace wall (5v5-6). The
note it was near the lampstand is the sort of detail that proves this is an
eyewitness account, but may also be noted to imply his light is about to be
extinguished. As with his grandfather, he calls the wise men promising them the
third highest position if they could decipher the words. None could, terrifying
the king all the more (5v7-9). This terror together with that of Nebuchadnezzar
at his dream (4v5) speaks of the terror that should be felt to be subject to
God’s judgement.
At this point the queen enters
and urges the king to fetch Daniel, telling of his service to Nebuchadnezzar,
and describing him as Nebuchadnezzar did – one the spirit of the holy gods is
in (5v10-12). Daniel is sent for and Belshazzar outlines what he had heard
about him, affirming Daniel’s ability under God to us as readers. Daniel agrees
to give the interpretation, but tells the king to keep his gifts and reward, no
doubt because he wanted to credit only God for his ability. He then recounts
how it was God who gave Nebuchadnezzar his sovereignty and splendour to do as
he wished with all peoples, but then humbled him when arrogant and hardened in
his pride, until he acknowledge God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and
gives them to who he wishes. As previously, the title Daniel uses for the LORD
is “the Most High God,” stressing his supremacy over all false gods or rulers.
The point is that kings and kingdoms only have what they have by his will and
purpose (5v13-21).
In the
light of this Daniel continues, charging Belshazzar with the words “but you” for
not humbling himself despite knowing all this. It’s a lesson to learn from
God’s acts of judgement and salvation towards others. Instead, Daniel states
that the king set himself against God by drinking from the temple goblets,
praising gods who cannot hear or understand, and not honouring the God who
holds his life and ways in his hands. This must have had huge impact on the
exiles when tempted to turn from God, who holds them in this way, towards the
false gods of Babylon . It also
resonates with how the West praises the gods of science and progress rather
than the Lord for its achievements. Daniel goes on to interpret the words:
Belshazzar has been weighed and found wanting by God, and so his life and reign
will come to an end, and his kingdom be divided and given to the Medes and
Persians. Belshazzar immediately makes Daniel third highest in the kingdom,
before being killed that night as the kingdom falls to Medo-Persia – just as
the prophets had predicted (5v22-31).
Ironically then, the God who
gives power to those he pleases has given it to Daniel just in time for him to
be the second most important after Darius, the new king in the kingdom. His is
therefore made one of just three administrators governing the 120 satraps
through whom the kingdom was ruled (6v1-2). We read that Daniel so excelled
that Darius planned to make him his number one. This caused the others to try
and find a charge against Daniel, but they could find no way in which he was
corrupt or negligent - a challenge to all workers. So they plotted to use the
law of God to catch him out, persuading the king to submit an unrepealable
edict that any who prays to anything for thirty days except the king, must be
thrown into a den of lions. In response Daniel sets the example of submitting to
the rules of any culture only as far as they don’t require disobedience of God.
So three times a day he continued to kneel, give thanks to God and pray for
help towards Jerusalem - the
symbolic place of God’s presence in the temple. His enemies intentionally went
to see him do this and then reported it to Darius (6v3-13). The king was
distressed because he knew his edict could not be repealed yet wanted to save
Daniel. But when the men pressed him to act according to the law he ordered
Daniel be thrown to the lions, saying “may your God, whom you serve
continually, rescue you.” Darius is therefore very different from
Nebuchadnezzar who angrily threw Daniel’s friends into the fire. And Darius’
words affirm that it is those who through faith serve God who he is ready to
rescue, as he would the exiles (6v14-16).
The irreversibility of Daniel’s
fate is stressed in the stone being placed over the den and being sealed with
the king’s ring, but the concern of the king by his abstaining from food,
entertainment and sleep, and his anguish in rushing to the den in the morning.
His question over whether Daniel’s God had been able to rescue him highlights
the point of the passage: Yes! What the might Darius was unable to do, God
could. He sent his angel to shut the lion’s mouths – vindicating Daniel as
innocent in his sight. Daniel also stresses he had not wronged the king. In
joy, the king ordered him lifted from the den and we read Daniel was without
any wounds “because he trusted God” (6v17-23). How much can we be sure of our
salvation in being counted innocent or righteous in Christ. But we should note
that the faith that results in this salvation should display itself in real
godliness as it did for Daniel.
To prove God had effected the
rescue rather than the lions simply being off their food, we read how Darius
threw Daniel’s accusers in with their families, and they were immediately
eaten. This signifies how on the last day God’s people will be vindicated,
whilst their opponents will be judged. Darius then decreed amongst all his
peoples that they must fear and reverence God because he is living and eternal,
his kingdom will therefore never end, and he performs signs and wonders such as
in rescuing and saving. We read that Daniel then prospered during his reign (6v24-28).
The edict would not have forbidden people worshipping other gods, but must have
hugely encouraged Jews throughout the empire who were waiting for God’s
deliverance. And it should us too as we await our final deliverance through
Christ.
Praying
it home:
Praise God that he
is able to save and establish an everlasting kingdom. Pray that you would trust
him to do so, and honour him for all good.
Thinking
further:
None
today.
If you receive
this post by email, visit bible2014.blogspot.co.uk
and make a comment.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment