1. The fame of Daniel (vs 10-16)

The King had heard of Daniel but yet he had never used him! Belshazzar had no desire for Daniel’s advice. Daniel was now 90 years old.

• The recollection of the Queen (vs 10-16) – It is most likely this is the Queen Mother as she was old enough to know about Daniel’s past. Daniel may have been out of the court, but he was not out of sight and mind. The Queen knew the role of Daniel in her life and that of her grandfather. Her description of Daniel would be flattering if were not true!- He was a significant man
  – He was a spiritual man
  – He was a superior man. He was head and shoulders above the rest.
  – He was a sensible man. He had wisdom and knowledge. A powerful and rare combination.
  – He was a skillful man – He could interpret dreams and deal with complex problems.
• The king summons Daniel (vs 14-16)Daniel is always the last resort. They tried the rest before calling the best! Daniel is not called when the wine is flowing. The preacher needs to wait until the alternatives are exhausted before people seek them out. The answers are not in wine, lust and the world.

The king wonders if this is the same Daniel from long ago. Daniel remembers the holy vessels being stolen and now being used for drinking wine. The last resort for the king was to call on Daniel. The motivation of the world is always position, possession and power.

2. The faithfulness of Daniel (vs 17-29)

Daniel had no love for Belshazzar compared to Nebuchadnezzar. He has to usher harsh words but it is too late to retrieve the situation.

• Refused King’s gifts – Keep your gifts. They mean nothing to a man of God. Abraham did similar with the king of Sodom. See Genesis 14:22-23. See also Samuel, Moses and Paul.
• Reviewed his heritage and history – Belshazzar is given a history lesson before Daniel points the finger.- Premeditated sin (vs 22). He should know now and did know it! Belshazzar was proud and had no fear of God. See Hebrews 12:29. God hold us responsible for what we know.
  – Profane sacrilege – You don’t mock God and get away with it. Are you willing to die with what you believe?
  – Pagan sacrifice – He was a fool to worship gods who not exist. The Lord God is real. See Job 12:10; 34:14-15. God gives you breath and death. See Psalm 139:3. God determines our ways. Do not mock the creator!
• Reveals the King’s message – It is written in the ancient language of Aramaic and the first word is repeated for emphasis. God has called his number and his time is up. Many great kingdoms defied God’s and are now gone for good. The kingdom was found light and was rejected. God’s justice is not blind. God weighs us all. See 1 Samuel 2:3; Job 31:6 and Proverbs 16:7. Our actions are being logged. The kingdom will be divided.

3. The fall of Babylon (vs 30-31)

The Persians take over Babylon that night. See Isaiah 40:15. The great nations are only a drop in God’s bucket. The great nation’s fall when God says so. Babylon is fallen. It had been great. It forgot God and He forgot it! See Revelation 17-18. The future Babylon is coming to rise and fall again. Look around at today’s news. It is the same conditions as it was then. The leaders and nation are drunken, profane, sexually immoral, pleasure mad, partying, amusements and money to burn. As it was then so it will happen again. They think they are great and safe but great pride leads to a great fall. God will write on the wall again. The writing is on the wall for the world.

Categories: Daniel