April 28, 2023

Daniel 5:13-30 (HCSB)
13 Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the Judean exiles that my predecessor the king brought from Judah? 14 I've heard that you have the spirit of the gods in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. 15 Now the wise men and mediums were brought before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not give its interpretation. 16 However, I have heard about you that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around your neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom." 17 Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18 Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Because of the greatness He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. 20 But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him.  21 He was driven away from people, his mind was like an animal's, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of men and sets anyone He wants over it. 22 "But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them, you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life. 24 Therefore, He sent the hand, and this writing was inscribed.  25 "This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN 26 This is the interpretation of the message: MENE [means that] God has numbered [the days of] your kingdom and brought it to an end. 27 TEKEL [means that] you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient. 28 PERES [means that] your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 29 Then Belshazzar gave an order, and they clothed Daniel in purple, [placed] a gold chain around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed.

Christine Mullins
Daniel told the king to keep his gifts and rewards, why? Because he knew it wasn’t the king's to give. Besides all of it belonging to God, he also knew that the king’s destruction was near. Daniel was a faithful servant of God and knew His word. The book of Isaiah talks about a man named Cyrus in Isaiah 45. It was prophesied he would overtake Babylon and play a part in helping the Israelites return to their land. Daniel knew the prophesy from 200 years before and knew God would allow them to return to their land. Daniel likely knew Cyrus the Great’s cohort was outside the gates while Babylon was having a feast. Babylon thought they were safe behind their walls. But Daniel saw the “writing on the wall” and he knew it was time. God had numbered the days of the Babylonian king, he was found lacking morally and spiritually, and because of that, he would lose the kingdom. Israel was never forgotten, Babylon was only successful because God gave them success, and now God’s power would be shown as Cyrus would play a part in the Israelites returning home.