I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      History tends to repeat itself as great nations follow the same patterns over and over again.  Sin increases until at last a nation falls in on itself, so that most nations last only about two-hundred years.

B.      For a potent example of this truth, let us consider the text of Daniel chapter 5.

II.      THE EVENTS OF DANIEL 5

A.      The events recorded in Daniel chapter 5 focus upon the feast given by Belshazzar the king of Babylon.

                                                             1.      Belshazzar was actually a prince serving as the king of Babylon in his father’s absence.

                                                             2.      Belshazzar’s father was Nabonidus, who ruled in a lax way and was more interested in archaeology than government.  Nabonidus was the fourth king to rule over Babylon since Nebuchadnezzar had died twenty-two years earlier, which indicates the weakness and instability in the empire.  As these events occurred, Nabonidus was away on one of his many journeys.

B.      The feast of Belshazzar occurred within the magnificent fortress-city of Babylon.

                                                             1.      The historian Herodotus recorded that the city was surrounded by two rows of walls and a moat.  The outer walls enclosed a square shaped area of approximately 200 square miles.  Certain parts of the walls were wide enough to have chariot races on top.

                                                             2.      The city was self-sustaining.  The Euphrates River ran through the middle of the city under the great walls, and within the city were the hanging gardens of Nebuchadnezzar.  Food and water were well supplied so that the citizens of Babylon could withstand any siege.

                                                             3.      It is evident that Belshazzar felt very secure within the city, for as he gave this feast, Babylon was surrounded by the Medo-Persian army under the leadership of Cyrus the king.

C.      The nature of Belshazzar’s feast is revealed in verses 1-4.

                                                             1.      The presence of one thousand nobles indicates that this was a great and important celebration.

                                                             2.      Belshazzar felt the celebration was so important that he commanded that the vessels from the temple of God be brought to serve the wine to the nobles and his harem.  These vessels had been taken when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple in Jerusalem.

                                                             3.      The full wicked intent of Belshazzar is revealed in verse 4 as he and his guests used the vessels from the temple in riotous praise of their false gods.  They exalted their gods above the true God of heaven and purposely desecrated that which was holy.

D.      The riotous celebration came to a sudden halt when the king saw a hand writing on the wall (vv. 5-9).

                                                             1.      Belshazzar became exceedingly afraid because there was no body attached to this hand and he did not understand the message written on the wall.

                                                             2.      The king was so concerned about this message that he offered great rewards, including third place in the kingdom, to anyone who could interpret the message.

                                                             3.      However, none of the wise men of Babylon could provide the interpretation, which frightened the king even more.

E.       Belshazzar then became acquainted with Daniel (vv. 10-17).

                                                             1.      It was the queen (presumably the queen-mother) who directed Belshazzar to Daniel.

                                                             2.      The fact that Belshazzar did not know who Daniel was, even after all the interaction that Daniel had with Nebuchadnezzar, reveals the foolish and careless character of Belshazzar.

                                                             3.      Belshazzar offered the same rewards to Daniel if he would provide the interpretation of the message.  Daniel refused the rewards, but offered the interpretation anyway.

F.       Before Daniel gave his interpretation of the message, he explained to Belshazzar why this had happened (vv. 18-23).

                                                             1.      First, Daniel recalled the lessons learned by Nebuchadnezzar (see Dan. 4:34-35).

                                                             2.      Then, Daniel revealed the failure of Belshazzar in verses 22-23.

a.       Nebuchadnezzar had learned his lessons the hard way, and Belshazzar had the opportunity to avoid these difficulties.  The evidence was available to him.

b.       However, Belshazzar had willfully rejected this knowledge.  What he had done was not the mistaken course of an ill-advised leader, but rather it was open rebellion and defiance toward the proven God of heaven.

G.      Daniel’s interpretation of the message was as simple and brief as the message itself (vv. 24-29).

                                                             1.      The inscription on the wall was “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”

                                                             2.      The term MENE meant “to number.”  Belshazzar’s kingdom was numbered, meaning that his time had come to an end.

                                                             3.      TEKEL meant “to weigh.”  Belshazzar had been weighed, and there was not enough moral worth in him to balance the scales.

                                                             4.      UPHARSIN was the plural of PERES, which meant “to divide.”  Belshazzar’s kingdom was to be divided between the Medes and the Persians.

                                                             5.      For giving the interpretation, Daniel received the rewards, including being elevated to the third ruler in the kingdom that he had just condemned to destruction.

H.      Shortly after Daniel gave his interpretation, Belshazzar was slain and the kingdom fell (vv. 30-31).

                                                             1.      The man who had boisterously celebrated in defiance of the Medes and Persians and of God Himself died in the same night.  His sense of security proved to be false and foolish.

a.       Herodotus recorded that Cyrus commanded his soldiers to dig trenches and divert the waters of the Euphrates until they were able to wade into the city under the walls.

b.       The Cyrus Cylinder says that there were traitors in the city who opened the gates and let Cyrus’ army come in.

c.        Either way, Babylon was conquered in a single night without so much as a fight.

                                                             2.      Darius the Mede was installed as king over Babylon when Cyrus captured the city.

                                                             3.      The first world empire had just passed away forever, and the transfer of power is recorded in one short sentence in one verse of the Bible.  This illustrates very well the power of God.

III.   APPLICATIONS

A.      The strength of a nation is its relationship with God.

                                                             1.      A nation is not made strong by its military might or its economy or its allegiances with other nations.  It is made strong by the God of heaven.

a.       Belshazzar believed that his kingdom was impregnable.  He died in the same night.

b.       Regardless of how Cyrus entered Babylon, it is obvious from the handwriting on the wall of Belshazzar that it was the providence of God work bringing down the power of men.

c.        “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.” (Isa. 40:15)

d.       There is not enough military might, leadership, or money in the world to preserve a nation that God determines to bring down.

                                                             2.      “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Prov. 14:34)

                                                             3.      “The wicked will return to Sheol, even all the nations who forget God.” (Psalm 9:17)

B.      God will punish those who desecrate His holy things.

                                                             1.      In our modern society, the holy things of God are desecrated every day.

a.       Just as Belshazzar used the temple vessels in careless disregard and open defiance of God, men today abuse holy things in the same way.

b.       Consider some holy things that are commonly desecrated:

i.         The holy name of God (Jas. 2:7);

ii.        His holy church (1Cor. 3:16-17);

iii.      The holy institution of marriage (Matt. 19:9; Heb. 13:4);

iv.      The physical body of a Christian, His holy ones (1Cor. 6:19-20; 1Pet. 1:15-16).

                                                             2.      This unholy treatment of God’s holy things is truly unholy treatment of God Himself.  God punished Moses for failing to treat Him as holy (Num. 20:12).  We should likewise expect punishment if we fail to revere Him as holy.

C.      MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN

                                                             1.      Many have the delusional attitude like Belshazzar that they can do what they please without regard to God’s will and live happily ever after.

                                                             2.      However, there will come a time when every one of us will die (Heb. 9:27).  MENE – Your days are numbered.

                                                             3.      We are being measured right now for the Judgment (2Cor. 5:10).  TEKEL – Will you balance the scales, or will you be found lacking?

                                                             4.      There will be a division at the Judgment between the saved and the lost (Matt. 25:31-46; 2Thess. 1:6-10).  PERES – Will you be gathered with the sheep or the goats?