Daniel 5:17

Daniel 5:17 says, Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.  As with the rich foods of the Nebuchadnezzar earlier, Daniel told Belshazzar that he did not want the money and power that was offered him.  If we start to accept material rewards before we will proclaim God's word, then we have truly lost sight of what we are called to do.  There is a difference in witnessing for reward and relying on God to meet our needs.  Verse eighteen adds, O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:  Daniel begins by proclaiming the power of God.  He said that God had given Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar's father, his kingdom and glory.  As stated earlier, we can ask if God actually placed Nebuchadnezzar in power, or simply allowed him to rise to power.  Verse nineteen continues, And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.  God gave or allowed Nebuchadnezzar to have great power over all the nations around him.  There are nations today that have great power and deny God, but the fact that God allows them to maintain this power does not mean that He gives them this power.  I do not believe that God changes nations, but that He changes individuals who change nations.  That is why we need moral leaders, those who are dedicated to following God.  Verse twenty states, But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:  I believe that by now Belshazzar might have been wondering why Daniel was telling him all this.  He had to have known what had happened to his father during Nebuchadnezzar's time of disgrace, as we might say.  Sometimes we may need to remind people of God's work in the past in order to get them to understand that God is still at work today and will never change.  Verse twenty-one adds,  And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.  Daniel reminded Belshassar of what had happened to Nebuchadnezzar when he refused to acknowledge God.  God's judgment does not change with time or situations, but is always sure and just.  Verse twenty-two continues, And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;  Basically, Daniel told Belshazzar that he was without excuse for his behavior.  He knew what God had done in Nebuchadnezzar's life.  We will never be able to stand before God and justify our rebellion against Him.  Verse twenty-three concludes, But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:  Daniel still had not interpreted the writing, but he was telling Belshazzar the reason for the writing.  Belshazzar not only didn't recognize God, but he went out of his way to defy God by using the temple vessels as his own.  The reason that any person is punished by God is because of their refusal to acknowledge Him.  I also believe that we can never use the things of God for our own purposes without being held accountable for doing so.

Daniel 5:9

Daniel 5:9 says, Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.  Belshazsar was greatly troubled.  His appearance astonished his lords.  Belshazzar had looked to worldly advisors to interpret God's word, and naturally they failed.  Unless a person has a relationship with God, or asks someone who does for help, they can never understand God's word.  Had Belshazzar recognized that God was the author of the writing and had acknowledged Him, I believe that he would have known what the writing meant.  This is what happens when a lost person acknowledges God.  That person begins to understand God's word.  Verse ten adds, Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:  The queen heard about what had happened and came to the banquet hall, which would imply that she wasn't there when all this was happening.  Still, she wished for the best for Balshazzar.  She told him to cheer up.  She had good news for him.  When we encounter lost people today, we should tell them to cheer up, because we have good news for them.  Though our good news, the gospel, brings everlasting salvation and not just a temporary solution as the queens did.  Verse eleven continues, There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; She said there was a man in the kingdom who could interpret the writing.  At least she remembered the God given ability of Daniel.  Verse twelve states, Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.  Evidently, Daniel did not associate himself with these other wise men, whose purpose was to tell the king his future.  There are those today who want to be around the source of power and will say anything to keep the person in power happy, but they can never change the coming judgment of God.  Verse thirteen adds, Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?  Evidently, Belshazzar was familiar with what Daniel had done during Nebuchadnezzar's reign.  He said that Nebuchadnezzar had brought Daniel out of Jewry, which meant that he didn't understand everything about Daniel.  Daniel and his friends were still committed to the Jewish faith and the God of the Jews, the only true God.  Knowing the good works of a follower of Christ is not enough to save a person without knowing Christ Himself.  Verse fourteen continues, I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.  Belshazzar still did not acknowledge that Daniel served the only God but thought that the spirit of the gods lived in Daniel.  Had Belshazzar acknowledged God, he would not have profaned the things of God.  Then he wouldn't have been in this position.  Ultimately, we will be held accountable for our actions, and our only hope is through salvation made available by Christ.  Verse fifteen says, And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:  Belshazzar may have been surprised by the failure of the so-called wise men, but I doubt that Daniel was.  We should not be surprised that those who are not followers of Christ cannot answer questions related to God.  Verse sixteen adds, And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.  Belshazzar thought that he could buy the interpretation.  There are still people today who want to buy themselves into a right relationship with God, but salvation is never about money and power, but only about faith.

Daniel 5:1

Daniel 5:1 says, Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.  Balthazar, Nebuchadnezzar's son was now king of Babylon and had been for about seventeen years, according to Matthew Henry.  Belshazzar had fought Cyrus, the king of Persia and lost and was now under siege in the city.  Instead of turning to God for help, he decided to have a great feast and defy God.  Verse two adds, Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.  Maybe Belshazzar felt that by profaning the things of God he would make himself look more powerful.  There are still those in the world today who, when they find themselves in great distress, instead of turning to God attempt to make themselves look more powerful than God.  Verse three continues, Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.  Belshazzar and those gathered with him were using the things dedicated to God for their own purposes.  When we fail to acknowledge the authority of God in our lives today, we do the same thing.  What God blesses us with is still His and is to be used for His glory and not for our own pleasure.  Verse four declares, They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.  Not only did Belshazzar and his friends profane the things of God, but they praised their false gods as well.  Anytime we do not give God the credit for all that is happening in our lives, we are guilty of giving credit to some false god, some material thing.  Verse five adds, In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.  Belshassar was celebrating, then he saw the part of a hand that wrote writing on the wall.  He might have just thought he was drunk, except for the writing.  It is hard to dismiss the word of God when it is clearly written for us, whether on a wall or in a book, the Bible.  Verse six continues, Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.  Belshazsar was terrified by what he saw.  When an unsaved person encounters God in judgment today, they should be just as terrified.  Verse seven says, The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.  Belshazzar had learned nothing from Nebuchadnezzar.  He called on the same group of so-called wise men, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers.  He promised them great rewards if they could interpret the handwriting.  When a person is terrified by the judgment of God, the things of this earth become much less important.  Belshazzar was willing to give up a lot to have the handwriting interpreted.  Verse eight adds, Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.  As with Nebuchadnezzar, the wise men failed.  They could not interpret it, since it was God's word, and they did not acknowledge Him.  Those who do not know God cannot understand what He has to say to anyone.

Daniel 4:28

Daniel 4:28 says, All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.  Evidently Nebuchadnezzar did not take the council of Daniel, just like many lost people will not accept the gospel today when it is presented to them.  When they don't, they will suffer the judgment of God, just as Nebuchadnezzar did.  Verse twenty-nine adds, At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.  It was a year before this dream, or prophecy from God, was fulfilled.  This was time for Nebuchadnezzar to repent.  God will never act in haste to destroy those who will not acknowledge Him.  Nebuchadnezzar may have even begun to feel that Daniel was wrong.  As the return of Christ lingers, there are those who die thinking this is proof that it this is not going to happen, but as followers of Christ we know it will.  Verse thirty continues, The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?  Nebuchadnezzar was walking in his palace and bragging on his accomplishments.  He did not acknowledge God.  There are people today who like to boast of their accomplishments and attempt to bring credit to themselves and not God.  Verse thirty-one declares, While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.  Even as Nebuchadnezzar was boasting of his greatness, God overruled him.  As Daniel had foretold, God said the kingdom was departed from Nebuchadnezzar.  We may boast of our own accomplishments without acknowledging God, but those things we do without honoring God will certainly pass away.  Verse thirty-two adds, And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.  The fulfillment of the prophecy, or the dream, was to come to pass, just as Daniel had interpreted it.  We can likewise be certain that God's prophecy for the end of the world will come to pass, when God deems the time to be right.  Verse thirty-three continues, The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.  God had waited a year from the fulfillment of the dream, but now judgment had come.  No matter how long God waits, His judgment is sure.  We can never afford to delay our acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord, because God may not wait for us forever to make that decision.  Verse thirty-four states,  And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:  This was Nebuchadnezzar's personal testimony that what God had said would happen did happen.  When Nebuchadnezzar returned to his senses, he praised God.  He acknowledged the everlasting nature of God and His kingdom.  No matter where we are at in life, when we return to our senses we will acknowledge God.  The Bible tells us that the fool has said in his heart there is no God, so we must turn to a true knowledge of God to be sensible.  Then, we need to praise God and share that knowledge with the world.  Verse thirty-five adds, And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?  Nebuchadnezzar simply stated the superiority of God over all His creation.  God has not changed.  He still sustains the world.  Verse thirty-six continues, At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.  Nebuchadnezzar said that he was returned to his former glory as a ruler.  When we acknowledge Christ as our Savior and Lord, things on earth may not become a lot better materially, but we will be restored to a right relationship with God and become a part of His everlasting kingdom.  Verse thirty-seven concludes, Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.  Nebuchadnezzar said he would praise and extol God instead of himself.  Like Nebuchadnezzar, we must come humbly before God.

Daniel 4:19

Daniel 4:19 says, Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee.  Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.  Daniel was astonished at the interpretation of the dream, which was evidently very clear to him.  Though Nebuchadnezzar was still oppressing the Jews, Daniel did not take delight in telling him of his being overthrown.  Nebuchadnezzar, thinking Daniel might be afraid to tell him because Daniel feared the consequences of doing so, told him not to be troubled.  Daniel then told Nebuchadnezzar that the dream was for those who hated Nebuchadnezzar.  We should never be afraid to speak God's word, even if it pronounces destruction to those we are speaking to.  We cannot alter the gospel to make people feel better about not accepting it.  Verse twenty adds, The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;  Verse twenty-one continues, Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:  Verse twenty-two concludes, It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.  Daniel said that the tree represented Nebuchadnezzar, whose kingdom had grown vast and powerful.  So far, this would seem like a good thing, but even if a king is the most powerful ruler in the world, his kingdom is limited.  All earthly kingdoms, no matter how great, will one day be destroyed and Christ alone will rule.  Verse twenty-three states, And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;  Daniel had said that Nebuchadnezzar was the tree, and now he was saying that Nebuchadnezzar saw a watcher and holy one come down from heaven and order the tree to be cut down.  This was not good news for Nebuchadnezzar, but the truth of the coming destruction of those who do not accept the authority and leadership of God will never be good news.  Verse twenty-four adds, This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:  Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that this was not only the interpretation but also the decree of the most High.  Though Daniel did not say God, he did convey the idea when he said most High.  Since God had proclaimed it, it would come to pass.  It is possible that this could have changed had Nebuchadnezzar repented and acknowledged God.  We are told in no uncertain terms what the fate of those who deny God is, unless they repent and accept Christ as their savior.  Verse twenty-five continues, That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.  Daniel said that Nebuchadnezzar would be overthrown and live like the beast of the field, eating grass and covered by the dew.  This would continue for seven years, until Nebuchadnezzar recognized that God rules the kingdom of men.  God will indeed strike down the kingdoms of the earth at the second coming, not for seven years but forever.  Verse twenty-six says, And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.  Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom would be restored to him after he acknowledged God.  Verse twenty-seven adds, Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.  Daniel asked the king to accept his council and begin living by God's guidance now.  Had Nebuchadnezzar done so, he might have avoided the coming destruction of his kingdom.  God does not wish to destroy but to redeem those who rebel against Him.

Daniel 4:10

Daniel 4:10 says, Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.  We need to remember that Nebuchadnezzar had been at peace in his bed when this dream came, but it made him afraid.  When God is truly speaking to a lost person about what their future holds, they should be afraid.  Nebuchadnezzar said he saw a very tall tree in the midst of the earth.  Verse eleven adds, The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:  Nebuchadnezzar was simply telling his dream, and though all those who had said before that they could tell Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation if they knew the dream, they had failed to do so.  Now, Nebuchadnezzar was relying on Daniel, but he still was not relying on God.  We, as followers of Christ, have direct access to God and do not need to go to or through anyone to know His will for our lives.  This tree reached into heaven.  Verse twelve continues, The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.  Nebuchadnezzar was still simply telling his dream, but this tree was able to basically meet the needs people, animals and birds.  So far, there would seem to be nothing disturbing about the dream.  Verse thirteen states, I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;  Though the tree grew up into heaven, Nebuchadnezzar said he saw a Holy One come down from heaven.  Without getting into the interpretation too much, we know that we cannot reach God except through the Holy One Who came down from heaven, Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen adds, He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:  This is still just Nebuchadnezzar telling his dream to Daniel.  Verse fifteen continues,  Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: Verse sixteen says, Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.  Verse seventeen adds, This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.  The purpose of the dream was somewhat explained in this verse, but not the interpretation.  Verse eighteen continues, This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.  Nebuchadnezzar told Daniel that this was his dream and that, although all the wise men of his kingdom could not tell him the answer, that he felt Daniel could.  Nebuchadnezzar said he believed this because the spirit of the holy god lived in Daniel.  I still don't believe that Nebuchadnezzar recognized that there was but one God.  People may come to us, who are followers of Christ today for answers, because they see something different in us, and yet still not acknowledge God.  When someone acknowledges God, they can go directly to Him for answers.

Daniel 4:1

Daniel 4:1 says, Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.  Nebuchadnezzar himself was telling this story.  He was speaking, or more likely writing, about what had happened, not what might happen.  He wished peace for all the people who heard his story.  What he was to say did not make Nebuchadnezzar look good, but instead glorified God.  We need to always give God the glory, even if it shows our own weakness and failure.  Verse two adds, I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.  Just as Nebuchadnezzar said that he thought it good to relate the signs and wonders done to him by the high God, so must we tell the world about what God has done and is doing in our lives.  We are to witness for Christ, even if God has to rebuke or punish our actions.  Verse three continues, How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.  Nebuchadnezzar was shown the limited duration of his kingdom and came to realize the everlasting nature of God's kingdom.  No matter what nation we live in today, that nation is but temporary.  At the return of Christ, all nations will cease to exist.  Verse four states, I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:  Nebuchadnezzar was at peace and flourishing in his palace.  We might say he didn't have a care in the world.  He was a powerful king.  We may be at peace in our position in the world today and feel that this is all we need, but if we are not living for God, then it is a false peace.  This is what Nebuchadnezzar was to find out.  Verse five adds, I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.  Once more, while Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in his house, God gave him a disturbing dream.  I believe that God is always at work attempting to call people to Him.  God had been at work in Nebuchadnezzar's life on more than one occasion, and He was still at work in Nebuchadnezzar's life.  God does not give up easily on people, and neither should we.  Verse six continues, Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.  Once more, Nebuchadnezzar called all the wise men to tell him what the dream meant.  Maybe he figured if they knew the dream they could tell him the interpretation.  Verse seven says, Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.  Once more all the magicians, astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, all those who claimed some special ability to tell the future, failed.  There are people today who go to those who are supposedly able to tell the future, and even if they are not correct in what they fortell, people still go back to them.  Nebuchadnezzar should have learned from his earlier experience, and so should people today.  Verse eight adds, But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,  Nebuchadnezzar was still relying on his god, but he recognized that the Spirit of the holy God was in Daniel.  It is sad that many people are still that way today.  They cling to their own god while recognizing the power of the one true God in the lives of those who follow Christ.  Verse nine continues, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.  Nebuchadnezzar called Belteshazzar, Daniel's Babylonian name, the master of magicians, but he was not.  Daniel was simply a man relying on the power of God to guide him.  At least Nebuchadnezzar got it partly right when he again said the Spirit of the Holy God lived in Daniel, but he was wrong because he said holy gods.  Nebuchadnezzar still did not acknowledge that there was but one God.  We cannot make God just one of many gods.