Daniel chapter five reminds us that God’s patience has a limit and His Word never fails. Belshazzar ignored the lessons of history, mocked the holiness of God, and refused to humble himself. While the world celebrated, God’s judgment was already at the door. Daniel faithfully proclaimed God’s truth without fear, and that very night Babylon fell exactly as God had declared. This chapter reminds every believer to live humbly before God, to remain faithful regardless of the culture around us, and to place our hope in the everlasting Kingdom of Jesus Christ rather than the temporary kingdoms of this world.
One of the most important things to explain when teaching Daniel because the book is not arranged in strict chronological order.
Daniel 5 is usually placed at 539 BC, when Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians. Daniel 8 occurred earlier, around 551/550 BC, during Belshazzar’s third year.
A simple way to explain it:
Think of Daniel as being arranged by subject as well as by time.
Chapter
Approx. Date
Event
Daniel 1
605 BC
Daniel taken to Babylon
Daniel 2
603/602 BC
Nebuchadnezzar’s image
Daniel 3
During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign
Fiery furnace
Daniel 4
During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign
Nebuchadnezzar humbled
Daniel 7
553 BC
Belshazzar’s 1st year
Daniel 8
551/550 BC
Belshazzar’s 3rd year
Daniel 5
539 BC
Babylon falls
Daniel 6
After 539 BC
Daniel and the lions
Daniel 9
539/538 BC
First year of Darius
Daniel 4 → Daniel 7 → Daniel 8 → Daniel 5 → Daniel 6 → Daniel 9.
Then why didn’t Daniel arrange them that way?
Because Daniel has a remarkable literary structure.
Daniel 1 introduces the whole book.
Then Daniel 2–7 forms a major section dealing especially with Gentile kingdoms and God’s sovereignty over them. Significantly, Daniel 2:4b through 7:28 is written primarily in Aramaic, the international language of that world, rather than Hebrew.
That section has a beautiful pattern:
Daniel 2 — Four world kingdoms Daniel 3 — God’s servants delivered Daniel 4 — A Gentile king humbled Daniel 5 — A Gentile king judged Daniel 6 — God’s servant delivered Daniel 7 — Four world kingdoms
Notice it?
2 corresponds with 7. 3 corresponds with 6. 4 corresponds with 5.
That is why Daniel 5 follows Daniel 4 even though Daniel 7 and 8 happened chronologically before Daniel 5.
Daniel is keeping the message uninterrupted.
Chapters 4 and 5 especially belong together. In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar becomes proud, God humbles him, and eventually he acknowledges:
“…those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” — Daniel 4:37 KJV
Then Daniel 5 gives us Belshazzar, who already knew what happened to Nebuchadnezzar but refused to humble himself:
“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;”— Daniel 5:22 KJV
That’s the connection I would emphasize when teaching it:
Daniel 4 says, “God humbled a king who became proud.” Daniel 5 says, “God judged a king who knew that lesson and refused to learn it.”
So Daniel interrupts the chronology in order not to interrupt the theology.
And then, beginning with Daniel 7, the book essentially takes us backward in time to Belshazzar’s first year so Daniel can begin unfolding his prophetic visions in greater detail.
A memorable sentence for your Bible study would be:
“Daniel is not always arranged by when the events happened, but by what God wanted the events to teach. Chapter 5 comes after chapter 4 because the Holy Spirit is completing the story of God’s dealings with the proud kings of Babylon before taking us into Daniel’s prophetic visions.”
Chapter 5
Belshazzar’s impious feast
1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 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. 3 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. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
Daniel is brought before the king
10 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: 11 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; 12 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. 13 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? 14 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. 15 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: 16 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. 17 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. 18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 19 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. 20 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: 21 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. 22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 23 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: 24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. 29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
The end of Belshazzar’s kingdom
30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. (Dan 5:1-31)
Introduction
One of the most famous expressions in our language is:
“The handwriting is on the wall.”
People use that phrase when disaster is approaching.
A business begins to fail.
A nation collapses.
A relationship falls apart.
Someone says,
“The handwriting is on the wall.”
Few people realize that expression comes directly from Daniel chapter five.
It was not merely handwriting.
It was God’s handwriting.
The greatest handwriting in history was not written on paper.
It was written on the wall of a palace.
It was not a message of encouragement.
It was a message of judgment.
One night…
one king…
one party…
one hand…
changed the course of world history forever.
Belshazzar believed he was safe.
His city walls were nearly impossible to penetrate.
His armies were confident.
His wealth was unmatched.
His banquet hall overflowed with laughter.
But while the music played inside…
the enemy was already entering the city outside.
Beloved, that is exactly how Satan works today.
Many people laugh at eternity…
ignore God’s warnings…
and continue living without Christ…
never realizing that eternity may be only one heartbeat away.
Historical Background
Nearly twenty-six years have passed since the events of Daniel chapter four. King Nebuchadnezzar has died, several rulers have come and gone, and Belshazzar now serves as co-regent with his father, Nabonidus. Babylon still appears unconquerable, yet the Medo-Persian army under Cyrus is already surrounding the city. While Belshazzar hosts a lavish banquet for a thousand nobles, God’s judgment is drawing near. Daniel, now likely in his eighties, has quietly remained faithful through every political change, waiting for God’s next assignment.
When people ignore God’s warnings, the handwriting eventually appears on the wall.
Today we will discover three timeless truths about God’s judgment, man’s accountability, and the hope that is found only in Jesus Christ.
I. SIN ALWAYS BLINDS PEOPLE TO THE DANGER AROUND THEM
Daniel 5:1–12 KJV
As chapter five opens…
Babylon is celebrating.
Thousands have gathered.
Music fills the palace.
Wine flows freely.
The king is laughing.
Everyone believes life could not be better.
Yet outside those massive walls…
the Persian army is quietly preparing to enter the city.
Belshazzar thinks he is celebrating victory.
In reality…
he is celebrating on the eve of destruction.
Sin always creates false confidence.
It convinces people they are safe…
when they are actually in great danger.
Daniel 5:2–4. Belshazzar’s sin was more than drunken foolishness; it was deliberate contempt for the God of Israel.
THE DOUBLE CONTEMPT OF BELSHAZZAR
Daniel 5:2–4 KJV
Daniel tells us:
“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…”— Daniel 5:2 KJV
These were not ordinary drinking cups. They had been consecrated to Jehovah and used in the worship of God at Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar had carried them into Babylon after conquering Jerusalem (Daniel 1:2), but now Belshazzar deliberately brought them into his drunken feast.
There was a double contempt in what he did.
HE DEFILED WHAT BELONGED TO JEHOVAH
The first insult was simply using the sacred vessels at all.
Belshazzar took something that had been set apart for the worship of the true God and turned it into drinking vessels for a pagan banquet.
But notice something important. This was apparently more than, “We have run out of cups—bring us something to drink from.”
The vessels represented the temple in Jerusalem and therefore Israel’s God. Babylon had conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem, and carried away the temple treasures. In the pagan mind, military victory was often interpreted as evidence that the victor’s gods were stronger than the gods of the defeated nation.
So Belshazzar’s action carried a message:
“Babylon defeated Judah. Our gods defeated their God.”
But Belshazzar had badly misunderstood history.
Daniel 1:2 specifically says:
“And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand…”
Nebuchadnezzar did not conquer Judah because Bel was stronger than Jehovah.
Jehovah allowed Babylon to conquer Judah.
Babylon had been God’s instrument of judgment—not God’s conqueror.
That makes Belshazzar’s actions even more arrogant. He was celebrating as Babylon’s achievement something that had happened only because God permitted it.
HE USED GOD’S VESSELS TO PRAISE FALSE GODS
Here is the second and even greater contempt:
“They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.”— Daniel 5:4 KJV
They didn’t merely drink from Jehovah’s vessels.
They used Jehovah’s vessels while praising idols.
That turns desecration into outright blasphemy.
The very cups that had once been associated with the worship of Jehovah were now raised in celebration of gods that could neither see, hear, speak, save, nor deliver.
And there may have been a political-religious message behind the celebration as well. The Medes and Persians were threatening Babylon. Belshazzar’s great feast, despite the danger outside the city, could have served to project confidence in Babylon and its gods.
In effect, their boasting was:
“Our gods gave us victory before. Our gods will give us victory again.”
And the gods they praised may well have represented Babylon’s own deities along with the gods associated with peoples incorporated into its empire. Either way, Daniel deliberately emphasizes the absurdity of their idolatry:
Gold. Silver. Brass. Iron. Wood. Stone.
They were praising things they had made with their own hands while insulting the God who held their very breath in His hand!
That is exactly what Daniel tells Belshazzar later:
“…the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:”— Daniel 5:23 KJV
HERE IS THE GREAT CONTRAST
They lifted God’s vessels—but would not honor God’s name.
They praised gods that had no hands to save them—then suddenly saw a hand they could not explain!
That is one of the great ironies of Daniel 5.
Verse 4:
They praise gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone.
Then verse 5:
“In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote…”
What a transition!
They had mocked the God they could not see—and suddenly the unseen God made His presence known.
Their idols had hands carved upon them but could not write.
Their idols had eyes but could not see.
Their idols had mouths but could not speak.
But Jehovah needed no idol.
His hand appeared upon the wall, and the party was over.
A strong teaching statement
Belshazzar’s sin was double contempt. First, he took what had been consecrated to Jehovah and treated it as common. Second, he took what belonged to Jehovah and used it while praising false gods. He was not merely drinking from Jerusalem’s vessels; he was celebrating Babylon’s supposed superiority over the God of Israel. But Belshazzar failed to understand that Babylon had never defeated Jehovah. God had given Judah into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand. And while Belshazzar praised gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone, the living God was about to write His verdict upon the wall:
MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Be careful when you mistake God’s patience for God’s approval.
For years those sacred vessels sat in Babylon.
God said nothing.
Belshazzar may have thought, “Nothing happened before; nothing will happen tonight.”
But Daniel 5 teaches us:
God’s silence does not mean God has surrendered His holiness.
That night, the cup was in Belshazzar’s hand—but Belshazzar was in God’s hand.
Daniel 5:5–6 like this:
THE FINGER OF GOD — THE HAND THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED
The mysterious hand in Belshazzar’s palace reminds us of other moments in Scripture when God Himself writes.
At Sinai we read:
“And he gave unto Moses… two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.”— Exodus 31:18 KJV
Then in John 8, when the woman taken in adultery was dragged before Jesus:
“…But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground…” — John 8:6 KJV
And again:
“And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.” — John 8:8 KJV
We should be careful not to claim Scripture explicitly says these are literally the same physical hand, because Daniel does not identify the hand that way, nor does John tell us what Jesus wrote. But there is a tremendous biblical connection you can Say:
At Sinai, the finger of God wrote His LAW. In Babylon, the hand wrote His JUDGMENT. In John 8, Jesus wrote while confronting SIN and extending MERCY.
What a picture:
The God who writes the standard is the God who judges by that standard—and the Christ who stooped to write in the dust is the One in whom mercy is found.
AND SUDDENLY BELSHAZZAR WAS DEAD SOBER!
Daniel 5:6 says:
“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.”
A few moments earlier, Belshazzar was drinking, laughing, boasting and praising his idols.
Then God showed up.
His countenance changed—the look of arrogant confidence disappeared.
His thoughts troubled him—his mind was overwhelmed with terror.
The joints of his loins were loosed—his physical strength and composure gave way.
And his knees smote one against another—the mighty king of Babylon was literally trembling.
Belshazzar may have been drunk when he lifted Jehovah’s vessels, but when that hand appeared on the wall, he became DEAD SOBER!
The wine could no longer make him laugh.
The music could no longer entertain him.
His thousand lords could no longer encourage him.
His walls could no longer make him feel secure.
His idols could not help him.
One glimpse of the handwriting of Almighty God sobered the entire banquet.
And there is a tremendous preaching line here:
Belshazzar had been lifting his cup toward gods that could not move their hands—until the living God moved His!
That’s Daniel 5.
The king who feared neither God nor man suddenly discovered that there is something more terrifying than an army outside your walls: it is facing a holy God inside them.
Belshazzar organized one of the greatest banquets in Babylonian history.
Over one thousand nobles attended.
Why hold a party while an enemy army surrounded the city?
Because Babylon trusted its walls more than God.
The city appeared invincible.
Its walls were massive.
Its food supplies were abundant.
Its defenses seemed unbeatable.
The king believed,
“Nothing can happen to us.”
How many people live exactly that way today?
“I have plenty of time.”
“I’m healthy.”
“I’m successful.”
“I’m doing fine.”
But no one knows what tomorrow holds.
James reminds us,
“For what is your life? It is even a vapour…” (James 4:14 KJV)
Life is far more fragile than we imagine.
A. The World Celebrates While Ignoring God’s Warnings
B. Sin Always Progresses When Left Unchecked
As the evening continued…
Belshazzar’s pride grew bolder.
He ordered the sacred vessels from God’s Temple to be brought into the banquet hall.
Those holy vessels had been dedicated to the worship of Jehovah.
Now they were being used during a drunken feast honoring false gods.
This was no longer merely drunkenness.
It had become open rebellion against God.
Sin never remains the same.
One compromise leads to another.
One act of rebellion leads to greater rebellion.
The farther a person moves from God…
the easier sin becomes.
That is why the Bible repeatedly warns us to flee temptation before it gains control.
A. The World Celebrates While Ignoring God’s Warnings
B. Sin Always Progresses When Left Unchecked
C. God Always Knows the Exact Moment to Speak
Then everything changed.
Without warning…
a hand appeared.
Not a person.
Not an angel.
Just the fingers of a man’s hand.
They began writing upon the palace wall.
Immediately the laughter stopped.
The music ceased.
The king’s face turned pale.
His knees knocked together.
The mighty ruler who feared no army…
was terrified by one hand.
Why?
Because deep inside every human heart is the knowledge that one day we must answer to God.
No amount of wealth…
power…
or popularity…
can silence the voice of conscience when God begins to speak.
The same God who wrote His Law upon tables of stone…
now writes judgment upon the palace wall.
A Spiritual Insight
God often interrupts the world’s greatest celebrations to remind mankind that eternity is real.
He has a way of stopping us in our tracks.
A diagnosis.
An accident.
A funeral.
A crisis.
Sometimes God lovingly interrupts our plans so we will finally look toward Him.
Pastor’s Commentary
As your pastor, one of my greatest burdens is seeing people who are so busy enjoying life that they never prepare for eternity.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying God’s blessings.
But there is everything wrong with enjoying His blessings while ignoring Him.
Belshazzar had time for a banquet…
but no time for God.
He had time for entertainment…
but no time for repentance.
May that never be true of us.
Let’s live every day remembering that our greatest appointment is not with this world—
it is with our Creator.
Faith Builder
Ask yourself:
Am I trusting earthly security more than God’s protection?
Have I allowed anything to become more important than my relationship with Christ?
Is there an area where God has been trying to get my attention?
If today were my last day, would I be ready to meet the Lord?
Christ Connection
The handwriting on the wall announced judgment.
The handwriting of God’s grace is found at the Cross.
Jesus Christ bore the judgment that our sins deserved.
Those who reject Him will one day stand before God’s judgment.
Those who trust Him stand forgiven because Christ has already paid their debt in full.
The mysterious writing now covered the palace wall, but no one could understand its meaning. Babylon’s wise men stood speechless, and the king’s fear only increased. Yet God already had a faithful servant prepared for that very moment. In the next section, we will discover that God always has a messenger when the world desperately needs His truth, as elderly Daniel is summoned to interpret Heaven’s message.
This is one of the greatest scenes in Daniel’s life. He is now over eighty years old. Kingdoms have come and gone, but his faithfulness has never changed. God is about to use an elderly servant to speak truth to the most powerful man in Babylon.
Today we will discover three timeless truths about God’s judgment, man’s accountability, and the hope that is found only in Jesus Christ.
I. SIN ALWAYS BLINDS PEOPLE TO THE DANGER AROUND THEM
Daniel 5:1–12 KJV
II. GOD ALWAYS HAS A FAITHFUL WITNESS
Daniel 5:13–28 KJV
The banquet hall had become silent.
The laughter was gone.
The wine no longer mattered.
The musicians had stopped playing.
The mighty king who had mocked God now stood trembling before a message he could not understand.
His wise men were helpless.
His astrologers were speechless.
His counselors were confused.
The world always runs out of answers when eternity comes into view.
Then someone remembered Daniel.
What a testimony!
After decades of faithful living, Daniel’s name still carried weight.
He had not promoted himself.
He had simply remained faithful to God.
Beloved, the greatest reputation you can have is this:
When people need God, they think of you.
A. Faithfulness Is Built Over a Lifetime
Daniel had served under Nebuchadnezzar.
He had served under Evil-merodach.
He had lived through several kings and political changes.
Now another king called for him.
Why?
Because faithful people are never out of God’s service.
Daniel had not retired from serving God.
He may have been forgotten by the palace,
but he had never been forgotten by Heaven.
The queen reminded Belshazzar,
“There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods…” (Daniel 5:11 KJV)
What a testimony!
She remembered his wisdom.
His integrity.
His godly character.
His faithfulness.
Long after positions fade…
titles disappear…
and earthly honors are forgotten…
a godly testimony continues speaking.
Paul wrote,
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV)
God does not primarily call us to be famous.
He calls us to be faithful.
A. Faithfulness Is Built Over a Lifetime
B. God’s Servants Cannot Be Bought
Belshazzar offered Daniel riches.
A purple robe.
A gold chain.
The third highest position in the kingdom.
Daniel respectfully replied,
“Let thy gifts be to thyself…” (Daniel 5:17 KJV)
Daniel understood something the king did not.
Babylon was already falling.
Those rewards would soon become worthless.
He was not interested in temporary riches.
He was interested in eternal truth.
That is the mark of genuine spiritual maturity.
A servant of God does not preach for applause.
He does not stand for sale.
He cannot be bribed into silence.
His loyalty belongs to God alone.
Throughout his life Daniel proved that obedience was worth more than promotion.
Integrity was worth more than influence.
Truth was worth more than treasure.
A. Faithfulness Is Built Over a Lifetime
B. God’s Servants Cannot Be Bought
C. God’s Truth Must Be Spoken with Courage
Before Daniel interpreted the handwriting,
he preached.
He reminded Belshazzar about Nebuchadnezzar.
He recounted how God had humbled the former king.
Then he spoke these piercing words,
“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.”(Daniel 5:22 KJV)
That may be the saddest sentence in the chapter.
Belshazzar knew better.
He had seen what happened to Nebuchadnezzar.
He had witnessed God’s power.
He had heard the testimony.
Yet he ignored every lesson.
Knowledge without obedience only increases responsibility.
There are many people today who know the Gospel.
They know the Bible.
They know right from wrong.
Yet they continue living apart from Christ.
Knowing the truth is not enough.
The truth must be believed.
It must be obeyed.
Daniel then interpreted the words.
MENE
God has numbered your kingdom.
Your time is finished.
TEKEL
You have been weighed in God’s balances.
You have been found wanting.
PERES (UPHARSIN)
Your kingdom will be divided.
The Medes and Persians will receive it.
The handwriting was not merely about Babylon.
It was God’s verdict upon one man’s life.
A Spiritual Insight
Every life is being weighed by God.
Not according to the world’s standards…
Not according to popularity…
Not according to wealth…
But according to God’s perfect righteousness.
Apart from Jesus Christ,
every one of us would be found wanting.
That is why we desperately need the righteousness of Christ.
Pastor’s Commentary
One of the greatest tragedies in life is not ignorance.
It is ignoring what we already know.
Many people have sat in church for years.
They know John 3:16.
They know the Gospel.
They know Christ died for sinners.
Yet they continue saying,
“Maybe someday.”
Belshazzar had every opportunity to learn from Nebuchadnezzar.
Instead, he repeated the same mistake.
Don’t waste the lessons God has already taught you.
If God has corrected you…
thank Him.
If He has warned you…
listen.
If He has shown you His grace…
walk in it.
A wise believer learns not only from his own failures, but from the experiences of others.
Faith Builder
Ask yourself:
Is my testimony causing others to think of Christ?
Am I more concerned about eternal rewards than earthly recognition?
Have I obeyed the truth God has already shown me?
What lesson from someone else’s life should I apply today?
Christ Connection
Daniel stood before Belshazzar as God’s faithful messenger.
Jesus Christ is God’s final and perfect Messenger.
Daniel announced judgment.
Jesus first came offering salvation.
Yet Scripture teaches that the same Jesus who offered grace will one day return as Judge.
Today He offers forgiveness.
One day He will pronounce the final verdict.
That is why the Bible says,
“Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV)
Daniel finished interpreting the handwriting. The sentence had been announced, and there would be no appeal. Before the night was over, every word God had written upon that palace wall would come to pass. In our final section, we will see that God’s judgments are always certain, His Word never fails, and every earthly kingdom eventually gives way to the everlasting Kingdom of God.
This final section brings the chapter to its powerful conclusion. God’s verdict is never uncertain, and His Word never fails. What He says will happen always comes to pass.
Today we will discover three timeless truths about God’s judgment, man’s accountability, and the hope that is found only in Jesus Christ.
I. SIN ALWAYS BLINDS PEOPLE TO THE DANGER AROUND THEM
Daniel 5:1–12 KJV
II. GOD ALWAYS HAS A FAITHFUL WITNESS
Daniel 5:13–28 KJV
III. GOD’S JUDGMENT IS CERTAIN, BUT HIS KINGDOM STANDS FOREVER
Daniel 5:29–31 KJV
The banquet was over.
The message had been delivered.
The verdict had been announced.
Belshazzar could not change God’s handwriting.
He could not negotiate with God.
He could not buy more time.
He could not erase what had been written.
God had spoken.
The sentence was final.
Many people think they can postpone their decision for Christ until tomorrow.
Belshazzar probably thought he had years to live.
Instead…
he had only hours.
The Bible says,
“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.” (Daniel 5:30 KJV)
The very night he mocked God…
he met God.
A. God’s Word Never Fails
Daniel’s interpretation was not a possibility.
It was a certainty.
Every word came to pass exactly as God declared.
While the banquet continued inside the palace,
the Medo-Persian army quietly entered Babylon.
The mighty Euphrates River had been diverted.
The soldiers marched beneath the city walls.
The gates were left open.
The seemingly invincible city fell without a prolonged battle.
The kingdom that appeared unshakable collapsed in a single night.
God had spoken over 150 years earlier through Isaiah that Cyrus would conquer Babylon and even called him by name before he was born. What seemed impossible to men had already been settled by the Word of God.
Isaiah declared,
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8 KJV)
Empires rise.
Empires fall.
God’s Word remains forever.
A. God’s Word Never Fails
B. Earthly Kingdoms Are Temporary
Babylon was the greatest empire on earth.
Its walls were enormous.
Its treasures were priceless.
Its armies were feared.
Its leaders believed it could never fall.
Yet in one night…
everything changed.
History reminds us that every earthly kingdom eventually passes away.
Egypt faded.
Babylon fell.
Persia declined.
Greece disappeared.
Rome crumbled.
Every government…
every nation…
every empire…
is temporary.
Only one Kingdom is everlasting.
That is exactly what Daniel has been teaching from the beginning of this book.
The God who removed Nebuchadnezzar…
removed Belshazzar.
The God who raised Cyrus…
will one day establish His eternal Kingdom through His Son, Jesus Christ.
No election can stop it.
No army can defeat it.
No enemy can overthrow it.
Jesus declared,
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35 KJV)
A. God’s Word Never Fails
B. Earthly Kingdoms Are Temporary
C. Every Person Must One Day Face God’s Verdict
Belshazzar was weighed.
One day…
every one of us will stand before God.
The difference is this.
Belshazzar stood before God clothed in his own pride.
Believers stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Without Christ,
every one of us would be found wanting.
We have all sinned.
We have all fallen short.
None of us could pass God’s perfect standard.
But because Jesus lived the sinless life we could never live…
and died the death we deserved…
everyone who trusts Him is forgiven completely.
When God looks upon His redeemed children,
He sees the righteousness of His own Son.
What wonderful grace!
A Spiritual Insight
God’s delays should never be mistaken for God’s absence.
For years it appeared Babylon would never fall.
Yet God’s calendar was moving exactly on schedule.
Sometimes we wonder why evil seems to prosper.
Why wickedness appears to win.
Why judgment seems delayed.
Daniel chapter five reminds us that God is never late.
He works according to His perfect timetable.
Pastor’s Commentary
As I read this chapter, I cannot help but think about our own nation.
We enjoy great blessings.
Great freedoms.
Great opportunities.
Yet no nation is too strong for God to humble.
Our hope is not in Washington.
Our hope is not in economics.
Our hope is not in military strength.
Our hope is in the Lord.
That is why the Church must never stop praying.
Never stop preaching.
Never stop sharing the Gospel.
We are not called to preserve an earthly kingdom.
We are called to proclaim an eternal King.
And until Jesus comes, we must faithfully point people to Him.
Faith Builder
Ask yourself:
Am I building my life upon things that will one day pass away?
Is my confidence in earthly security or in Jesus Christ?
If God weighed my life today, would I be trusting in my own goodness or in Christ’s righteousness?
Am I investing my life in God’s eternal Kingdom?
Christ Connection
Belshazzar received a message of condemnation written upon a palace wall.
At Calvary,
another message was written—
not on stone,
but in the blood of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus cried,
“It is finished.” (John 19:30 KJV)
the debt of every believing sinner was completely paid.
The handwriting that condemned us has been removed through the finished work of Christ.
As Paul writes,
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us… and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”(Colossians 2:14 KJV)
The handwriting on Babylon’s wall announced judgment.
The handwriting nailed to Christ’s Cross announces salvation for all who believe.
Lesson Five Summary
Daniel chapter five reminds us that God’s patience has a limit and His Word never fails. Belshazzar ignored the lessons of history, mocked the holiness of God, and refused to humble himself. While the world celebrated, God’s judgment was already at the door. Daniel faithfully proclaimed God’s truth without fear, and that very night Babylon fell exactly as God had declared. This chapter reminds every believer to live humbly before God, to remain faithful regardless of the culture around us, and to place our hope in the everlasting Kingdom of Jesus Christ rather than the temporary kingdoms of this world.
Memory Verse
Daniel 5:27 (KJV)
“TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”
Reflection Questions
Am I trusting in temporary things more than eternal truths?
What lessons from the lives of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar should I never forget?
Is there any area of my life where I have ignored God’s warnings?
What kind of testimony am I leaving for the next generation?
How can I be a faithful witness like Daniel in today’s culture?
Key Truths to Remember
Sin blinds people to approaching judgment.
God always has a faithful witness in every generation.
God’s Word never fails.
Every life will one day be weighed by God.
Only Jesus Christ can make us righteous before a holy God.
Looking Ahead
Lesson Six
WHEN FAITH IS THROWN TO THE LIONS
Daniel Chapter 6
Next week we will study one of the most beloved chapters in all of Scripture. Daniel, now an elderly servant of God, will refuse to compromise his prayer life even under the threat of death. We will discover that a faithful life leaves a powerful testimony, courageous obedience pleases God, and the Lord is able to shut the mouths of lions just as surely as He is able to protect His people today.
