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More Daniel commentaries
Daniel 2:1-13
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Daniel 2:14-23
God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Daniel 2:24-35
Daniel Explains The Dream
Daniel 2:36-43
Daniel Gives a Prophetic Outline of The Dream
Daniel 2:44-49
Daniel is Promoted
Daniel 3:1-7
Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Statue
Daniel 3:8-18
Daniels’s Friends Disobey The King
Daniel 3:19-30
Saved In a Fiery Trial
Daniel 4:1-18
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
Daniel 4:19-27
Daniel Explains Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
Daniel 4:28-37
Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation
Daniel 5:1-16
King Belshazzar’s Banquet
Daniel 5:17-31
Daniel Interprets The Handwriting
Daniel 6:1-17
Daniel And The Lions Den
Daniel 6:18-28
Daniel Saved From The Lions
Daniel 7:1-14
Daniel’s Vision of The Four Beasts
Daniel 7:15-28
The Meaning of Daniel’s Vision
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Daniel Interprets The Handwriting
Daniel 5:17–31
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
That great missionary to India, William Carey, became deeply concerned about the attitude of his son Felix. The young man, a professing Christian, had promised to become a missionary. But he broke his vow when he was appointed ambassador to Burma. Carey requested prayer for … More
It is evident that this king had wrong priorities while Daniel had right priorities. He refused Belshazzar’s offer of reward but agreed to read the writing on the wall (v. 17). However, before doing so he reminded the king of the pride of Nebuchadnezzar and the subsequent judgment of God upon him (v. 18-21). He reviewed Nebuchadnezzar’s progress (v.18), power (v.19), pride (v. 20), and punishment (v. 21). Three charges were made against this wicked king: First his sin was not one of ignorance (v. 22). Second he had turned against almighty God (v. 23). Thirdly he had worshiped idols and praised them (v. 23). A hand appeared (v. 24) and an inscription was written (v. 25).
God wrote the following inscription on the wall and Daniel interpreted it as follows:
- Mene - (numbered) meant: “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it (v. 26).”
- Tekel - (weighed) meant: “Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting (v. 27).”
- Upharism (divisions) meant: “The kingdom is divided and given to Medes / Persians (v. 28).”
Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom (v. 29). This promised reward was given Daniel, but it was of small value when before the night had ended the king’s life would come to a final conclusion. and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two (vv. 30-31). Men today should remember that the rewards of a condemned world are so small and insignificant in comparison to eternal things.Application
It is easy to spend a lot of my time trying to get ahead in this life rather than doing things for the kingdom of God. What priority changes do I need to make? (See Matthew 6:33).
Daniel 5:17-31 (English Standard Version)
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. "Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
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