Daniel 5
AT last Nebuchadnezzar, the proud king of Babylon, died, and there was another king of Babylon called Belshazzar. He was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar: and he was like Nebuchadnezzar, for he was proud, and he worshipped idols: but I think Nebuchadnezzar repented before he died: but I fear his grandson did not repent.
One day, he made a great feast, and a great many rich men, called lords, came to his feast, and Belshazzar drank wine before them. Do you remember, my dear children, that Nebuchadnezzar had taken the gold and silver cups that were in the temple at Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon? Belshazzar ordered these cups to be brought for him and his lords and his wives to drink wine out of them. So they were brought, and Belshazzar, and his lords, and his wives, drank wine in them: and while they drank, they praised their idols, which were made of gold, and silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
Was it not wicked of Belshazzar, and his lords, to take the cups, which were once in the house of the true God, and to praise idols, while they were drinking in them?
O yes; and God was very angry, because Belshazzar had heard about the true God: and yet he worshipped idols, and praised them. Now you shall hear what God did to Belshazzar.
While he was drinking, the king saw the fingers of a man's hand, writing on the wall of the palace, near where the candlestick was. He did not see a man, only some fingers. The king was very much frightened: he did not look merry any longer, but he trembled very much, and his knees knocked against each other.
Belshazzar wanted to know what was written on the wall: there were four words written there, but the king could not read that kind of writing, so he sent for all the men in Babylon who were wise and clever, and who said they could tell hard things.
Belshazzar said: 'Whoever will read that writing and tell the meaning of it, shall be clothed in scarlet (such as kings used to wear), and shall have a golden chain round his neck, and shall be made a great ruler.'
A great many men tried to read the writing, but they could not. Then Belshazzar was still more frightened, and looked very much terrified, and his lords were frightened also. They were afraid that something very dreadful had been written on the wall: they thought something sad was going to happen. Now Belshazzar had a mother. She was called the queen. She heard what had happened, and she came into the room where Belshazzar was, and said, `O king, live forever. Do not be frightened, there is a man in Babylon who is very wise indeed, and who can tell the meaning of things; his name is Daniel. Let him be called, and he will know the meaning of the writing.'
Now this Daniel was one of the young men whom Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem. When he first came to Babylon he was quite young, but now he was old: he was very wise, and he loved God very much.
Belshazzar asked Daniel to come to him. Belshazzar then said, 'I hear that you can tell the meaning of things: if you can read the writing on the wall and tell the meaning of it, you shall be clothed in scarlet, and wear a gold chain, and be a great ruler.'
But Daniel said, 'I do not want your reward; yet I will read the writing, and tell the meaning of it.' Then Daniel told Belshazzar that the true God was very angry with him for being so proud, and for sending for the cups of His temple, and for drinking in them and praising idols: and for not worshipping God, though he had heard of Him. Daniel told the king that the writing on the wall said: "Thou art weighed in the balances, and found wanting" and also that he should soon be king no more, but that some people would come and take his land from him.
Then Belshazzar desired that Daniel should be clothed in scarlet, and wear a golden chain about his neck-and that many people should obey him.
That very night a king from another country got into Babylon, with a great many soldiers, and killed Belshazzar, and took his throne, and his crown, and all he had. So the words that God had written on the wall came true that very night.
What has God written down in His book about those who do not love Him? Has He not said that He will come and punish them? Does it make you sad to think of this day? It certainly will come. I hope you will be ready. Jesus only can make us ready.
Belshazzar, with his lords at night,
Is feasting in the palace hall.
What fills the king with sudden fright?
Behold that hand upon the wall!
Well might he fear the wrath divine
Who sent for hallowed cups of gold,
Polluted them with drafts of wine,
And idol gods in songs extolled.
'Tis true, the God he disobeyed
From heaven with anger has looked down,
In balances his soul has weighed,
And snatched away his kingly crown.
And this is written on the wall,
And Daniel can the words explain:—
Fierce soldiers rush into the hall—
That night the wicked king is slain.
Child
O Lord, and didst Thou punish thus
A heathen for ungodly mirth?
What reverence wilt Thou claim from us,
Who learned about Thee from our birth!
Ne'er may I wear a smiling look
When others lightly speak of Thee,
Lest Thou shouldst write down in Thy book,
Some dreadful sentence against me.
Questions on Lesson 38
What was the name of the king of Babylon, who made a feast to a great many of his lords?
What golden cups did Belshazzar and his lords drink out of?
Whom did they praise, while they were drinking?
What did Belshazzar see, which frightened him very much?
How many words were written on the wall?
Whom did Belshazzar send for at first to tell him the meaning of the words?
Whom did the queen advise him to send for?
Who was Daniel?
Was he a heathen or an Israelite?
What was the meaning of the words on the wall?
What rewards did Belshazzar give Daniel?
How soon did the words come true?