Journal Through the Bible: Week 78 Saturday

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Daniel chapter 5

Fast forward to the reign of Belshazzar, or the end of it anyway. Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. Obviously Belshazzar had not learned to respect the God of the Hebrews nor to humble himself before Him like Nebuchadnezzar had because Belshazzar used the Temple utensils as his party place settings. He praised the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone as he celebrated.

Then God who created all those elements appeared at the party as an uninvited guest!

Does God issue any commands?

• No.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised that the Babylonian rule was coming to an end just as He had promised Jeremiah many years before. It was fulfilled in this chapter when Darius the Median took the kingdom by slaying Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Belshazzar was judged by God. Jesus is the Sovereign Judge of the universe.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• God had made promises concerning the Chaldeans that seemed like they would never come to pass. If Belshazzar had any idea that the end of his life was so close he surely would not have been partying inside his palace as though nothing was going to happen! And yet their empire ended and rule over the area passed to the Medes just as God said it would. God has made promises to us that seem as though they will never come to pass. We go through life as though nothing will ever happen to end existence as we know it. But one day the kingdoms of this world will be ruled by Jesus just as God said.