November 28, Reading Notes

Daniel 5

One of the reasons that God has put the stories of so many people in the Bible is for us to learn from them. In a way that only God would dare, He shows us their faith and their failures. At times, like with David, He shows us things in great detail. God does this expecting us to learn from them. Put another way, God really, really, expects us to learn and be warned by what He shows us from those who lived before us.

Nebuchadnezzar’s life became an open book to the world, that Yahweh and His people were to be respected. It’s time to see who learned and who didn’t.

After Nebuchadnezzar, the Empire declined through murders and weak rulers. Finally, Nabonidus became king and reigned for the last 17 years of the Empire. He actually left the city of Babylon to rule from another city further north, and appointed his son, Belshazzar, to rule in Babylon as a co-regent. So Babylon had two rulers.

We will see from the coming chapters, that Daniel lost his position in the palace when Nebuchadnezzar died. Two of the chapters mention Daniel during the years of Belshazzar. One of those chapters puts Daniel in the Persian capital of Susa, apparently working as a diplomat. If that is the case, as we’ll see, God perfectly designed this “demotion” of Daniel. As a result, Daniel most likely knew both Cyrus and Darius, the coming rulers of the Persian Empire.

As Babylon was falling apart, the Persian Empire was going though its growing pains. The young Cyrus wanted to expand Persia, but was held back by his grandfather who ruled in Assyria. One of the royal family of the Medes, a general named Darius, sided with Cyrus and together they launched a civil war. Darius was an older man and apparently respected. It seems that Cyrus and Darius agreed to co-rule Persia. Well, the civil war went so well that they decided to go against Babylon. Nabonidus was an absentee ruler and Belshazzar was really not a ruler at all. Persia began devouring Babylon. All of the diplomatic ties were ended and the city of Babylon began to become a small lonely island.

The night of this chapter is the last night of the Babylonian Empire. Darius was working to take the city, having already captured Nabonidus. Belshazzar didn’t know that yet. The city had massive walls and enough supplies to endure a 20-year siege. Now we’ll look at what Belshazzar, this military genius and leader of the people, decided to do to stop the Persian attack on the city of Babylon.

Vs. 1-4 Belshazzar “drank in front of” them and “tasted the wine.” In other words, he got roaring drunk. At some point, probably recounting the victories of Babylon, he ordered those cups and vessels to be brought out that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. We read about this in chapter one. Then they praised the gods represented by the precious metals.

Vs. 5-6 This was a visible hand and finger and the writing was probably into the plaster of the wall. The king’s reaction might hint that he knew he did something dumb.

Vs. 7-9 Another crisis and another failed attempt by the wise men of Babylon. The king’s offer of being the third ruler in the kingdom was right, except that he didn’t know that Nabonidus was already dethroned.

Vs. 10-12 The actual genealogy of Belshazzar is hard to understand. It appears that he might not have had a clear blood tie to Nebuchadnezzar, but Neb is referred to as his father meaning he was his successor. I’ve read elsewhere that Belshazzar was a grandson and that the queen mother was one of Nebuchadnezzar’s wives, probably his queen. We just don’t have enough records to know. But this woman knew about Daniel. The excellent spirit describes Daniel’s attitude and heart.

Vs. 13-16 Notice that Daniel is still referred to as a Jewish exile. Since you know that the exile of the Jews lasted 70 years, and now, you can imagine that Cyrus will soon be sending the Jews back to Jerusalem as God foretold, you can add up some years. If Daniel was taken when he was 16, that would make him about 86 now. Sometimes when you wake up old people they get grumpy. As Daniel walked in, having served all the years of Nebuchadnezzar, I’m sure he was disgusted to see what was happening. The Empire had crumbled and this night was the cherry on top. Also, Daniel recognized the vessels of gold from the temple in Jerusalem.

Vs. 17-23 This is a very strong section of Scripture. Notice that while Daniel is respectful in turning down the riches and the offer to rule, there is a tone of acknowledging the foolishness of this evening.

What do you think is the key verse in this section? God expected Belshazzar to have learned from all He had done to Nebuchadnezzar. I would choose verse 22.

Vs. 24-28 Measured, measured, weighed and wanting, your kingdom is divided among the Medes and the Persians. Notice the writing was inscribed. It was not invisible ink. It was written into the ballroom wall.

V. 29 A very interesting, sad verse. In every chapter since chapter two, we have had a pagan king worshiping God. I know this isn’t worship, but it sure feels like Belshazzar is saying that Daniel and God are right, and he was a fool. Ordering Daniel to be given these things was his humble admission of guilt. Belshazzar was tested on what God had done with Nebuchadnezzar and got an “F-.”

Understand what has just happened here: Daniel, the 86-year-old Jewish exile, has been made a ruler of the Babylonian Empire. A proclamation was made in the still uncaptured city.

V. 30 Later that evening, Darius entered the city practically without resistance. He killed Belshazzar. At that moment, Daniel was the sole ruler of the Babylonian Empire. In a moment of time, God took Daniel from a place of forgotten obscurity; and now he is the wisest, and only, ruler of the Babylonian Empire. It might look like this is dubbing someone the captain of a sinking ship, but God was on the move at the right time, to rescue and show grace to His people. He will still bend the nations to His will. In Daniel’s years of obscurity after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, God was strategically positioning Daniel to save His people and begin their journey back to Jerusalem. What an amazing God and Savior.

Oh, Darius was 62 years old. So what? Why didn’t Darius kill Daniel? You always killed the top rulers of a nation when you took it over. Keep all of this in mind when you begin reading chapter six. There are reasons why the following events and a new crisis situation will develop.

2 Peter 2

Vs. 1-3 Peter and the Spirit are not holding back talking about the false teachers that are rising up in the church. Harry Ironside is credited with the saying, “Where there’s light, there’s bugs.” But this isn’t funny. It is terrible to see very good and godly people get drawn into something false. This is why elders have to know the Word, know the Lord and be committed disciple makers, passing on a passion for the Word.

Peter mentions four things here that result in the rise of false teachers.

Vs. 4-10 To get what Peter is saying here, notice the “if – then” structure. There are lots of “ifs,” but the “then” doesn’t come until verse nine.

V. 4 This is the first “if,” and a very interesting verse. If you look at Genesis 6:1-5 you will find that the “sons of God” saw the daughters of men and mated with them. These sons of God are fallen angels. I don’t understand it, but it wasn’t good. No other demons are bound that we know of. They are a special group. It would be nice if they all were, but this particular group violated something that God had forbidden. I’m not sure how it worked, but it increased evil in the world and it deepened the rebellion against God, and God stopped it.

Notice that all of these “ifs” are chronological. So what you see in Genesis six is correct. This action by these angels preceded the flood.

Vs. 10-16 Peter and the Spirit are on a roll.

It is hard to boil down all of these descriptions, but look to see what themes you find in this section. A couple of things stand out to me.

First, they have no real spiritual understanding, but play with spiritual things, like a drunk juggling knives. They get hurt and don’t really understand the powers they are dealing with.

Second, they are in the company of believers. They are at the feasts. They are accursed children. Worst of all, they are like Balaam, who for the sake of money gave spiritual insight to the king of Moab on how to bring God’s wrath on Israel. Paul told Timothy (2Tim. 3:5) and the Romans (16:20) to avoid these kind of people. They were to be disciplined and put out of the fellowship, but not to be argued with.

Vs. 17-22 These people promise freedom, but are themselves slaves. Worse than that, it appears that some of them might be saved, but they have twisted the truth so much, that they’ve shipwrecked their faith and warped their understanding. They will be permanently damaged on earth, only to be saved as through fire.

And in the meantime, they cause unbelievers to scoff and they “deceive the hearts of the simple minded.” (Rom. 16)

Again, this is why you are in the Word, so that as you follow the Lord in the harvest, those you bring to Christ and those you make disciples of will be firmly rooted in the Word and in following Christ in the harvest.

Psalm 119:113-128

As you see how David depended on the Word, find in each verse a concern on David’s mind. For example, in verse 113, David was concerned with those who were shaky in their loyalties, or in their promise to help him. But rather than worry about them, he found the faithfulness and firmness he needed in God’s law. That’s a good lesson for all of us. David was a very distressed individual. What would he have done without God and His Word?

Proverbs 28:19-20

V. 19 It is interesting to read this. I like the “p’s” at the end and the play on the word “plenty.” Actually, I was reading the parable of the man who built the barns in Luke 12:21. God says it is worthless to lay up treasure for yourself and not be rich toward Him.

V. 20 Why the punishment? 1 Timothy 6:9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. They punish themselves.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comment or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.