Please read Daniel Ch 5 prior to reading the post, and read post one, two, three, four  and five in this series first.

Summary of Ch 5: King Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, throws a grand feast and, in a blasphemous act, uses sacred vessels from the Jewish temple to drink wine while praising idols of gold, silver, and other materials. During the feast, a mysterious hand appears, writing an indecipherable message on the wall, terrifying the king. None of his wise men can interpret it, so the queen mother suggests calling Daniel, since he had a spirit of the holy gods. Belshazzar promises Daniel great rewards and power if he can interpret the writing, but Daniel declines the gifts, instead rebuking the king for his arrogance and failure to humble himself before God. He interprets the message—Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin—as God’s judgment: Belshazzar’s reign is ending, his kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians. That very night, Belshazzar is killed, and Darius the Mede takes over the kingdom.

Political Economy Commentary:

Chapter Five provides a contrast with Chapter Four of a King that will not bow the knee to the Most High God. And if you will not bend the knee, the knees may knock (v6)! Belshazzar, likely the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar*, and Babylon are under siege and the king seeks to encourage his people by having a grand party, where he uses the Holy vessels of the Temple to blaspheme the Lord (v4). Belshazzar is in his most precarious moment, and he does what kingdoms of men do–they rely upon themselves. In their pride and arrogance, they refuse to humble themselves before the Lord. But Belshazzar takes it a step far worse–he commands the vessels of the Temple from Jerusalem be brought forth and they toasted “the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.” Perhaps Belshazzar was trying to encourage his people by reliving the kingdom’s “greatest hits.” Or perhaps he is trying to remind his god that he had conquered the Israelite god on a road game; surely you can conquer the Medes-Persian god on our own home turf. Regardless, the Lord of the universe calls for judgment immediately. You know the story, a hand appears and writes words on the wall that Belshazzar does not understand. He is now in utter fear, “the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way and his knees knocked together.” What would any secular ruler do? You turn to your power base–other men; in this case, the wise men of Babylon, who are incapable of solving the problem. Now he has nothing. And he still doesn’t humble himself. While he doesn’t become a beast grazing on grass like his grandfather, he is effectively a beast–he has so hardened his heart that he has no ability to see beyond this world. This very night he will be judged, and he cannot turn. This is the continuing message of the Bible–today is the day of salvation. Do not presume on the mercies of God–repent and be saved, for this very night could be your last with judgment to follow. We have seen many leaders in previous times of great trials in our country publicly call for prayer (e.g., FDR’s prayer for D-Day, broadcast to the nation). Just a few of his words illustrate what could be done:

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Whatever their personal faith, there was a collective realization that only divine aid can sustain us. And we need Him not only to sustain us for one day, but for many (all) days in our great struggle. If a leader is unwilling to submit to God, the Lord laughs at him. What leaders do you see today that are calling for national prayer to the one true God? Who has the humility to see that only the Lord can truly deliver? Certainly not Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris. Make no mistake, although one may be significantly better than the other, both are interested in furthering the kingdoms of men (with them on top), and are not particularly interested in the Kingdom of God. That should be expected**. This is not a blanket condemnation, but rather an admonition that we should hold all political leaders loosely–they do not have the agenda of God primarily in their focus. We should, however, demand and expect that their actions, policies, and positions at the very least not be hostile to the things of God, and ideally supportive of godly values. This latter goal happens when a government correctly sees its role as the avenger of evil, the bearer of the sword, a minister to us for good, and does not try to “get outside its lane” by trying to do what the church and other institutions should do. The government is a particularly bad (and inept) agent of compassion, for example.

But back to the story. The queen mother (likely Nebuchadnezzar’s wife) comes in to remind Belshazzar of Daniel, and how he had an excellent spirit, and King Nebuchadnezzar had made him Chief of the magicians, and that he should call on Daniel. This may have been a rebuke to Belshazzar, as she still remembered Daniel well, and Daniel is no longer the chief of the magicians (did Belshazzar remove him?). But Belshazzar now calls Daniel in, and thinks he is just another earthly man (even though the polytheist said that he had heard Daniel had a spirit of the holy gods in him) as he attempts to bribe him with gifts and positions of power. What kind of man would not respond to such an offer? Daniel’s response is quick and firm, “keep your gifts….nevertheless I will read the writing.” Daniel reminds Belshazzar of King Nebuchadnezzar’s greatness and his pride that resulted in him being humbled, which Belshazzar well knew, and yet he likewise became arrogant and even lifted up his hand against the Most High God. The days of his kingdom had been numbered, he had been weighed in the balance and found wanting, and his kingdom would be divided and given to the Medes and the Persians. That very night he was killed. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap. Belshazzar sowed to his flesh, and reaped his reward.

The lesson for us is still the same. The kingdoms of men rise and fall, but the Kingdom of God continues to grow, and will endure from generation to generation. We are pilgrims in this world, and we should hold loosely the things of this world. Daniel did take the reward and became third ruler of the kingdom that night. He didn’t seek the reward, but he did not shy away from positions that could allow him to be a godly influence in the kingdoms of men. May we hold kingdoms of men in similar tension–may we be in the world but not of the world.

* Belshazzar was likely the co-regent with Nabonidus, his father, who was in another part of the kingdom. From the Jewish perspective, Belshazzar would be the king they answered to.

** And in some ways even desirable since the government is NOT the church and we don’t want the government in that role.