GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Refer to the picture (PSG, p. 126) as you lead the group to respond to Question #1: When you were a child, how did you know you were in trouble? GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 127). Note the emphasis on learning from our failings. Acknowledge that when we ve lived a long time we certainly have a lot of trouble to look back on and to learn from. SAY: Sometimes we have asked ourselves the question, When will I ever learn? GUIDE: State that the Babylonian kings had a similar learning disability. Daniel was called on again to interpret a baffling situation for a king who failed to learn from the past, and to deliver a tough message from God. Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 127): Call sin what it is and point to what God says about it. SESSION 11 CONFRONT SIN The Point Call sin what it is and point to what God says about it. The Bible Meets Life Society is becoming increasingly secular. Many people assume that what defines something as wrong or sinful is up to the individual. We can try to rationalize away our sin, but that does not change the reality that sin is sin and it will bring consequences. Even as Daniel boldly confronted sin, believers can point to God by pointing to sin as rebellion against Him. The Passage Daniel 5:17-28 The Setting About 23 years and several kings following the events of session 10, Daniel yet again was called on to interpret a Babylonian king s baffling situation. This time the king was Belshazzar (co-regent with his father Nabonidus), the last king of the Babylonian empire. In the midst of a drunken, brazen, sacrilegious party, a hand began writing on a wall. Its message proclaimed certain and immediate doom. SAY: Let s begin by learning to point to the consequences of sin. 130 Session 11
Daniel 5:17-21 17 Then Daniel answered the king, You may keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18 Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Because of the greatness He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. 20 But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven away from people, his mind was like an animal s, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of men and sets anyone He wants over it. When confronting people with their sin, point to the consequences of sin. Daniel chapter 4 marked the final years of Nebuchadnezzar s reign. The events of chapter 5 took place 23 years after Nebuchadnezzar s death. Belshazzar was now ruling Babylon. In order to accurately understand the transition from King Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4 to Belshazzar [bel SHAZ uhr] in chapter 5 we need to connect the dots of historical succession. When Nebuchadnezzar died (562 B.C.) he was succeeded by his son Amel-Marduk, known as Evilmerodach [ee vihl-mih ROH dak] in 2 Kings 25:27. After STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 5:17-21 10 minutes SUMMARIZE: Offer some historical background before reading the focal passage. In the previous session (Dan. 4), Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of Babylon. In Daniel 5, Nebuchadnezzar has been dead for about 23 years. The year was 539 B.C. Babylon once had been the capital of the world s greatest empire, but the Medes and Persians had it surrounded by this time. The official king, according to ancient records, was Nabonidus, the father of Belshazzar. However, Nabonidus spent his last 10 years away from Babylon. Consequently, Belshazzar acted as king on behalf of Nabonidus and served as coregent. The city s fate was in Belshazzar s hands. SAY: So what did this wise ruler do when his nation was surrounded by the enemy? He threw a party! SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 15 131
THE POINT Call sin what it is and point to what God says about it. GUIDE: Use the Bible commentary 1 to establish the profane arrogance of Belshazzar and his guests toward God. Call attention to the three major sins of which Belshazzar and the people of Babylon were guilty (PSG, p. 129): 1. Drunkenness 2. Sensuality 3. Idolatry and blasphemy The feasting atmosphere reveals these people had no sense that they would pay a huge price for their sins. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 129): Why do people often fail to make the connection between sin and its consequences? (Alternate: How should knowledge of the past produce wisdom?) 132 Session 11 a brief reign and a quick execution, Evil-merodach was followed by Neriglissar [nuhr ihg LISS uhr], Labashi-Marduk [lah BAH shee-mahr dook], and Nabonidus [nab uh NIGH duhs], who was the father of Belshazzar. Although Nabonidus was the official king according to ancient records, he spent his last 10 years away from Babylon. Consequently, his son Belshazzar acted as king on behalf of Nabonidus and served as co-regent. The focus, however, falls on Belshazzar s iniquity and vulgarity rather than his ancestry. The opening verses of chapter 5 show Belshazzar s unbridled arrogance. With the army of Darius, king of the Medes and Persians, camped near Belshazzar s capital, Belshazzar held a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles (v. 1). Extravagant feasts were not uncommon in ancient times. The Persian king Ahauserus held a feast for 180 days according to Esther 1:4. 1 The king celebrated with gusto. Wine flowed liberally among his guests. Revelry dominated the party as inhibitions gave way to impiety. With impaired judgment and impending folly Belshazzar ordered that the sacred vessels taken from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar be used for celebration. His command was an outrageous sacrilege. The silver and golden goblets once used for holy worship in the temple, Belshazzar decided to use for exalting the pagan idols of Babylon. Belshazzar knew the history of his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar but did not heed the lesson his ancestor learned the hard way. After losing his kingdom for seven years, Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself and acknowledged the power of the Most High God (4:28-37). Belshazzar, on the other hand, only remembered that Nebuchadnezzar had taken gold and silver vessels from the temple in Jerusalem. These cups, bowls, and goblets were part of the holy instruments dedicated for the Israelites worship of the one true living God. Belshazzar had profaned these holy vessels by turning them into common tableware so he and his nobles, wives, and concubines might drink from them. God invaded Belshazzar s party. The words at that moment in Daniel 5:5 are significant. At the moment Belshazzar abused the vessels that God had designed for His holy service, God interrupted the festival. Why did Belshazzar single out the God of Israel for mockery? Why did he engage in such a defiant act of desecration? Perhaps Belshazzar was assuring his rowdy guests that he had no dread of the One true God. He stirred his subjects to believe that the deities of Babylon were better and stronger. Obviously, the crowd
cheered in celebration until disembodied fingers of a man s hand appeared and began writing on the wall of the palace ballroom (v. 5). Belshazzar watched with terror. He trembled noticeably (v. 6). Terrified, he asked his wise men to interpret the meaning of the message. He promised exquisite clothing and gold jewelry as well as a position in his kingdom (v. 7). When none of the king s wise men could interpret the message, bedlam erupted. The queen, however, persuaded Belshazzar to summon Daniel (vv. 10-12). She was likely the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, the wife of Nabonidus and mother to Belshazzar. She expressed direct and personal information about Daniel. Why was Belshazzar not familiar with Daniel s expertise as an extraordinary counselor? Perhaps because two decades had passed since Nebuchadnezzar s death and Daniel was over 80 years old. Belshazzar didn t want to hear the message of truth that Daniel consistently expressed. The king referred to Daniel as one of the Judean exiles who had been brought from Judah as a captive (v. 13). Belshazzar s statement may have been a snobbish attempt to intimidate Daniel. Verses 17-21. Daniel first refused the king s gifts in order to establish the point that he would speak the truth regardless of the rewards offered or the consequences suffered. A man drenched with eternal truth isn t consumed with temporal incentives. Second, Daniel made a clear and powerful declaration about the Most High God, whom Belshazzar belittled and mocked. The prophet explained that it was God who enabled Nebuchadnezzar to achieve greatness, glory, and majesty. The splendor of Babylon and the power of Nebuchadnezzar existed only because God was sovereign over all peoples and nations. When Nebuchadnezzar filled his life with self-intoxicating pride, God allowed him to suffer the penalty of his sin. Belshazzar exceeded the sin of Nebuchadnezzar, but didn t learn from him the necessity of repentance. By ignoring the lesson of God s chastisement of his predecessor, Belshazzar snubbed God s authority and dared God s judgment. The path of sin is always downward toward further degradation. While Nebuchadnezzar scorned God by taking to himself the glory reserved for God, Belshazzar went further downward. He blasphemed God by using the worship vessels taken from the temple at Jerusalem to exalt pagan idols. The consequence of Nebuchadnezzar s sin led to his loss of sanity. The consequence of Belshazzar s iniquity led to the fall of an empire and the loss of his life. SUMMARIZE: The instant the revelers praised their false gods, God interrupted the party. At that moment the fingers of a man s hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the king s palace wall (v. 5). The king was terrified and promised gifts and influence to whoever could interpret the message. Daniel was summoned. READ: Invite a volunteer to read Daniel 5:17-21. SAY: In recalling what happened to Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel was essentially telling Belshazzar, Won t you ever learn? GUIDE: Explain that the consequence of Nebuchadnezzar s sin led to his loss of sanity. The consequence of Belshazzar s iniquity led to the fall of an empire and the loss of his life. TRANSITION: As we point to the consequences of sin, we must also be very specific about the sin in question. 133
THE POINT Call sin what it is and point to what God says about it. STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 5:22-23 5 minutes GUIDE: OPTION: IN ADVANCE, label some selfstick notes with the names of items in the room. (Examples: wall, floor, table, window, door, chair, etc.) To emphasize the need to call sin what it is, read the items on each note, and then place the notes on the wrong items. (Example: wall note on a chair, or window note on the floor) (Begin here if you choose not to use the OPTION above.) Note that people often avoid calling sin what it really is. Invite volunteers to offer examples. (mistake, lapse in judgment, poor choice, etc.) Note that in verses 22-23, Daniel did not try to sugarcoat the king s sins. READ: Invite a volunteer to read verses 22-23. 134 Session 11 Daniel 5:22-23 22 But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them, you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life. When confronting people with their sin against God, be specific. Verse 22. Daniel did not hesitate to personally confront Belshazzar. The opening words But you point out a striking difference between Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. Daniel presented Belshazzar with two specific accusations. First, Daniel said to the king, you have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. No doubt Belshazzar had heard the story about Nebuchadnezzar s seven years of demented behavior. Substantial evidence indicates Belshazzar knew first-hand about Nebuchadnezzar s humiliation since Belshazzar s father, Nabonidus, was an official in Nebuchadnezzar s administraton. He likely heard about God s discipline and God s restoration of Nebuchadnezzar. Such knowledge should have compelled Belshazzar to realize his own peril if he continued a life of hostility toward God. Knowledge does not necessarily lead us to act because it must pass through the filter of the will. Human will does not consistently choose the course of virtue and righteousness unless it has surrendered to God s authority. Scripture warns us, So it is a sin for the person who knows to do good and doesn t do it (Jas. 4:17). Belshazzar likely knew the consequences of sin, but he didn t believe the consequences applied to him.
Verse 23. The second accusation Daniel leveled at Belshazzar involved the king s offensive attitude and blatant disregard for the holiness of God. Belshazzar exalted himself against the Lord of heaven by leading his nobles, wives, and concubines to profane the Lord. The king abused the sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem and used them to honor his personal idols. Daniel concisely summarized Belshazzar s sin when he declared; you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath. Belshazzar gloried in his own status without considering he was only a breath away from death. Consequently, Daniel pointed out that Belshazzar s actions and attitude had provoked God s judgment. As Daniel was speaking to Belshazzar he must have grieved also. He knew the meaning of the message on the wall. He realized the gravity of the occasion. He took no giddy delight in explaining the king s sin. On the other hand, Daniel had no fear in proclaiming God s truth. As ambassadors for Christ we must represent our Savior accurately. We must call sin what it is. Daniel 5:24-28 24 Therefore, He sent the hand, and this writing was inscribed. 25 This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. 27 TEKEL means that you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient. 28 PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians. KEY WORDS: Medes and Persians (v. 28) A coalition of peoples representing the empires of Media and Persia united by the leadership of Cyrus the Great. On a world map today it would roughly include Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and a portion of southeast Turkey. GUIDE: Call attention to the specific sins of Belshazzar (PSG, pp. 130-131): Pride: Belshazzar was as prideful and arrogant as Nebuchadnezzar ever was. Nebuchadnezzar repented (4:37). Belshazzar did not. Blasphemy: Belshazzar exalted himself against God and profaned the sacred vessels from the temple. Idolatry: Belshazzar used the sacred vessels from God s house to praise false gods. Failure to glorify the true God: Belshazzar did not glorify God who gives life and controls the universe. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 131): What are the pros and cons of being honest with people about their sin? (Alternate: When is it appropriate to point out the sins of others?) TRANSITION: God will not overlook sin. People need to understand that God s judgment awaits. 135
THE POINT Call sin what it is and point to what God says about it. STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 5:24-28 15 minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read verses 24-28. GUIDE: Use the paragraphs on PSG page 132 to help group members understand the meaning of MENE, TEKEL, PERES. Reference the KEY WORDS feature, Medes and Persians (PSG, p. 132). Stress that God s judgment was executed upon Belshazzar that same night (v. 30). (ENHANCEMENT: Pack Item 9: Conquests of Cyrus the Great. ) SAY: Sin brings judgment, but hope is found in Jesus Christ. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 133): How do we balance talking about the judgment of sin with the forgiveness God offers? 136 Session 11 When confronting people with their sin, make them aware that sin brings judgment. Verse 24. The adverb therefore is emphatic and points to the reason for the handwriting on the wall. When Daniel entered the royal banquet room where he could see the wall, he understood the dire memo. He did not fail to emphasize that the meaning of the inscription and the application of truth to Belshazzar were directly connected. There is no hint, however that Daniel took delight in confronting the king about his wickedness. A prophet saturated with God s truth can deliver a critical sermon without a condemning spirit. Verse 25. The Babylonian wise men couldn t understand the significance of the Aramaic words MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. The words represent three weights or units of money. Their meanings were unmistakably linked to Belshazzar and his leadership. MENE referred to counting and numbering. It was repeated on the wall to emphasize its severity. TEKEL referred to measuring and weighing something. PARSIN indicated something that was broken in half or divided. Verse 26. God inspired Daniel to explain the words and reveal God s activity. Consequently, Daniel applied the words as passive participles. The passive voice in grammar indicated that the subject is receiving the action rather than doing the action. As the subject, Belshazzar received the stunning judgment of God. The king had been counted on the ledger of God s justice and the days of his reign were numbered. His time was up. There is some support for the idea that the repetition of the term MENE was designed to impress upon Belshazzar that his days could not be extended. It denoted a calculation. God s judgment is not haphazardly rendered but carefully calculated to arrive at the precise moment He ordains. The times and seasons of rulers are not left to random occurrence. God s calculations are flawless. Verse 27. Belshazzar had also been weighed in the balance and found deficient. The scales of God s justice are perfect. God alone is capable of rendering an exact evaluation about a person. The word picture is framed around the spiritual and moral deficit in Belshazzar s life.
His leadership in the Babylonian Empire lacked the weight of virtue and honor. He was light on integrity. He was feathery regarding godliness. Worst of all he had never felt the heaviness of his own sin in the presence of the Most High God. He had never humbled himself before the bar of God and pled for mercy. His arrogance had not only stiffened his knees, it had sadly hardened his heart beyond reclaim. Verse 28. Finally, Belshazzar was told that his kingdom had been divided and given to the Medes and Persians. The word PERES (singular form of parsin) carries a specific reference to Persians. The words coming from Daniel s mouth surely must have stunned Belshazzar. Babylon and Babylonians seemed immune from conquest. Protected by enormous sets of double walls and armed guards at every watchtower it didn t seem conceivable to Belshazzar and his officers that Daniel s interpretation was accurate. The king obviously thought that he could shake off the stupor of alcohol, get a night s sleep, and meet tomorrow s challenges with fresh energy. He gave orders to clothe Daniel in purple, to place a gold necklace on him, and proclaim him as third in charge of the empire (v. 29). Herodotes and Xenophen, Greek historians of the fifth and fourth centuries respectively, left records detailing how the Medo-Persian army diverted water from the Euphrates River that ran under the walls of Babylon. The soldiers didn t have to scale the mighty walls. They walked under the walls on the riverbeds. The Greek historians further noted that the Medes and Persians invaded while the Babylonians were celebrating in a drunken festival and they killed Belshazzar. We wonder what the king and his royal guests must have thought when the panicked shouts of invaders, invaders began to echo in the palace. Scripture summarizes the occasion succinctly: That very night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed (v. 30). The lasting lessons from that momentous evening flash like warning signals to all who read about it. First, there is a last night appointed for everyone. Our days are numbered. We each have a rendezvous with death. Actually there is a certificate of death, a handwriting of the moral law condemning us for our sin. But Christ blotted it out and nailed it to the cross (see Col. 2:14). The only way to face that appointed moment of death and eternity with hope is by faith in Jesus Christ. Second, we can call sin what it is and point to God s solution through Christ. We may not be able to change legislation in our government, but we can stand on God s Word and declare sin as dishonor and disobedience toward Him. GUIDE: Comment that any individual or nation that defies and blasphemes God is setting itself up for destruction. Suggest that our own nation is guilty of the same sins Babylon had committed. We live in a culture where everyone wants to do what is right in his or her own eyes. We are guilty before God. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 134): What are the dangers of focusing on others sins while ignoring our own? (Alternate: How have Christians contributed to the mess our culture is in today?) DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to the activity, Stand Up to Sin (PSG, p. 134). 137
THE POINT Call sin what it is and point to what God says about it. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS We confront sin when we acknowledge our own sins and when we help others see that their sins separate them from God. Don t forget to offer the hope of life in Jesus when you confront sin. Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ/ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM, TORONTO Drinking bowl found at Persepolis or Susa, (biblical Shushan); dated 559-330 B.C. The following excerpt is from Belshazzar: All We Know (Fall 2007), which relates to this session and can be found on the DVD in the Leader Pack or can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator. Belshazzar is another form of the name Bel-shar-usur, who was a crown prince under his father Nabonidus. His name means Bel s prince or Bel protect the king. The name occurs just eight times in the Bible, all in the Book of Daniel (Dan. 5:1,2,9,22,29,30; 7:1; king of the Babylonian Empire, chose to live in Teima, southeast of Edom for 10 years and pursued the worship of the moon god, Sin, leaving Belshazzar to reign over the city of Babylon. Though no other name is known for this crown prince, Belshazzar might have been the politically advantageous name to have. When King Nabonidus abandoned the favored Babylonian gods Bel (also called Marduk ) and Nebo, many Babylonians, most notably the priests of Marduk, were angry. To have a name that utilized the name of the favored god, Bel, was politically expedient. Previous articles, The Rise and Fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (Sum. 2014), Who Were the Medes? (Fall 2007), and The Neo- Babylonian Empire (Sum. 2005), relate to this session and can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life. Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator, or call 1-800-458-2772. 8:1). As a crown prince Belshazzar was recognized as a coregent. His father Nabonidus the last 138 Session 11
LIVE IT OUT Confronting sin can be a challenge when we have to look another person in the eye and point to what God says about his or her sin. It can be just as challenging to look in the mirror and confront sin in our own lives. Which application is God leading you to complete this week? > > Confront your own sin. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Confess to God today any sin you ve been holding on to. Be specific. Turn from this sin, turn to Christ, and receive His forgiveness. > > Confront sin in love. Begin praying today for one person you know personally who needs to turn from a specific sin in his or her life. Ask God for an opportunity to begin a conversation with this person that the Holy Spirit can use to help him or her confront and turn from this sin. > > Point to Jesus. Confront sin in your community by becoming intensional about sharing Christ as God provides opportunities as you go about your weekly routine. Pray daily for divine appointments to help people see their need to turn from sin and submit to Christ. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes DO: Emphasize The Point: Call sin what it is and point to what God says about it. GUIDE: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 135; see text to the left). Encourage each group member to follow through with one of the applications this week. Wrap It Up GUIDE: Acknowledge that confronting sin is not an easy thing to do; yet, it s necessary. Encourage the group to remember to confront sin in their own lives before focusing on the sins of others. PRAY: Thank God that because of Christ s sacrifice on the cross and His victory over death, sin does not have the last word. Pray that each member will be strengthened in the power of the Spirit to confront sin and offer the hope found only in Christ. 139