WORDS OF LIFE SERIES 20 such queen mothers can exert upon the nation, and what a great influence

such queen mothers can exert upon the nation, and what a great influence the
tens of thousands of spiritual queen mothers in the church can bring to bear
BIBLE STUDY NOTES STUDIES IN THE LIFE OF upon the kingdom of God!
DANIEL (2) The power and the influence of Daniel. See the first seven words in verse 11.
by Francis W. Dixon How great it is to have such men available to the Lord and ready to do His will –
men who are holy, dedicated and courageous, as Daniel was! – look at verse
Study 6 THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL 12.
(Scripture Portion: Daniel 5:1-31)
3. WHAT WE ARE TOLD ABOUT DANIEL
One of the most graphic pictures of life that could possibly be drawn is brought before We must remember that at this period Daniel was over 80 years of age and that
us in this fifth chapter of Daniel, where it describes the passing of a great Empire and nearly 70 years had passed since his capture and deportation from Jerusalem
the downfall of the “head of gold” (Daniel 2:32,37,38). The scene is the city of Babylon, to Babylon. Verses 13-16 speak of the king’s enquiry, his explanation and his
founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:9-10), which was the most magnificent and luxurious enticement, and verse 17 tells of Daniel’s bold refusal. Then, in verses 18-24,
city in the ancient world. It was surrounded by an impregnable fortress 15 miles square, we have what we may call Daniel’s sermon to the king, marked by a forthright
the wall of which was 87ft thick and 350ft high. On these walls, which were surrounded telling forth of God’s message against the background of His dealing with men
by a 35ft moat, were 250 watchtowers, and many of the over-one-million inhabitants
and nations. What courage he had! – look at verses 22 and 23, and compare
lived in beautifully designed and ornamented houses. In Isaiah 44:27 – 45:2, and in
Jeremiah chapter 27 and 51:28-32, we read the prediction of the rise and overthrow of Proverbs 28:1 and see his explanation of the writing on the wall (verse 24). In
this fabulous city, and in Daniel 5 we read of its downfall and the end of Babylon rule. verses 25-28 we have his interpretation of the writing, the words of which were:
While the king was holding a feast, Darius and his invading armies, who had diverted the “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN”, which translated literally were:
course of the river Euphrates, swarmed up the muddy bank beneath the walls of the city “NUMBERED, NUMBERED, WEIGHED, DIVIDED”. He showed the king that
and into the city itself. There are four prominent people in the chapter before us. Notice the word Mene indicated that God had numbered Belshazzar’s kingdom and
to begin with: had finished it; Tekel meant that Belshazzar was weighed on the scales and
found wanting; Peres indicated that the kingdom was to be divided between the
1. WHAT WE ARE TOLD ABOUT THE KING
Medes and the Persians. Belshazzar awoke to the terrible truth that while he
From verses 1-4 we find that the king was Belshazzar, the great-grandson of
had been living in sin God had been weighing up his life; he had been found
Nebuchadnezzar. He made a feast and invited his lords and their wives and a
wanting, and his doom was sealed. Surprisingly, when Daniel had finished his
great number of concubines, and this soon became a drunken orgy, “a dissolute
pronouncement the king wanted to honour God’s servant – verse 29. But it was
extravagant riot of passion, madness and bewilderment”; also, as verses 2 and
too late. Belshazzar’s fate was sealed, for notice:
3 show us, it was an occasion of blatant blasphemy and sacrilege, when the
sacred vessels of the Lord were brought out and used. Verses 3 and 4 speak 4. WHAT WE ARE TOLD ABOUT THE LORD
of impiety, intemperance and immorality – the sins which are so rife today when Verses 30-31 make very solemn reading. Everything happened just as God
many have no time for God; they defy Him and live for the things of the world – said it would. His predictions and His prophecies were literally fulfilled, as they
look up Psalm 7:11. God is jealous of His honour, especially when holy things always are. Notice a sequence of truth about the Lord in this chapter:
are profaned; thus we read of His punishment in connection with the Ark of the (1) In verse 3, His name is blasphemed – compare Galatians 6:7-8.
Covenant at Beth Shemesh (1 Samuel 6:19); of His anger when Uzzah (2) In verse 5, His hand is revealed – compare Luke 12:16-21.
touched the Ark (2 Samuel 6:6-7); of His judgment when Saul offered a burnt (3) In verse 11, His witness is identified – compare Acts 14:17.
offering (1 Samuel 13:9-14) and of His displeasure when Uzziah offered (4) In verse 18, His sovereignty is declared – compare Daniel 4:3.
incense (2 Chronicles 26:16-19). Thus it was that when the proceedings at the (5) In verses 22-23, His justice is vindicated – Romans 1:18.
feast were at their height – suddenly God stepped in! Read verses 5-6… (6) In verse 24, His ultimatum is announced – compare Proverbs 29:1.
7-8…and verse 9! What a solemn thing it is when God speaks to a man,
What a solemn chapter this is! In conclusion, let us compare and contrast the
whether he be king or commoner! Now notice:
two men: “the one clothed with kingly robes which only covered a worthless
2. WHAT WE ARE TOLD ABOUT THE QUEEN heart; the other drawn from a life of simplicity and solitude, ready to act for God
We get this in verses 10-12. She was the Queen Mother, the widow of in public as he loved to speak to God in private; the former looking back upon a
Nebuchadnezzar, and two things are worthy of note: wasted life, and the latter reviewing his past with no sting of regret and no scars
(1) The power and the influence of this woman. We do not know much about her, to mar his testimony.” We must all take our stand with one of these men, either
except that she was not at the feast and that she had previously witnessed the with Belshazzar or with Daniel – look up Job 9:4.
power of God. She may have been a believer. She knew Daniel and she was
WORDS OF LIFE MINISTRIES
not afraid to speak of this man who was known for his piety. What an influence
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