DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
PrayfortheHolySpirittorevealtruthandwisdomasyougothroughthislesson.
Pleasereadentirechapterbeforeansweringthequestions.
1. Whatexamplesdoyouseetodayofthekindofirreverencethekingshowedinusingsomethingsacred
inanunholyway?
2. WhatmighthavecausedKingNebuchadnezzar’swordstobesoeasilyforgotten?
a. WhatcausespeopletodaytodisregardGoddespitethetestimonyofearliergenerations?
b. WhatcanwedotoprotectourselvesfrombecomingindifferenttoGod?
3. Whatlessonsfromhistorydoyouthinkstandasparticularlyrelevantreminderstoustoday?
DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
4. ThreetimesinhisbookDanielhasrecordedthefailureofthe“wisemen”ofBabylontointerpretthe
messageofGod.WhatpointisDanieltryingtomake?
5. Whatwerethewordswrittenonthewall(5:5-9)?
a. Whatwassignificantaboutthetimingofthismessagefortheking?
b. WhydoyouthinkGodusedsuchadramaticmethodfordeliveringHismessagetotheking?
6. Whatareareasinyourlifewhereyousee“thewritingonthewall”?
a. WhataretheclearmessagesGodisgivingtoyouregardingyourattitudesorbehaviors?
b. InwhatwaysdoyouneedtolooktoothersforhelpinseeingthethingsGodissayingtoyou?
DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
7. Whichisagreatertemptationforyou:takingyoursecurityforgranted(andforgettingaboutGodfor
stretchesoftime)orworryingaboutyoursecurity(ratherthantrustingGod)?
a. WhatwouldbeagoodattitudeforyoutoaboutGodandtheriskslifeposes?Howwouldthat
affectyouractions?
8. WhydidthekingnotchoosetoknowDanielpersonally?
a. WhatmighthavekepthimfromconsideringDanielasawisefriend?
b. WhatdoesthissayaboutNabonidus,Belshazzar’sfather?
c. Whatmessageisthereinthisforustoday?
9. HowcanDaniel’swordstoBelshazzarhelpusbecomemorehumbleandthankfultoGod(vv.18–24)?
DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
10. Howdoesthischapterdemonstratethatsixty-fiveyearsoflifeunderBabylon’sinfluencehadnot
brokendownDaniel’sconvictions?
a. WhatcanwelearnfromDaniel’sexamplethatwillhelpusresistpressurestocompromiseour
convictions?
REFLECTION–GOINGFORWARD
ThinkofONEorTWOthingsthatyouhavelearnedthatyou’dliketoworkoninthecomingweek.
§ YoucanlistthesethingsonpageoneofyourstudybindertitledGoingForward.
RememberthatthisisallaboutQUALITY,notQUANTITY.It’sbettertoworkononespecificareaoflifeanddo
itwellthantoworkonmanyanddopoorly(ortobesooverwhelmedthatyousimplydon’ttry).
InBelshezzar’sstory,thewritingonthewalltoldhimsomethingthatwastoolatetoaboid.Hewaskilled
thatnight.Jesus’deathandresurrectiontellsusthatit’snevertoolatetoamendourways.Spendafew
momentsthisweekthankingGodforthesecondchancesyou’vebeengrantedbyHisgrace.ThenaskGod
toshowyouareasinyourlifewhereyoucanlearnfromHisWordtoavoidhavingtofacea“writingonthe
wall”experienceinthefuture.
§ YoucanlistthesethoughtsonpagetwoofyourstudybindertitledApplicationunderSessionFive.
InviteGodtoworkonyourmindandheartinthoseareasyou’vepreviouslynoted.Behonestaboutyour
desiresandfears,considerwritingthemdown.
DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
GOINGGOD’SWAY–GROUPDISCUSSION
Lookforwaystoputintopracticethethingsyouwrotedownonpage1.Talkwithothergroupmembersabout
yourideasandcommittobeingaccountabletooneanother.
Duringthecomingweek,asktheHolySpirittocontinuetorevealtruthtoyoufromwhatyou’vereadand
studied.
GoingGod’sway:
Everychanceweget,wealsohaveachoicetomakewhetherornottogoGod’sway.
WhenwelookedatNebuchadnezzarwesawthenumberofchanceshewasgivenandthechoiceshe
ultimatelymadeindeterminingtogoGod’sway.HefinallydidgoGod’swaybuthehadtobebroken
firstandrealizehisinsanity.
Belshazzaraswereadknewaboutthelife,dreams,andconversionofhisgrandfatherNebuchadnezzar,
heknewaboutDanielandtherolehehadinNebuchadnezzar’slife(22)
Asmanyyoungleaders,Belshazzarmadeachoicetogohisownway,self-absorbedandeyesfixedonly
onthepresenthedisregardedtheexampleofhisgrandfatherthatwassetbeforehim.
Itwasn’tjustBelshazzarthatdisregardedtheexampleofNebuchadnezzarbutalsoNabonidus,
Belshazzar’sfather,whowasthereigningKingduringthischapter,andthefinalBabylonianking.
WherewasNabonidus?WellthoughheisnotwrittenaboutintheBiblehistorytellsus…
§ HewasinTayma,orTema,adesertoasisinmoderndaySaudiArabia.
§ HeputBelshazzarinchargewhilehestayedinTayma,whichwasn’tashorttrip,hewasawayfrom
BabylonformostofhisreignasKing.
Sowhatwashedoingthere?
§ Somehaveregardedhimasthefirstarcheologist,butmostimportantly,inregardstothis
chapterofDaniel,heworshippedothergods,deeplyandsincerely.
§ Statuesofgodswerenotonlyworshipped,butthestatueshousedtheirgodsinsideofthem,
andthisonlyhappenedwhenspecialattentionwasgiventothem.
§ Nabonidusgavespecialattentiontothesestatuessothattheirculticpersonnelwouldcome
alongwiththem.
§ Oncehefound,restored,orrecoveredthesestatueshedidn’trestorethemtotheirrightful
house,buthetookthemallbackwithhimtoBabyloninthefinalyearofhisreign.
Interestinglyenough,weseethisintheCyruscylinder,
§ “AsforthegodsofSumerandAkkadwhichNabonidus,tothewrathofthelordofthegods,
broughttoBabylon,atthecommandofMarduk,thegreatlord,I(Cyrus)causedthemtodwell
inpeaceintheirsanctuaries,(in)pleasingdwellings.MayallthegodsIbrought(back)totheir
sanctuariespleaddailybeforeBelandNabuforthelengtheningofmydays,maytheyintercede
favorablyonmybehalf."
ThisaccountofCyruswasconfirmedintheBabylonianChronicles,
§ “FromthemonthofKislîmutothemonthofAddaru,thegodsofAkkadwhichNabonidushad
madecomedowntoBabylon,werereturnedtotheirsacredcities."
WhydoIshareallofthisinformation?
DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
ThoughNabonidusisn’tdiscussedinDaniel,it’simportanttonotethathesetanexampleinhis
houseofwhatwasandwasnotimportant,thisistheexamplethatwasmostpresentfor
Belshazzar,
§ unlikeDanielwhogrewupinaGodlyhomeandasheagedcontinuedinthatexampleandgrew
inhisrelationshipwiththeLord.
§ Belshazzargrewintheexampleofhisfather,wholikehim,alsodisregardedtheexampleof
Nebuchadnezzar.
ü WEALLPLAYAMAJORROLEINTHEEXAMPLEWESETINOURHOME,WEHAVEA
RESPONSIBILITYTOOURFAMILIES,WEHAVEANINFLUENCEONTHEGENERATIONS
AFTERUS.WEFIRSTDETERMINETOGOGOD’SWAYANDBRINGUPTHOSEAROUNDUS
INTHATEXAMPLE.
ü Pro22:6Trainupachildinthewayheshouldgo:andwhenheisold,hewillnot
departfromit.
ü Eph6:4Andyou,fathers,donotprovokeyourchildrentowrath,butbringthemupin
thetrainingandadmonitionoftheLord.”
InthebookofDanielwehaveseenexamplesofGodlymenmakingchoicesthatevidentlyhadbeen
influencedbytheGodlymenthatcamebeforethemandtheScripturesthatguidedtheirlives.
§ ThewriterofHebrewssays,“Rememberthosewhoruleoveryou,whohavespokentheword
ofGodtoyou,whosefaithfollow,consideringtheoutcomeoftheirconduct.JesusChrististhe
sameyesterday,today,andforever.(13:7-8)
Hereinthischapterweseewhathappenswhenhistoryisignored,whenpastexamplesarerejected,
andselfishnessandprideareallowedtorulealife.
GodgaveNebuchadnezzarmanychances,wehaveaverymercifulLordthatisconsistentinallofHis
ways.JesusChrististhesameyesterday,today,andforever.
IimagineBelshazzar,hadmanychancesalso,butmostnotablyachancetoheedtheexampleofa
grandfatherwhoselifewasforeverchangedbytheMostHighGodandaman,Daniel,whostillserved
inhiscourtsathisdisposal.
Nowaswelookatthischapterwewillseehowthesedifferentlivesplayedout,howtheiradherence
ordisassociationwithpastexamplesandGoddifferedintheoutcomeoftheirlife.
§ (Q2a)WhatcausespeopletodaytodisregardGoddespitethetestimonyofearlier
generations?
§
StandforGodoverthelonghaul:
BabylonfelltotheMedesandPersiansin539
IfDanielwas15whenhewastakeninBabylonin605BCthatwouldmakehimabout81yearsoldat
thetimehewassummonedbyBelshazzarinthischapter.(vv.13)
Ifyoutakeaquicklookatchapter8,theeventsofwhichprecedethischapter,youwillseeinverse1,
“inthethirdyearofthereignofkingBelshazzar…”
§ Thatplaceschapter8somewherearound553-554BC
DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
(vv.27)FollowingtheAntioches/Antichristdreamandvisionitreads,“afterwardIroseup,and
didtheking’sbusiness;…”
§ Danielwasstillworkingwithintheking’sfaculty,evidentlynotasprominentastherolehehad
withNebuchadnezzarasBelshazzardidn’tpersonallydialoguewithhimuntilthefinaldayofhis
reign.
Danielhadworkedliterallyinthecenterofallthepaganandsecularidealsofthe“GreatBabylon”for
over65years.
Hewaseducatedinasecularandculticsystem,hewasemployedbyasecularandculticsystem,and
probablyhadanuntraceablenumberofconversationswithpagan,cultic,andidolatrouspeoplewho
heworkedaround.
(v.11-12)TheQueentellsBelshazzarofDanieland(v.13)DanielisbroughtbeforetheKing.
§ 1st(v.13)DanielrespondstoGod’scall.2Timothy4:2“inseasonandoutofseason”
In(v.13-16)BelshazzartellsDanielallthe“things”heknowsofhim,thoughheneveroncecalledon
himbeforethismoment.
§ 2ndDanielrespondsfirstbygraciouslyrejectingtheking’sofferforgiftsandrewards,even
askingthattheybebestoweduponanother,butstillhewillreadandinterpretforhim.1
Timothy3:3“notgreedyformoney”Moses(Num16:15),Samuel(1Sam12:3),andPaul(Acts
20:33)allexhibitedthissameattitude,theycouldn’tbebought.
§ 3rdIn(v.18-21,22-24)Danielwasn’tafraidtorespectfullytellthekingthetruthabouthim
ignoringtheexampleofhisgrandfatherandtheoutcomeofhisdefiance.Fromthebeginningof
hisBabyloniancaptivityhealwaysexhibitedhumilityandtactwiththeauthorities.Titus2:8
“Soundspeechthatcannotbecondemned”
§ 4th(v.25-28)Danielfaithfullyreadsthewritinganddeliverstheinterpretation.
DoyouknowwhatthistellsmeaboutDaniel?
§ HestoodforGodoverthelonghaul
§ Regardlessofhischangingjobtitle,hedidn’tchangehisjobwiththeLord.
§ Regardlessofhisage,andtheyearshewasinthemidstofthispaganculture,hedidnotwaver
inhisobediencetotheMostHighGod.
ü WEWILLENDUREANDEXPERIENCEMANYCHANGESINOURLIFEONTHISEARTH,
REGARDLESSOFHOWLONGITIS.WESHOULDDETERMINETOGOGOD’SWAYAND
STANDFORHIMOVERTHELONGHAUL.
ü NOMATTEROURCAREERORAGEWECANANSWERWHENGODCALLS.REGARDLESSOF
THEPRESSURESWEFACEWECANEXHIBITTHESAMEATTITUDEASTHEGODLYMEN
BEFOREUS,LIKEDANIEL,THATWECAN’TBEBOUGHT.OBEDIENTLYWECANAPPLY
TACTANDHUMILITYTOALLOFOURWORDS,ALLOWINGGODTOHANDLETHE
CONSEQUENCESANDOUTCOME.WECANFAITHFULLYDOHISWORK.
ü HAVEWECOMMITTEDINADVANCETOOBEDIENTLYSTANDINGFORGODOVERTHE
LONGHAUL?
§ (Q10aWhatcanwelearnfromDaniel’sexamplethatwillhelpusresistpressuresto
compromiseourconvictions?)
§
DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
Writingonthewall,numbereddays:
Everyoneherehasnodoubtheardthisexpressionusedinourculturetoday.
Ithasbeenusedforfilm,television,andcountlesssongsfromcountrytometal.
Ithasbeenusedbygrandmothers,mothers,andfathersforcountlessgenerationsasawarningofbad
actionsorbehaviorsthatwillleadtotrouble,impendingdoom.
Thisphraseoriginateswiththischapter.
Belshazzardidnotpayattentiontothewritingonthewall.
Iwouldsaythatprecedingthatphrasearelessseverewarningsandexamplesofrightbehavior.
§ ThestoriesBelshazzarknewofhisgrandfatherwouldhavebeenexamplestohimofhiswrong
behavior.
§ Daniel’swarningstoNebuchadnezzarcouldhavemostdefinitelybeenwarningsforBelshazzar.
§ Belshazzarheardofthevisionsandinterpretations,thereforehewouldbefamiliarthathis
grandfatherwasinterpretedastheheadofgold(2:32)whichwouldbereplacedbyaninferior
kingdom,breastandarmsofsilver,theMedesandPersians.
§ Whilethefeastwasgoingon,theMedesandPersianswereatthewallofthecity,arrogance
andindifferencekepthimfromreacting.ThisadvancementonBabylonwasthefirstmajor
threatsincehisgrandfather’sreign.Hello!PuttwoandtwotogetherBelshazzar!Wellhecould
have.
Thewritingonthewall
§ Danieltellshim,
§ (v.26)MENE;Godhasnumberedyourkingdomandfinishedit;
§ (v.27)TEKEL;Youhavebeenweighedandcameupshort;
§ (v.28)PERES;YourkingdomwillbetakenfromyouanddividedbetweentheMedesand
Persians
Quickreminder:THEYAREATTHEGATESOFTHECITY!!!
§ BelshazzarrewardsDaniel,Danielacceptsitbecauseitdoesn’tmatter,theyarecomingin
shortlyandit’snotgoingtomatter.
§ Belshazzarcouldhaveatleastrun,hidden,fellflatonhisfaceandworshippedGod,repented,
humbledhimself,etc..
§ InsteadherewardsDanielinthemostawfuldisplayofarroganceandindifferencetothe
pendingdoomandpartieson.
§ Fromkneesbucklingbeforethereadingandinterpretation,tocreatingthekingdom’sthird
rulerafterbeingtoldhewouldbefinishedbythoseatthewallsofhiscity.
ThiswarningcamefromthefingerofGod,justasthefingerofGoddefeatedtheEgyptianswhen
Pharaohrefusedtoletthepeoplego(Ex.8:19),andwrotetheholylawforIsraelonthetabletsof
stone(31:18).
ü LIKEKINGBELSHAZZAR,MANYPEOPLEINOURWORLDTODAYAREUNMINDFULOF
HISTORYLESSONS,UNABLETOINTERPRETTHEPRESENT,ANDUNPREPAREDFORTHE
CONSEQUENCESOFTHEFUTURE.
DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
ü BELSHAZZARDISREGARDEDTHEWORDOFGOD,GODLYEXAMPLE,ANDHISTORYAND
ASARESULTLOSTHISLIFE.LET’SNOTBENUMBEREDANDWEIGHEDWITHHIM.
ü LET’SDETERMINETOGOGOD’SWAY,TOCORRECTOURACTIONSBYTHEEXAMPLES
BEFOREUS,BEFOREIT’STOOLATE,ASWENEVERKNOWWHENOURDAYSWILLBE
DONE.WEAREEITHERLIGHTORSALTORTOSSEDASIDELIKECHAFFINTHEWIND.
ü (Q6Whatareareasinyourlifewhereyousee“thewritingonthewall”?a&b)
ü (Q3Whatlessonsfromhistorydoyouthinkstandasparticularlyrelevantremindersto
ustoday?)
InfluenceofoneGodlylife:
Ourdaysarenumbered,soattheotherendofthisstory,nevertakeforgrantedtheimpactoneGodly
lifehasontheworldaroundyou.
§ AlthoughDanielhadbeendisregardedoverthoselastdecadesoftheBabylonianEmpire,when
thismessagefromGodcame,theQueenknewwheretogo,Daniel.
§ Whilenobodythoughttoconsulthiswisdomearlierthatdoesn’ttakeawaytheinfluenceDaniel
had.
§ AnyonecanfreelychoosetotrustGod,it’sourroletofaithfullywitness,tobeanambassador
forChrist.UnfortunatelyandsadlysomepeoplewillchoosetobecuriousaboutGodtolate.
§ BelshazzarconsultedDanielandevenattheendoftheinterpretationcompletelymissedthe
point,itwastoolateforhim.
§ WhereaswesawNebuchadnezzar’scuriositybeginmuchearlier,hewasopentotheideaof
Godandhadtimetoturntohimbeforeitwastoolate.
§ IbelievewholeheartedlythatBelshazzarhadthechancetofallonhisfaceandworshipthe
MostHighandOnetrueGod,whilehemayhavelosthisearthlylifehewouldhavereceivedan
eternallife.
§ TheMedesandPersianswerecoming,sothechoicehecouldhavemadewouldhavebeena
personalone,butarroganceandprideconsumedhim.
WehaveseentheGodlyinfluenceofDanielandtheimpactithadallthroughthebookofDanielthus
far:
§ (1:9)“GodbroughtDanielintofavourandgoodwillofthechiefoftheeunuchs.”
§ (1:10)ThisinfluencespreadfromDaniel,toAshpenaz,toMelzarwhowasoverDanielandhis
threefriends.
§ (1:20)Nebuchadnezzarfindsthem10xbetter
§ (2:15)DanielhadsomeinfluenceonAriochasheexhibitedarealfreedomofexpressionbefore
goingintotheking.
§ Therestofchapter2showsDanielgettingtimefromtheking,theking“glorifies”himand
recognizessomethingamazingabout“Daniel’sGod”.Thisisthebeginningoftheconversion.
§ Danielwasabletosethisfriendsinagoodspot.
§ Inchapter4wehaveNebuchadnezzar’stestimonywhichwasdeliveredaftertheLordbroke
him.ThisistheresultofGodlyinfluenceonone’slife.
DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
WhatdoesDaniel’srejectionofacclaimandrewards(v.17)saytoyouabouttheintegrityand
authenticityofthismanandthemessagehebrings?HowmightDaniel’sexamplehelpyouin
yourworkplaceorareaofministry?
ü WECANALLBEAMASSADORSINDIVIDUALLYPROCLAIMINGTHETRUTHTOCALLMEN,
WOMEN,ANDNATIONSTOGODANDHISMERCY.
ü WENEVERKNOWWHENOURLORDWILLWANTTOUSEUSASHEUSEDDANIEL.WE
ALWAYSNEEDTOBEREADY.
ü WHETHERWEHAVEAHIGHLYINFLUENTIALROLEORONEOFOBSCURITYGODUSESUS.
ü THECHOICESWEMAKEMARKOURLIVESANDTHELIVESOFTHOSEAROUNDUSFOR
ETERNITY.
ü AREYOUACCOUNTINGFORTHEGREATINFLUENCEYOUHAVEWHENYOULEADA
GODLYLIFE,CHARACTERIZEDBYTHELORD’STRUTH,REFLECTINGHIMTOTHEWORLD
ASTHEMOONREFLECTSTHESUN?
ü DONOTBEATYOURSELFINTOABELIEFTHATYOUAREONLYONEPERSONANDTHEJOB
ISTOBIG.
1. THEJOBISNEVERTOBIGFORGOD
2. YOUARENEVERALONE
3. THEBIBLEISFILLEDWITHPEOPLETHATTHROUGHTHEPOWEROFGODDID
AMAZINGTHINGSINTHESAME24HOUR,7DAYAWEEKLIFEWELIVENOW.
4. DONOTTAKEFORGRANTEDTHEINFLUENCEOFYOURGODLYLIFEONTHE
WORLDAROUNDYOU.
FOURPOINTS:
GOINGGOD’SWAYHEB13:7-8,JOSHUA24:15,PSALM
STANDFORGODOVERTHELONGHAUL2TIM4:2,COL1:11,1COR13:7
SEETHEWRITINGONTHEWALLOURDAYSARENUMBEREDHEB3:7-11,
INFLUENCEOFONEGODLYLIFE!HEB13:7,1PET3:15,1COR11:1,
DANIEL
DETERMININGTOGOGOD’SWAY–SPIRITUALLIVINGINASECULARWORLD
Session5–Chapter5
Handwritingonthewall
GROUPDISCUSSION
Reflect,write,andanswerasyoufeelcomfortable
1. DanielsaidtoBelshazzar,“youhavesetyourselfupagainsttheLordofheaven”(vv.23).Thinkofsome
present-dayexamplesofpeoplewhomockGodbytheirwordsoractions.DoesGodseemslowto
judgetheirmockery?HowcanyouexplainGod’s“slowness”?
2. Whatmightitlookliketodayforapersontosethim–orherselfupagainsttheGodofheaven–and
whatconsequencescanthatpersonexpect?
3. Belshazzarfailedtolearnfromtheexperiencesofhisgrandfather.Whatspiritualtruthshaveyou
learned(orfailedtolearn)fromyourparentsorpredecessors?
4. WhatdoesDaniel’srejectionofacclaimandrewards(v.17)saytoyouabouttheintegrityand
authenticityofthismanandthemessagehebrings?HowmightDaniel’sexamplehelpyouinyour
workplaceorareaofministry?
5. ThinkaboutyourlifeasGodseesit.Inwhatwaysmightyoube“foundwanting”(vv.27)?Whatcan
youdoaboutit?