13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 14 “I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 “Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. 16 “And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.”
5:13
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?
Belshazzar heard of Daniel by reputation. He had not given Daniel the honor that Nebuchadnezzar had.
5:14
“I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
Belshazzar declares that Daniel is a man of wisdom.
5:15
“Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing.
The wise of this world do not have answers dealing with revelation. The leaders of the world will not seek answers from God until their bankruptcy becomes evident.
5:16
“And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
Belshazzar asked Daniel to do what his wise men could not do. If he fulfilled the king’s request, the king would reward him.
5:17
Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
Daniel declined the king’s gifts. He would not allow himself to be bought off by material means. He was a man of great spiritual stability. Daniel was under no obligation to the king so that he could speak freely.
PRINCIPLE:
Only divine revelation can ultimately declare the meaning of the sovereignty of God in history.
APPLICATION:
God is the God of history, and He is sovereign over history and the future. He has authority over every nation of the world. All nations that do not align themselves with God’s righteousness will inevitably fall. The handwriting is on the wall for any nation that does not heed who and what God is.
God will destroy the final Babylon, as recorded in Revelation 17 and 18. That Babylon will be revived. This is a religious and political Babylon of the future located in Europe.
Matthew 11:21-24, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 “But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 “But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
