Belshazzar's Feast and the Writing on the Wall

Daniel 5 stands as a poignant lesson on the inevitability of divine judgment and the danger of pride. As believers, we are called to live humbly, acknowledging God in all our ways, and using our gifts and blessings to honor Him, not to exalt ourselves. The "writing on the wall" serves as a warning to us all: our days are numbered, and how we live them matters eternally.

Belshazzar's Impious Feast (Daniel 5:1-4)

King Belshazzar throws a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, during which he drunkenly orders the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem to be brought in. They drink wine from these sacred vessels, blasphemously praising the gods of gold and silver.

The Handwriting on the Wall (Daniel 5:5-9)

Suddenly, a disembodied hand appears and writes an enigmatic message on the palace wall. This terrifies Belshazzar and his wise men are unable to interpret the writing, leaving the king even more distressed.

Daniel Called to Interpret (Daniel 5:10-16)

The queen mother recalls Daniel's wisdom and his ability to interpret dreams, so she suggests calling him. Belshazzar summons Daniel, promising to make him the third highest ruler in the kingdom if he can interpret the writing.

Daniel’s Interpretation and Prophecy (Daniel 5:17-28)

Daniel rebukes Belshazzar for his pride and hubris, reminding him of how God humbled Nebuchadnezzar. He then interprets the writing: "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin" - God has numbered Belshazzar’s days, weighed him and found him wanting, and his kingdom will be divided between the Medes and Persians.

The Fall of Babylon (Daniel 5:29-31)

That very night, Darius the Mede captures Babylon, and Belshazzar is killed. This marks the end of the Babylonian empire and the beginning of the Medo-Persian empire.

The fifth chapter of Daniel is a gripping narrative of King Belshazzar's feast, the terrifying handwriting on the wall, and the fall of Babylon. This chapter serves as a vivid reminder of the biblical principle that pride comes before a fall, and God’s judgment is righteous and just.

Divine Judgment
Pride and Hubris
Prophecy and Revelation
Fall of Empires
Repentance and ForgivenessKing Belshazzar's Feast
The Mysterious Writing on the Wall
Daniel’s Interpretation
The Fall of BabylonKing Belshazzar
Daniel
The Queen Mother
King Darius of the MedesBabylon
The King's Palace

1. How does the story of King Belshazzar's feast reflect on the issue of respect for sacred things in today's society?

2. What does Daniel’s refusal of Belshazzar's gifts tell us about his character? How can we apply this in our own lives?

3. How does the theme of pride and its consequences in Daniel 5 connect with other biblical narratives?

4. If you were in Daniel's position, how would you handle the confrontation with King Belshazzar?

5. Why do you think King Belshazzar did not heed the lesson of humility learned by Nebuchadnezzar? What prevents us from learning from others' mistakes?

6. What implications does the "handwriting on the wall" have for our understanding of divine judgment?

7. How does Daniel 5 reinforce the biblical principle that "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18)?

8. How does the sudden shift of power from the Babylonians to the Medes and Persians reflect on the nature of political power and God's sovereignty?

9. What can we learn from the contrast between Belshazzar's blasphemous feast and Daniel’s humble wisdom?

10. How does the fall of Belshazzar serve as a warning for us today in how we use our power, influence, and resources?

11. How does Daniel’s courage in this chapter inspire you in your own faith journey?

12. What does the mystery of the writing on the wall teach us about the limitations of human wisdom?

13. In what ways can you see God's justice displayed in this chapter?

14. Why was the queen mother's recommendation of Daniel significant?

15. What can the historical context of this story teach us about God's involvement in world events?

16. How can we apply the lessons learned from Belshazzar's fall in our modern context?

17. How does Daniel's interpretation of the writing point to the biblical theme of prophecy and fulfillment?

18. In what ways do you see God’s patience and grace extended even in judgment?

19. Why was it important that Daniel reminded Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling before interpreting the writing?

20. How can we as modern believers be watchful against the same pitfalls that led to Belshazzar’s downfall?