June 30: TRUE COMPOSURE

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? 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.” Daniel 5:13-14

The queen (v.10) is actually a reference to Belshazzar’s mother, the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar. She had married Nabonidus. This son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar is not mentioned by name in the Bible. The historical record indicates that he and his son, Belshazzar, were co-regents. Since Nabonidus preferred to live in Arabia, Belshazzar played the role of king in Babylon.

It had been over fifty years since Daniel had interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream (chapter 2). At that time, the queen was a young princess, but she remembered well the excellent counsel and influence of Daniel during her father’s reign. At this later point, it seems that Daniel had been nearly forgotten in the palace court, for he had previously been assigned to business in Shushan (or Susa) by Nebuchadnezzar (8:2). It was customary to refer to any paternal ancestor as a father (5:11), and any male descendant as son.

In vain, Belshazzar had tried to make sense of the glowing handwriting on the palace wall. But here was a secret and a power that he could not understand. Neither could he guess. His terror and despair sprang from the knowledge that, beyond all the others in his court, he had led the rebellion against the God of the Hebrews. His prideful gloating finally reached a fever pitch.

In an effort to compose himself, Belshazzar addressed Daniel by referencing Babylon’s military conquest of the Hebrews: “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?” He then attempted to offset the boast and placate his mother in paying a compliment: “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.”

The failure of Belshazzar’s wise men had only heightened his anxiety, yet he continued while nervously pointing toward the glowing handwriting on the wall: “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. 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 the 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.”

Every one of God’s faithful should come into possession of the composed dignity that Daniel, as a servant of the Most High, possessed. Before the frightened throng, calmly Daniel answered, and said [to] 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.” (v.17)

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1 Peter 2:17