Captivity, Return, and Years of Silence A Remnant Shall Return Captivity, Return, and Years of Silence

Lesson 9: Daniel 5 & 6 Daniel taken captive in 605 B.C. It is now 539 B.C., 66 years later. Cyrus is advancing the Persian Empire and attacks the city of Babylon.

Daniel 5 Belshazzar, descendant of Nebuchadnezzar, is now reigning in Babylon. Throws a great feast for 1,000 of his lords. Calls for the vessels of the house of the LORD to be brought in and used for their feast. They continue to get drunk and praise their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, & wood and stone.

Daniel 5 Fingers of a man’s hand appear and write on the wall and Belshazzar sees it. Belshazzar sobers up (vs. 6). Belshazzar diligently seeks interpretation (vs. 7). Promises 3rd place in the kingdom – why 3rd?

Daniel 5 Why could his astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers not interpret the message? 1) It was written in Hebrew form 2) Its message was hidden The queen reminds Belshazzar of a man who had the power to “interpret dreams, solve riddles and explain enigmas” (vv 11-12). An aged, likely frail Daniel comes before the king.

Daniel 5 Belshazzar anticipates Daniel’s interpretation and promises his riches to him. Daniel declines the riches but agrees to interpret… Daniel recounts Nebuchadnezzar’s rise and fall (vv 18-21). Belshazzar had not learned from his ancestor’s pride (vs 22-23).

Daniel 5 Daniel interprets the writing… Mene (from a verb meaning “to number”): God has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end. Tekel (from a verb meaning “to weigh”): You have been weighed upon the scales and have been found lacking Peres (another form of Upharsin, from a verb meaning “to divide”): your kingdom is separated from you and given to the Persians.

Daniel 5 After Daniel interprets the dream, Belshazzar still fulfills his promise (vs. 29). That very night, Belshazzar is killed and his kingdom divided (pg. 61 of book). Cyrus defeats Belshazzar that night. Darius the Mede (not Darius the Great) is placed in charge of Babylon. Thus begins the rule of the Medo-Persian Empire represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream as the chest of silver.

Daniel 5 Lessons for us: Pride – do we need a dose of humility like Belshazzar? (5:21-22) As Americans… As individuals… Do we understand who is in control of our very breath? (5:23)

Daniel 6 Darius the Mede is now in power Daniel is made one of three governor’s watching over the 120 satraps who ruled over the whole kingdom. Daniel finds favor due to his “excellent spirit.” The other governor’s and satraps seek to trap Daniel, but can find no fault in him.

Daniel 6 Their solution: find fault in his obedience to God. They come to Darius and ask that he make a decree: No man can petition any god or man for 30 days, except Darius, or he will be thrown into the den of lions. Medo-Persian law could not be changed once it was in writing – Darius signs the written decree (vs. 9).

Daniel 6 Daniel finds out about the decree… He continues to open his window and pray toward Jerusalem 2 Chron. 6:38-29 These men catch Daniel in the act and report it to Darius. Darius is displeased with the law that he had signed and set his heart to deliver Daniel.

Daniel 6 No reason is found to deliver Daniel, and he is thrown into the lion’s den… Darius had faith in God to deliver Daniel. Darius fasted all night for Daniel and anxiously rushed to the lion’s den the next day. “Has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

Daniel 6 Daniel responds with a plea of innocence (vs 22). Darius’ decree (vv 24-27) Daniel continues to prosper (vs 28)

Daniel 6 Lessons for us: Daniels “excellent spirit” distinguished him (vs. 3) Daniel’s habit of prayer (vs. 10) Daniel’s faith that God would deliver from captivity (vs. 10) Daniel was known for his continual service to God (vv 16, 20) Daniel “believed in his God” (vs. 23) Darius’ decree concerning God (vs 27) – “He delivers and rescues”