Lesson 141 - Elementary

Memory Verse

"Seek those things which are above"  (Colossians 3:1).

Notes

Boyhood in Babylon

Perhaps King Belshazzar grew up as a prince in the beautiful palace in Babylon. Maybe as a little boy he followed the gardeners as they planted and watered the flowers and trees in the hanging gardens close by the palace, and went boating on the river that flowed nearby. His grandfather Nebuchadnezzar may have taken him on his knee and told him about the many times he had gone to war with his soldiers, and how one time they had brought some captives from a country across the desert -– people who served and worshipped the great God who rules in all the earth.

He knew, too, how that his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar was once proud and sinful and how his mind had gone from him until he became humble and gave praise and honour and glory to God.

A Careless King

Probably Belshazzar's every wish had been granted as he grew up, and he had become a foolish and selfish young man. One day it came about that Belshazzar was king in Babylon. How grand it was to be king! When the feast day came he invited a thousand of the men who helped rule the great kingdom of Babylon.

As they were eating and drinking, and perhaps thinking only of what they could do to please themselves, Belshazzar thought of the beautiful golden and silver cups and dishes which King Nebuchadnezzar had brought from the house of God in Jerusalem. No doubt he felt that he should not use these vessels which came from the Temple of the living God but perhaps he always had his own way and did as he pleased, so he called for them to be brought. He and his companions drank wine from these beautiful vessels, and praised the gods of gold, of silver, of wood, and of stone.

Strange Writing

Suddenly, just the fingers of a man's hand appeared and started to write on the plaster wall of the big dining room. How serious and sober the king became! He pushed his food and wine away. He did not know what to do. He could not understand the meaning of the words, which the fingers wrote. But he knew about the God who rules in Heaven and earth, and no doubt he thought about all the naughty and bad things he had done in his life. And now they had drunk wine out of the golden and silver vessels, which had been made especially to be used in the Temple of the living God. His conscience hurt so badly that he shook and trembled.

Belshazzar called for the wise men of Babylon and said he would give them rich gifts if they could interpret the writing, but they could not tell him what the writing meant. When the queen heard about the strange handwriting, she thought of the good and wise Daniel. She went at once to the dining hall to tell the trembling king that there was one named Daniel among the captives whom King Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem. He had interpreted dreams for King Nebuchadnezzar when no one else could, and she knew Daniel could tell what the writing meant.

Quick Punishment

Belshazzar called for Daniel to come quickly to the palace. The king was greatly troubled and excited, and asked Daniel if he was the one who had been brought as a captive from the land of the Jews. He said if Daniel could tell him what the writing meant, he would give him a scarlet robe, put a chain of gold about his neck, and make him third ruler in the kingdom.

Yes, Daniel could tell him what the writing meant, because it was a message from God. Daniel loved God and prayed to Him three times a day, and God was with him. Daniel said, "Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.”

Belshazzar's kingdom was to be taken away and he would be slain. Daniel reminded him that he had known how Nebuchadnezzar, his grandfather, had lost his mind because he was proud and selfish and sinful, but Belshazzar had not prayed and humbled himself as Nebuchadnezzar had done. Daniel said to him, "Thou . . . hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; . . . and the God in whose hand thy breath is, . . . hast thou not glorified.”

That night enemy soldiers came into Babylon and took the city, and Belshazzar was slain.

A Quiet, Happy Heart

But Daniel lived to be an old, old man. He was true to God, did what he knew was right, and had a quiet, happy heart.

Questions

1. What was the name of the king who made a feast for a thousand of his helpers? [DAN:5:1].

2. What very bad thing did he do at his feast? [DAN:5:3].

3. What caused the king to fear and tremble? [DAN:5:5].

4. Who told the king what the writing meant? [DAN:5:17].

5. Why did this great judgment come upon King Belshazzar? [DAN:5:22-23].