Daniel 5

1. The People (1)

Daniel is approaching his 80s. Nebuchadnezzar has been dead for years and has been replaced by a succession of terrible kings.

2. The Problem (1)

The city of Babylon was HUGE and had a huge 100-foot tall, 20-foot thick wall around it. It was built to be impenetrable and unconquerable.

At this point, the Medo-Persians are surrounding the city. Most of the kingdom has already been conquered, so what does this young king do in his worst hour?

He has a party.

3. The Party (2-4)

This party is a drunken orgy. All the leaders are in a drunken stupor. In their drunken stupor, the drunken king thinks it would be funny if they go and get the golden vessels from the temple to take shots out of the golden temple dishes.

They must have thought it was hilarious, but suddenly it wasn’t funny anymore.

4. The Pointer (5-6)

A hand shows up out of nowhere. Belshazzar’s heart is pricked.

5. The Prophet (7-16)

Notice that Belshazzar calls all of the foolish magicians and astrologers first (This seems like a pattern).

Then finally Belshazzar calls his mom (or maybe grandmother) who tells him about this guy Daniel.

6. The Prophecy (17-28)

Daniel wants to preach first. Daniel wants to remind Belshazzar about his grandfather.

• Mene - numbered
• Tekel - weighed
• Peres - divided (Upharsin was a synonym of Peres)

7. Their Perdition (29-31)

That night the Medes dammed up the river and conquered Babylon without a battle.

A. God keeps his promises B. Judgment is coming to wicked nations