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Daniel 5:13-24 — Daniel Preaches to the King

Although Daniel was no longer active in royal service, the present emergency forced the king to call him from retirement. Belshazzar told Daniel of the failure of his wise men and how he had heard that Daniel could give interpretations and solve difficult problems.

The king asked haughtily, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?” (Daniel 5:13), identifying Daniel as both a Jew and a captive. He told Daniel that he had heard of him, “that the spirit of the gods” was in him, and that he had “insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom” (Daniel 5:14). Belshazzar promised the same rewards to Daniel if he could interpret the writing on the wall that he had promised the other wise men. Daniel, speaking with both courtesy and courage, refused the king’s rewards to show his integrity and to place himself in a better position to denounce the king. He refused to become obligated to anyone but the Lord.

This can be a lesson to us! Our actions should not be motivated by the gifts and rewards that this world can give. There are better gifts that we have our eyes and hearts upon. Let us be helpful in the world—do it all the real service we can—and then trust God for His gifts and His rewards, which are far greater in comparison to all those that the world can give! Jesus tells us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

In Daniel 5:18-24, Daniel preached a pointed and powerful sermon to Belshazzar. He pointed out that God Himself had given the kingdom to Nebuchadnezzar, and that when he had become hardened with pride, God humbled him through a tragic episode. Although Belshazzar knew of his predecessor’s insanity, he had not profited from Nebuchadnezzar’s experience. By the profane use of the holy vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem, Belshazzar had mocked God and insulted Him. Knowing the truth of God, he had rejected it. Daniel concluded his sermon by stating that the God whom Belshazzar had dishonored was the One who sent the hand that wrote the inscription.