Where does it come from?
How does it grow?
Daniel 5
Then all the wise men of the king come in, but they are not able to read the writing or to make known the interpretation to the king. So King Belshazzar is very frightened and his face turns pale; and his nobles are perplexed.
Because of the words of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banqueting hall. The queen says: “O king, may you live on forever. Do not let your thoughts terrify you, nor let your face turn pale. There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of holy gods. In the days of your father, enlightenment and insight and wisdom like the wisdom of gods were found in him. King Nebuchadnezzar your father appointed him as chief of the magic-practicing priests, conjurers, Chaldeans, and astrologers; your father did this, O king. For Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, had an extraordinary spirit and knowledge and insight to interpret dreams, to explain riddles, and to solve knotty problems. Now let Daniel be summoned, and he will tell you the interpretation.” So Daniel is brought in before the king. The king asks Daniel: “Are you Daniel of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought out of Judah? I have heard concerning you that the spirit of gods is in you and that enlightenment and insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. Now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me to read this writing and to make its interpretation known to me, but they are not able to tell the interpretation of the message. But I have heard concerning you that you are able to provide interpretations and to solve knotty problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and to make its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed with purple, a gold necklace will be placed around your neck, and you will rule as the third one in the kingdom.” Daniel then replied to the king: “You may keep your gifts and give your presents to others. However, I will read the writing to the king and make known its interpretation to him.
“But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all of this. Instead, you exalted yourself against the Lord of the heavens, and you had them bring you the vessels of his house. Then you and your nobles, your concubines and your secondary wives drank wine from them and praised gods of silver and gold, of copper, iron, wood, and stone, gods that see nothing and hear nothing and know nothing. But you have not glorified the God in whose hand is your breath and all your ways. So the hand was sent from him, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.
“This is the interpretation of the words: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. “TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found lacking. “PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.” Then Belshazzar gives the command, and they clothe Daniel with purple and place a gold necklace around his neck; and they herald concerning him that he is to become the third ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king is killed. And Darius the Mede receives the kingdom; he is about 62 years old.
- When you read this chapter, you can see that times change, kings change!
- But Daniel keeps being the same!
- He still has God’s spirit!
- He is still able to tell about visions and dreams and their interpretations!
- And he is the only one in Babylon!
- So apparently nothing has changed regarding this!
- Daniel doesn’t care about the kings’ gifts!
- Of course, he knows the game is over for him!
- And he is the only one to know!
- And he tells the king that he has acted badly against God and he will pay the price that is death!
- And Daniel keeps building his relationship with God!
- It keeps growing and growing!
- In fact, it’s like the universe which keeps growing and growing!
- And it should be like our brains which are supposed to keep growing and growing through all the connections between our neurons!
- And getting older shouldn’t stop it!
- It’s like nature which keeps growing and growing!
- It’s like life itself which keeps growing and growing!
- In fact, if it doesn’t keep growing, it’s dead!
- But it’s not the case with Daniel!
- And may we listen to God’s warning through Daniel:
- MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end!
- TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found lacking!
- PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.
- And that very night, the king was killed!
