Scripture to Read: Daniel 5:1
We know Daniel was a prophet that God used to help the nation of Israel during a difficult time in their history. They were captives in Babylon, about 350 miles east of Jerusalem, which today would be modern-day Iraq. As we read Daniel 5:1, we read that Belshazzar was the king of Babylon. God’s Word takes us from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4 into the reign of Belshazzar in Daniel 5. We might think that Belshazzar followed Nebuchadnezzar in the succession of leadership. But God’s Word does not give us a detailed history of what happened between Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. We must examine extra-biblical works to get the timeline. Nebuchadnezzar died around 562 B.C. He had a son named Evil-Merodach, who was assassinated after reigning for two years. Then came a man named Neriglissar, who reigned for about four years and died. His son, Laborosoarchod, ruled nine months before he was beaten to death. The people involved in that incident put a man named Nabonidus on the throne. Nabonidus appointed his son, Belshazzar, as co-ruler in Babylon. So, according to Daniel 5:1, Belshazzar threw a massive party for a thousand of his nobles. The problem with Belshazzar was that he lived with a false sense of security. We know this because that same night, the Persians were outside the walls of Babylon preparing to attack. Belshazzar trusted in the giant walls around Babylon and felt his empire invincible and invulnerable. Trusting in the things of man is never wise and will result in death (Proverbs 14:12).
Challenge & Application
• What can we fall prey to trusting in and lose sight of trusting in God alone?
• What happens when we focus our trust on the things of this world and not on God?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!