Day 213 – Daniel & Belshazzar’s Pride

• “The writing on the wall” is a phrase that is still used today, to mean that something is inevitable. Today we read the passage that that phrase originated from… and you’ll get to see why it has its meaning!
• Nebuchadnezzar had, by Daniel 5, been replaced by a new ruler, Belshazzar. Daniel, who was still alive, continued to live in the city but it seemed that the new king didn’t know him like the previous one.
• What was Belshazzar using to drink with at his feast? Where did they come from? Why was this wrong?
• In Daniel 5:4, Belshazzar praised false, hand made gods (whilst drinking from cups from the temple!). He trusted in man-made things for security, such as the strong walls of his palace. We trust in similar man-made gods such as money, reputation, sex or power too, but – like his walls – they will eventually fail, unlike our relationship in Christ.
• You’ll know that at the end of this reading, Belshazzar died. Before this point though, the suggestion that this could happen was as far from his mind as it could be. What proud things did the king say and do? Do you think he learned anything from Nebuchadnezzar?
• What supernatural thing happened at the feast? What was the king’s reaction? 
• The queen (probably the queen mother, technically) wisely remembered Daniel, and encouraged the king to bring him to them. He was brought in and offered many rewards if he could explain the writing on the wall. Did Daniel accept the rewards? Why not?
• What did Daniel say was Balshazzar’s problem as he interpreted the dream? Look at Daniel 5:24-28 for what would happen, and Daniel 5:22-23 for some of the reasons behind it. Make sure you spend time thinking about this question.
• How was “the writing on the wall” for Balshazzar as Daniel 5 closed?
• Using this passage, and the other two passages today (especially the verses in 1 Peter), how does God view pride and proud people? What about the humble? How would you rate yourself on the “humble to proud” scale?

This is our second passage in a row about humility. When the Bible says something, you should listen to it. When it says something twice, you should REALLY listen to it! Spend a few moments genuinely and honestly thinking about whether you need to humble yourself. This might be in the way that you honour and obey your parents. It might be in the way that you get involved in church activities, and why you do them. It may be that you need to not be the centre of attention in certain situations.

Or… it might be that you need to humble yourself more to God’s Word. You’re working hard at it – you’re 213 days into studying it. But are you humbling yourself before it in the way that you are approaching these readings? Do you read it with an open heart, excited to read God’s living words, and actually willing to be changed?

How has God’s Word humbled and changed you in the last 213 days? Set a timer for two minutes and during that time, spend time in silence with God in prayer, honestly asking yourself the question and praying for God’s help.