Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain
Some critics have said that if Daniel had spoken the way he did to the king, his head would have been taken off. However, we must remember that Belshazzar knew all about the Persian army that had been gathering around Babylon for days in preparation for an assault on the city. He did not know that they were digging feverishly to dry up the portion of the river that flowed through the city nor that it would a simple matter for a small detail of soldiers to come under the wall and open the gates to the city.
Historians tell us that there was hardly any loss of life in the taking of the city. So, in one night the mightiest city and the mightiest walls and the mightiest military might of the world fell. In one night with almost no loss of life.
"Belshazzar was overpowered with the remarkable vision of the handwriting on the wall; his conscience smote him, and he was in deep alarm. He sought the meaning of this extraordinary revelation, and could not but regard it as a communication from heaven. In this state of mind, painful as was the announcement, he would naturally receive it as a Divine communication, and he might fear to treat with indignity one who showed that he had the power of disclosing the meaning of words so mysterious" (Barnes).
Belshazzar had miscalculated on many other things during his reign and to add this unusual piece of drama to his bazaar reign is really no stretch. The reason Daniel was given the third place in the kingdom is because Belshazzar occupied the second place while his father, Nabonnedus, was off fighting. Wars to put down brush fires of rebellion against Babylon were a continual menace. So a father-son team was formed to attend to both needs. Remember that this was a vast territory that is now called Iraq. At the time, it was the civilized world's greatest power.
The exalting of Daniel to the third place in the kingdom may have been Belshazzar's final official order. It was certainly the final significant order he gave. It is interesting that Daniel had told the king to keep his rewards. Daniel would tell the king what was coming up, free of charge. Anyway, he knew he was talking to a dead man.
Why did Daniel submit to being dressed up in regal garb? Daniel was an old dog in the palace. He had seen people come and go. He was also a very wise man and one who feared God above all else. He would humor Belshazzar and his court if that was the part he must play. I have a strong suspicion that he did not remain in the presence of the king until the enemy soldiers poured into the palace, but rather, left the scene and put on his own clothes. I don't know that, of course, but I do suspect it. Would it have been out of place for him to have excused himself to go to the bathroom?
Belshazzar was run through with a sword as an easy target. His outfit gave him away. Who else was dressed like him? Nobody. Daniel had no interest in being the target of a Persian sword and he was wise enough to exit stage left.
Our times are in God's hands. We can affect the length of our lives by careful diet and exercise and by choosing our parents carefully. But in the final summary, God is the one who appoints our days and appoints the day of our departure. I am reminded that it is not the days we put in, but what we put into the days thatreally counts in this life. I hope you have a good day and a godly day. Ω
Memory Verse for this week:
(1Th 4:13)But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1Th 4:13) (See 1Th 4:13-18).
No comments:
Post a Comment