Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Daniel
Book: Daniel
Chapter: 5
Overview:
Belshazzar's impious
Feast; the
Hand-
Writing On the
Wall.
(1-9) Daniel is sent for to interpret it.
(10-17) Daniel warns
the
King of his
Destruction.
(18-31)
1-9 Belshazzar bade defiance to the
Judgments of God. Most
historians consider that
Cyrus then besieged
Babylon. Security
and sensuality are sad proofs of approaching ruin. That mirth is
sinful indeed, which profanes sacred things; and what are many
of the
Songs used at modern feasts better than the praises sung
By the heathens to their gods! See how
God struck terror upon
Belshazzar and his lords.
God's written
Word is enough to
Put
the proudest, boldest sinner in a fright. What we see of
God,
the part of the
Hand that writes in the
Book of the creatures,
and in the
Book of the Scriptures, should fill us with awful
thoughts concerning that part which we do not see. If this be
the finger of
God, what is his
Arm when made bare? And what is
He? The
King's guilty
Conscience told him that he had
No reason
to expect any good news from
Heaven.
God can, in a moment, make
the
Heart of the stoutest sinner to tremble; and there needs
No
more than to let loose his own thoughts upon him; they will give
him trouble enough.
No bodily pain can equal the inward
Agony
which sometimes seizes the sinner in the midst of mirth,
Carnal
pleasures, and worldly pomp. Sometimes terrors cause a
Man to
flee to
Christ for
Pardon and peace; but many cry out for fear
of wrath, who are not humbled for their sins, and who seek
relief
By lying vanities. The ignorance and uncertainty
concerning the Holy Scriptures, shown
By many who
Call
themselves
Wise, only tend to drive sinners to despair, as the
ignorance of these
Wise men did.
10-17 Daniel was forgotten at
Court; he lived privately, and
was then ninety years of
Age. Many consult servants of
God On
curious questions, or to explain difficult subjects, but without
asking the way of
Salvation, or the path of duty.
Daniel
slighted the offer of reward. He spoke to
Belshazzar as to a
condemned criminal. We should despise all the
Gifts and rewards
this world can give, did we see, as we may
By Faith, its
End
hastening
On; but let us do our duty in the world, and do it all
the real service we can.
18-31 Daniel reads
Belshazzar's doom. He had not taken warning
By the judgments upon
Nebuchadnezzar. And he had insulted
God.
Sinners are pleased with gods that neither see, nor hear, nor
know; but they will be judged
By One to whom all things are
open.
Daniel reads the sentence written
On the
Wall. All this
may
Well be applied to the doom of every sinner. At
Death, the
sinner's days are numbered and finished; after
Death is the
Judgment, when he will be weighed in the
Balance, and found
wanting; and after
Judgment the sinner will be cut asunder, and
given as a prey to the
Devil and his angels. While these things
were passing in the
Palace, it is considered that the
Army of
Cyrus entered the
City; and when
Belshazzar was slain, a general
submission followed. Soon will every impenitent sinner find the
Writing of
God's
Word brought to pass upon him, whether he is
weighed in the
Balance of the
Law as a self-righteous Pharisee,
or in that of the
Gospel as a painted
Hypocrite.