Daniel has been summoned for the third time to perform a task, as described in Daniel 2 and 4. At the recommendation of the queen mother, he now appears before King Belshazzar.
The king condescendingly speaks to Daniel. His first question betrays his attitude toward the only person who could answer the mystery. Belshazzar still treats Daniel like a prisoner in Babylon. His question borders on a sneer. "Are you not one of the exiles my father brought from Judah? This question is like saying, "You are only an exile taken from Judah; are you sure you can unravel the mystery for me?"
It is unlikely that
Belshazzar was unaware of how Daniel had greatly helped his predecessors. Yet,
his expression showed that he did not quite believe what had been said of
Daniel. Twice, he prefaced what he knew of the prophet with this phrase,
"I have heard."
The first is in verse 14,
where he says, “Now I have heard about you that a spirit of
the gods is in you and that illumination, insight,
and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you.” The second is in verse 16,
where he says, “But I have heard about you, that you can give interpretations
and solve complex problems.”
Both times, he reveals his
doubts about Daniel's capability. Following verse 14, he makes it known that
Daniel is only his last resort. All the hapless sages who came before Daniel
could not tell him the meaning of the writings on the wall. Again, his doubt is
displayed with the four words "if you are able" in verse 16, just
before he dangles the reward before Daniel.
We cannot miss Belshazzar's
condescension. Pride is behind his arrogant attitude. Despite his fear and
desperation, his pride is on full display. He could not even treat Daniel, the
source of his help, with proper decorum. So obnoxious was he that despite his
impending doom, he could not practice humility. This is the very reason
why God had to deal with him. It shows us how necessary it is to stay humble, especially when seeking a solution to our problem.
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