Daniel 5:18
As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.
O king
This phrase is a direct address to King Belshazzar, the ruler of Babylon at the time. The use of "O king" is a respectful salutation, acknowledging the king's authority and position. In the historical context, addressing a king in such a manner was customary, reflecting the hierarchical structure of ancient Near Eastern societies. It sets the tone for the message that follows, which is both a reminder and a warning.

the Most High God
This title for God emphasizes His supreme authority and sovereignty over all earthly powers. In Hebrew, "El Elyon" is often used to denote God's ultimate supremacy. This phrase serves to remind Belshazzar that despite his earthly power, there is a higher divine authority that governs the universe. Theologically, it underscores the biblical theme that God is the ruler above all rulers, a central tenet in the book of Daniel.

gave
The verb "gave" indicates that the sovereignty and power Nebuchadnezzar possessed were not of his own making but were granted by God. This reflects the biblical principle that all authority is established by God (Romans 13:1). It serves as a humbling reminder that human power is temporary and dependent on God's will.

your father Nebuchadnezzar
Although Nebuchadnezzar was not Belshazzar's biological father, the term "father" is used here in a broader sense, referring to a predecessor or ancestor. Historically, Nebuchadnezzar was a significant figure in Babylonian history, known for his conquests and the construction of the Hanging Gardens. This reference serves to draw a parallel between the two kings and to highlight the lessons Belshazzar should have learned from Nebuchadnezzar's experiences.

sovereignty
This word denotes supreme power or authority. In the context of Nebuchadnezzar, it refers to his rule over the vast Babylonian Empire. Theologically, it is a reminder that true sovereignty belongs to God, who delegates authority to human rulers according to His purposes. This concept is central to understanding the dynamics of divine and human authority in the biblical narrative.

and greatness
The term "greatness" here refers to the extent of Nebuchadnezzar's influence and the magnificence of his reign. Historically, Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon was a center of culture and power. Theologically, it serves as a reminder that human greatness is a reflection of God's greatness and should be used to honor Him.

and glory
"Glory" in this context refers to the honor and majesty associated with Nebuchadnezzar's reign. In the Hebrew Bible, "glory" often signifies the visible manifestation of God's presence. This phrase suggests that any glory attributed to human rulers is ultimately a reflection of God's own glory.

and honor
The word "honor" denotes respect and esteem. In the ancient world, a king's honor was tied to his ability to rule justly and effectively. This phrase serves as a reminder that true honor comes from God and should be sought in alignment with His will. It also foreshadows the consequences of failing to honor God, as seen in Belshazzar's impending judgment.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Daniel
A prophet and wise man in the Babylonian court, known for his faithfulness to God and his ability to interpret dreams and signs.

2. Belshazzar
The king of Babylon during the events of Daniel 5, known for his pride and sacrilege against God by using sacred temple vessels for a feast.

3. Nebuchadnezzar
The former king of Babylon, referred to as Belshazzar's "father" in a royal or ancestral sense, known for his powerful reign and eventual humbling by God.

4. Babylon
The empire and city where these events take place, known for its grandeur and as a center of power and idolatry.

5. The Most High God
The sovereign God of Israel, who is acknowledged as the one who grants authority and power to earthly rulers.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Earthly Powers
Recognize that all authority and power come from God, and He is in control of the rise and fall of leaders and nations.

The Danger of Pride
Learn from Nebuchadnezzar's account that pride can lead to downfall, and humility before God is essential.

The Importance of Acknowledging God
Understand the importance of giving God the glory for any position or power we hold, as failing to do so can lead to judgment.

The Role of Remembrance in Faith
Remember past lessons and experiences of God's sovereignty and faithfulness to guide current actions and decisions.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Be aware that ignoring God's authority and commands can lead to severe consequences, as seen in Belshazzar's fate.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the account of Nebuchadnezzar's rise and fall illustrate the concept of God's sovereignty over earthly rulers?

2. In what ways can pride manifest in our lives, and how can we guard against it, drawing lessons from Nebuchadnezzar's experience?

3. How does acknowledging God's role in our successes and positions impact our daily lives and decisions?

4. What are some practical ways we can remember and apply past lessons of God's faithfulness and sovereignty in our current circumstances?

5. How do the consequences faced by Belshazzar serve as a warning for us today regarding the importance of obedience to God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Daniel 4
This chapter provides context for Nebuchadnezzar's humbling experience and his acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, which is referenced in Daniel 5:18.

Romans 13:1
This verse speaks to the concept that all authority is established by God, reinforcing the idea that God granted Nebuchadnezzar his power.

Proverbs 21:1
This verse highlights God's control over the hearts of kings, aligning with the theme of divine sovereignty in Daniel 5:18.
The Value of a Good ManJ.D. Davies Daniel 5:17-29
At the Bar of GodH.T. Robjohns Daniel 5:17-31
People
Babylonians, Belshazzar, Belteshazzar, Daniel, Darius, Micah, Nebuchadnezzar, Persians
Places
Babylon, Jerusalem
Topics
Glory, Grandeur, Granted, Greatness, Honor, Honour, Kingdom, Kingship, Majesty, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnez'zar, O, Power, Sovereignty, Splendor
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Daniel 5:18

     1060   God, greatness of
     5267   control

Daniel 5:17-28

     1443   revelation, OT

Daniel 5:18-21

     5003   human race, and God
     5216   authority, nature of
     5219   authority, human institutions
     5257   civil authorities

Library
Mene, Tekel, Peres
'Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another: yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18. O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 19. And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up;
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Scales of Judgment
There has never been a deed of persecution--there has never been a drop of martyr's blood shed yet, but shall be avenged, and every land guilty of it shall yet drink the cup of the wine of the wrath of God. And especially certain is there gathering an awful storm over the head of the empire of Rome--that spiritual despotism of the firstborn of hell. All the clouds of God's vengeance are gathering into one--the firmament is big with thunder, God's right arm is lifted up even now, and ere long the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

"So Then they that are in the Flesh Cannot Please God. "
Rom. viii. 8.--"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." It is a kind of happiness to men, to please them upon whom they depend, and upon whose favour their well-being hangs. It is the servant's happiness to please his master, the courtier's to please his prince; and so generally, whosoever they be that are joined in mutual relations, and depend one upon another; that which makes all pleasant, is this, to please one another. Now, certainly, all the dependencies of creatures one upon
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Human Government.
Human governments a part of the moral government of God. In the discussion of this subject I will,-- I. Inquire into the ultimate end of God in creation. We have seen in former lectures, that God is a moral agent, the self-existent and supreme; and is therefore himself, as ruler of all, subject to, and observant of, moral law in all his conduct. That is, his own infinite intelligence must affirm that a certain course of willing is suitable, fit, and right in him. This idea, or affirmation, is law
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Eastern Wise-Men, or Magi, visit Jesus, the New-Born King.
(Jerusalem and Bethlehem, b.c. 4.) ^A Matt. II. 1-12. ^a 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem [It lies five miles south by west of Jerusalem, a little to the east of the road to Hebron. It occupies part of the summit and sides of a narrow limestone ridge which shoots out eastward from the central chains of the Judæan mountains, and breaks down abruptly into deep valleys on the north, south, and east. Its old name, Ephrath, meant "the fruitful." Bethlehem means "house of bread." Its modern
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Messiah Unpitied, and Without a Comforter
Reproach [Rebuke] hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. T he greatness of suffering cannot be certainly estimated by the single consideration of the immediate, apparent cause; the impression it actually makes upon the mind of the sufferer, must likewise be taken into the account. That which is a heavy trial to one person, may be much lighter to another, and, perhaps, no trial at all. And a state
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Sovereignty of God in Administration
"The LORD hath prepared His Throne In the heavens; and His Kingdom ruleth over all" (Psa. 103:19). First, a word concerning the need for God to govern the material world. Suppose the opposite for a moment. For the sake of argument, let us say that God created the world, designed and fixed certain laws (which men term "the laws of Nature"), and that He then withdrew, leaving the world to its fortune and the out-working of these laws. In such a case, we should have a world over which there was no intelligent,
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision A. Reasons for Retiring to Galilee. ^A Matt. IV. 12; ^B Mark I. 14; ^C Luke III. 19, 20; ^D John IV. 1-4. ^c 19 but Herod the tetrarch [son of Herod the Great, and tetrarch, or governor, of Galilee], being reproved by him [that is, by John the Baptist] for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done [A full account of the sin of Herod and persecution of John will be found at Matt. xiv. 1-12 and Mark vi. 14-29. John had spoken the truth to Herod as fearlessly
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Eternity of God
The next attribute is, God is eternal.' Psa 90:0. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.' The schoolmen distinguish between aevun et aeternum, to explain the notion of eternity. There is a threefold being. I. Such as had a beginning; and shall have an end; as all sensitive creatures, the beasts, fowls, fishes, which at death are destroyed and return to dust; their being ends with their life. 2. Such as had a beginning, but shall have no end, as angels and the souls of men, which are eternal
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

That Upon the Conquest and Slaughter of vitellius Vespasian Hastened his Journey to Rome; but Titus his Son Returned to Jerusalem.
1. And now, when Vespasian had given answers to the embassages, and had disposed of the places of power justly, [25] and according to every one's deserts, he came to Antioch, and consulting which way he had best take, he preferred to go for Rome, rather than to march to Alexandria, because he saw that Alexandria was sure to him already, but that the affairs at Rome were put into disorder by Vitellius; so he sent Mucianus to Italy, and committed a considerable army both of horsemen and footmen to
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of the Exceeding Mercy of God in Christ, to his Poor Servant, John Bunyan
In this my relation of the merciful working of God upon my soul, it will not be amiss, if in the first place, I do in a few words give you a hint of my pedigree, and manner of bringing up; that thereby the goodness and bounty of God towards me, may be the more advanced and magnified before the sons of men. 2. For my descent then, it was, as is well known by many, of a low and inconsiderable generation; my father's house being of that rank that is meanest, and most despised of all the families in
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

There is a Blessedness in Reversion
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Having done with the occasion, I come now to the sermon itself. Blessed are the poor in spirit'. Christ does not begin his Sermon on the Mount as the Law was delivered on the mount, with commands and threatenings, the trumpet sounding, the fire flaming, the earth quaking, and the hearts of the Israelites too for fear; but our Saviour (whose lips dropped as the honeycomb') begins with promises and blessings. So sweet and ravishing was the doctrine of this
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
Presented to the World in a Familiar Dialogue Between Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Attentive. By John Bunyan ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The life of Badman is a very interesting description, a true and lively portraiture, of the demoralized classes of the trading community in the reign of King Charles II; a subject which naturally led the author to use expressions familiar among such persons, but which are now either obsolete or considered as vulgar. In fact it is the only work proceeding from the prolific
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Harbinger
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD , make straight in the desert a high-way for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. T he general style of the prophecies is poetical. The inimitable simplicity which characterizes every
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

The Greater Prophets.
1. We have already seen (Chap. 15, Nos. 11 and 12) that from Moses to Samuel the appearances of prophets were infrequent; that with Samuel and the prophetical school established by him there began a new era, in which the prophets were recognized as a distinct order of men in the Theocracy; and that the age of written prophecy did not begin till about the reign of Uzziah, some three centuries after Samuel. The Jewish division of the latter prophets--prophets in the more restricted sense of the
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Chorus of Angels
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour and glory, and blessing! I t was a good report which the queen of Sheba heard, in her own land, of the wisdom and glory of Solomon. It lessened her attachment to home, and prompted her to undertake a long journey to visit this greater King, of whom she had heard so much. She went, and she was not disappointed. Great as the expectations were, which she had formed from the relation made her by others,
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Daniel
Daniel is called a prophet in the New Testament (Matt. xxiv. 15). In the Hebrew Bible, however, the book called by his name appears not among the prophets, but among "the writings," between Esther and Ezra. The Greek version placed it between the major and the minor prophets, and this has determined its position in modern versions. The book is both like and unlike the prophetic books. It is like them in its passionate belief in the overruling Providence of God and in the sure consummation of His
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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