THE FINGERS OF GOD€¦ · finger of God wrote in the Judean sand in defense of a fallen but...
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INTRODUCTION Some seventy years have passed since Daniel was taken captive as a teenager. And more than a quarter of a century has elapsed since the end of chapter 4. King Nebuchadnezzar is now dead and Daniel is in his early eighties. The story begins in the massive banquet hall of Belshazzar’s palace as the king hosted a feast for more than one thousand attendees. Meanwhile, outside the walls of Babylon, the Persian armies had laid siege to the city. I. The__________________________________________of Belshazzar Daniel 5:1-4 The 20th century Old Testament scholar H.C. Leupold indicated that ancient monarchs were frequently known to dine daily with 15,000 people. A. The_______________________________________of the Feast Daniel 5:1 B. The_______________________________________of the Feast Daniel 5:2-4 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he ordered the vessels Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem to be brought to the party. From these holy vessels, Belshazzar and his guests guzzled down drink after drink as they “praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone” (verse 4). C. The_______________________________________of the Feast Belshazzar didn’t know it, but he was celebrating at his own funeral. THE FINGERS OF GOD Dr. David Jeremiah II. The_______________________________________________of God Daniel 5:5-9 A. The_____________________________________________Sign Daniel 5:5 This is not the only time we see divine handwriting in Scripture. The finger of God wrote the Law on stone tablets for Moses (Exodus 31:18), and the finger of God wrote in the Judean sand in defense of a fallen but penitent woman (John 8:6). In this instance, the finger of God wrote a prophecy on the wall of Belshazzar’s banquet hall that spelled the end of Babylon. B. The_______________________________________Significance Daniel 5:6 C. The_________________________________________Summons Daniel 5:7-9 Belshazzar could read the letters that formed the writing on the wall, but he couldn’t make sense of the words or their message. So Belshazzar cried out for his wise men to tell him what the words said and what they meant. III. The_____________________________________________of Daniel Daniel 5:10-16 Belshazzar had heard of Daniel’s ability to interpret dreams and visions (Daniel 5:14-16). Even though it had last happened five kings ago in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Daniel’s amazing prophetic gift was still the stuff of legend in the royal courts. A. The______________________________________of the Queen Daniel 5:10-11 Many scholars believe that the queen was the wife of the late Nebuchadnezzar. She knew of Daniel’s reputation and how her husband, Nebuchadnezzar, had honored him. B. The______________________________________of the Queen Daniel 5:10-12 The queen described Daniel using exactly the same phrase Nebuchadnezzar had used. Daniel was a man “in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God” (4:8-9, 18). C. The________________________________________of the King Daniel 5:13-16 Daniel, now in his eighties, wasn’t invited to Belshazzar’s banquet, but when a crisis hit, he was the one summoned to save the day. IV. The_____________________________________________of Daniel Daniel 5:17-29 A. He_____________________________________the King’s Gifts Daniel 5:17 B. He__________________________________the King’s Heritage Daniel 5:18-21 Daniel recited for Belshazzar the history of Nebuchadnezzar’s fall into temporary insanity. This account was a preamble for what Daniel said next: Belshazzar had fallen into the same prideful self-importance that had caused Nebuchadnezzar’s undoing. C. He_______________________________________the King’s Sin Daniel 5:22-23 1. The Charge of__________________________________Sin Daniel 5:22 Belshazzar had witnessed Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation, and he still refused to humble himself under the hand of Almighty God. 2. The Charge of_____________________________Sacrilege Daniel 5:23 Belshazzar had dishonored the God of heaven by taking vessels created for His worship and desecrating them. 3. The Charge of______________________________Sacrifice Daniel 5:23 Instead of worshiping the living God out of gratitude for His gifts, Belshazzar worshiped inanimate idols made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. D. He__________________________________the King’s Message Daniel 5:24-29 Mene (“numbered”): Belshazzar had been measured, counted, and scrutinized. Tekel (“weighed”): He had been weighed according to God’s standards of righteousness and found to come short. Pharsin (“divided” or “halved”): This is a reference to Babylon being divided between the Medes and Persians. V. The____________________________________________of Babylon Daniel 5:30-31 On the night of October 11, 539 BC, the Medo-Persian army slipped beneath the wall of Babylon and put Belshazzar to death. The prophecies of Jeremiah were fulfilled; Babylon had fallen to its enemies. The head of gold on the Colossus was now defeated by the chest and arms of silver. CONCLUSION - DANIEL FOR TODAY 1. 2. 3.
Transcript of THE FINGERS OF GOD€¦ · finger of God wrote in the Judean sand in defense of a fallen but...
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INTRODUCTIONSome seventy years have passed since Daniel was taken captive as a teenager. And more than a quarter of a century has elapsed since the end of chapter 4. King Nebuchadnezzar is now dead and Daniel is in his early eighties.
The story begins in the massive banquet hall of Belshazzar’s palace as the king hosted a feast for more than one thousand attendees. Meanwhile, outside the walls of Babylon, the Persian armies had laid siege to the city.
I. The__________________________________________of Belshazzar Daniel 5:1-4
The 20th century Old Testament scholar H.C. Leupold indicated that ancient monarchs were frequently known to dine daily with 15,000 people.
A. The_______________________________________of the Feast Daniel 5:1
B. The_______________________________________of the Feast Daniel 5:2-4
While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he ordered the vessels Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem to be brought to the party. From these holy vessels, Belshazzar and his guests guzzled down drink after drink as they “praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone” (verse 4).
C. The_______________________________________of the Feast
Belshazzar didn’t know it, but he was celebrating at his own funeral.
THE FINGERS OF GODDr. David Jeremiah
II. The_______________________________________________of God Daniel 5:5-9
A. The_____________________________________________Sign Daniel 5:5
This is not the only time we see divine handwriting in Scripture. The finger of God wrote the Law on stone tablets for Moses (Exodus 31:18), and the finger of God wrote in the Judean sand in defense of a fallen but penitent woman (John 8:6). In this instance, the finger of God wrote a prophecy on the wall of Belshazzar’s banquet hall that spelled the end of Babylon.
B. The_______________________________________Significance Daniel 5:6
C. The_________________________________________Summons Daniel 5:7-9
Belshazzar could read the letters that formed the writing on the wall, but he couldn’t make sense of the words or their message. So Belshazzar cried out for his wise men to tell him what the words said and what they meant.
III. The_____________________________________________of Daniel Daniel 5:10-16
Belshazzar had heard of Daniel’s ability to interpret dreams and visions (Daniel 5:14-16). Even though it had last happened five kings ago in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Daniel’s amazing prophetic gift was still the stuff of legend in the royal courts.
A. The______________________________________of the Queen Daniel 5:10-11
Many scholars believe that the queen was the wife of the late Nebuchadnezzar. She knew of Daniel’s reputation and how her husband, Nebuchadnezzar, had honored him.
B. The______________________________________of the Queen Daniel 5:10-12
The queen described Daniel using exactly the same phrase Nebuchadnezzar had used. Daniel was a man “in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God” (4:8-9, 18).
C. The________________________________________of the King Daniel 5:13-16
Daniel, now in his eighties, wasn’t invited to Belshazzar’s banquet, but when a crisis hit, he was the one summoned to save the day.
IV. The_____________________________________________of Daniel Daniel 5:17-29
A. He_____________________________________the King’s Gifts Daniel 5:17
B. He__________________________________the King’s Heritage Daniel 5:18-21
Daniel recited for Belshazzar the history of Nebuchadnezzar’s fall into temporary insanity. This account was a preamble for what Daniel said next: Belshazzar had fallen into the same prideful self-importance that had caused Nebuchadnezzar’s undoing.
C. He_______________________________________the King’s Sin Daniel 5:22-23
1. The Charge of__________________________________Sin Daniel 5:22
Belshazzar had witnessed Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation, and he still refused to humble himself under the hand of Almighty God.
2. The Charge of_____________________________Sacrilege Daniel 5:23
Belshazzar had dishonored the God of heaven by taking vessels created for His worship and desecrating them.
3. The Charge of______________________________Sacrifice Daniel 5:23
Instead of worshiping the living God out of gratitude for His gifts, Belshazzar worshiped inanimate idols made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
D. He__________________________________the King’s Message Daniel 5:24-29
Mene (“numbered”): Belshazzar had been measured, counted, and scrutinized. Tekel (“weighed”): He had been weighed according to God’s standards of righteousness and found to come short. Pharsin (“divided” or “halved”): This is a reference to Babylon being divided between the Medes and Persians.
V. The____________________________________________of Babylon Daniel 5:30-31
On the night of October 11, 539 BC, the Medo-Persian army slipped beneath the wall of Babylon and put Belshazzar to death. The prophecies of Jeremiah were fulfilled; Babylon had fallen to its enemies. The head of gold on the Colossus was now defeated by the chest and arms of silver.
CONCLUSION - DANIEL FOR TODAY
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Host a Small GroupIs God nudging you to serve in ministry? Hosting a small group in your home may be the perfect opportunity! The Small Group Staff would love to talk with you and work to pair you with a compatible leader. For more information, please contact Amy Dennison at 619-590-2122or [email protected]
Foundations In LeadershipThinking about leading a small group? We are here to answer your questions, give you the training you need, and help get your group started. Sundays, 10:45 a.m. in the Family Ministries Building Classroom.
Are you looking to get more connected at church and grow spiritually? We recommend a small group. They meet weekly for Bible study, friendship, and support. Below are some of our highlighted groups; for a complete list or if you have questions, visit the small group table on the patio or check out our website.
Military Group (co-ed, all ages) Tues at 7 p.m. - Spring ValleyJohn Pace 619.322.2819 Men (all ages) Thu at 6:30 a.m. - El CajonJohn Del Casale 619.742.5516
Men (all ages) Wed at 6 p.m. - North ParkDenny Kiefer MOR Group 619.507.7835
Military (officers & spouses) Thu at 7 p.m. - TierrasantaWill & Ruth Duke 619.697.2566
For more information, visit ShadowMountain.org/SmallGroups
Sermon NotesAugust 1 and 2, 2015
SHADOW MOUNTAINCOMMUNITY CHURCH
THE FINGERS OF GODDaniel 5:1-31
Living Life SingleBreakfast TeaSat., Aug. 29, 9-11 a.m. Mountain High Kids Building BasementShadowMountain.org/Women
Air1 Positive Hits Tour, Thursday, September 17 7 p.m., Worship CenterFeaturing Crowder, Lauren Daigle, Finding Favour, NF and 3 for 3. Purchase tickets online at ShadowMountain.org/Air1
Men’s Ministry, Mountain MenBegins Tuesday September 1Lower Campus Chapel, 6:30-8 p.m.Join Men’s Ministry for worship and a study of 1 Peter. ShadowMountain.org/Men
Beach BashWednesday, August 125 p.m. at Ski BeachHot dogs & hamburgers provided. Bring a dish to share as well as your own drinks, chairs and blankets. RSVP to Toni, 619-590-2165
Young Adult CaféNew Series: Get it Right - A Study of GalatiansSundays, 10:45 a.m., Worship Center Room AFor more information visit ShadowMountian.org/YoungAdults
College MinistryResonate Beach DayFriday, August 143-10 p.m.South Mission BeachFor more information call George at 619-536-9005
