Have you noticed in history that often women come to the rescue, though at times some create bigger problems? On the negative side we could think of Eve buckling to the wicked seduction of the enemy in the Garden. Anyone of us would have as well … and that includes men. We cannot forget the sinister, wicked and totally evil Jezebel. But then on the positive side we have ladies like Jael:
Jdg 4:21 But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died. 22 Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re looking for.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead.
What about Deborah in Judges 4-5 or Esther (Book of Esther) to name just three. Many women have risen to the occasion, saving the day for kings, military generals and country. Even in our day, there are many great women, unknown and unmentioned, yet who have done amazing things for family, business and even country. It would be a huge sin to under estimate the worth of women … yet many do … and that is their loss.
1) One such woman was a queen.
Da 5:10 The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “O king, live forever!” she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale!
It fascinates me to no end to read commentators who speculate about people in the Bible. These say the “queen” mentioned here must be the wife of king Belshazzar … yet the text mentions that the kings wives were present at the drinking festival.
Da 5:3 So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them.
Another suggests this was the grandmother of the king whilst another says this is the queen mother. We don’t know how many wives Nebuchadnezzar had but we do know that he as king was married. This queen therefore would be his wife (or one of his wives) and would most likely be the queen mother. She would have a high profile in the kingdom and its administration. Look how she walked (came into) the banquet hall, uninvited and unannounced. Another reason we may be confident about this is because of the exact knowledge she has of Daniel. It would be unfair to say she was lurking around to see what would happen at the drinking feast. Rather, the noise or commotion the writing on the wall caused amongst the fairly inebriated king and his generals was such that the queen mother heard and rushed in to see what was happening. Her power and influence in the kingdom and palace gave her the right. Although not stated, she quickly gathers information about the excessive rowdiness. How often do we ignore things we ought to be involved in? A hurting friend, a concerned Christian, a struggling loved one! If God has given you the ability, wisdom, financial resources or listening skills you ought to get involved.
2) The queen mother had a good understanding of kingdom business. As the wife of Nebuchadnezzar, she was involved in his affairs and especially his trauma related to his dreams. She explains there is a person who could explain the strange happening of the writing on the wall.
Da 5:11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king, I say—appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.
She credits this “man in your kingdom” with three attributed the so called gods were supposed to have … “insight, intelligence and wisdom”. The people of that day believed these so called gods were superhuman … so she is saying this man she is aware of has supernatural attributes. You and I are aware that there are no other gods but the True God of Heaven. We also know that no man is endowed with such qualities … although some claim this supernatural facility. Again and again I must mention that only God has such attributes and He gives to His servants as needed and required at certain stages of their ministry. (No serving gift that God gives is permanent. It is always suited for the ministry one engages in). The king’s wise men are impotent to assist the king but the queen mother comes up with one whom the late king had … appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. I am sure Daniel would be horrified at being called such, but that was the queen mother’s understanding. Just a quick thought here … although under the previous point I said “get involved” … prior knowledge and understanding of environments are crucial before getting involved.
3) The queen mother declares who the man is who could assist the king with interpretation.
Da 5:12 This man Daniel.
She would have met him and witnessed him in action with the previous king.
Da 5:12 “This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”
To prevent any misunderstanding, she mentions that her late husband, king Nebuchadnezzar called him Belteshazzar. She uses language her late husband used so she did know all about Daniel. She credits him with two set of three qualities.
(1) Keen mind, knowledge and understanding and
(2) Interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems.
All of these were God given, the second set dependent on the first. The key thought in the second set is “dissolving knots”. Daniel was able to as it were untie knots … unravel difficult dreams, riddles and problems. Now you are able to see why the first set enables the “dissolving of knots”. Only the God of heaven is able to provide the spiritual gift mix to enable His Spirit filled servants to do His bidding.
Our Father, You reign supreme over all mankind, but especially over Your people. Help us to service You profitably, relying upon Your Spirit as we trust Your Word applying it to ourselves. Amen.