KEYS OF THE KINGDOM STUDY GUIDES

Daniel Five • “Flesh or Spirit…Which Will Lead?”

 Don Mackintosh 2006

Note: Daniel had been named Belteshazzar by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5:12). The conso-
INTRODUCTION nant “t” corrupted the name in a way that would identify Daniel as a captive. The king’s
We have discovered five practical keys for Christian living: name, Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1) was the “uncorrupted” form of the same name. However
we will find that the man with the uncorrupted name (the king), had a corrupt heart, while
Key #1 Giving my heart to God the man with the corrupted name had an uncorrupt heart (Daniel)!

Key #2 Staying connected to Him

Read Galatians 5:19,22
Key #3 Increasing faith by prophecy study
3. What two types of people does the Bible describe in this passage?
Key #4 Memorizing and claiming God’s promises Note: Those who live according to the flesh, or those who live according to the Spirit.
Key #5 Asking for and living in the Spirit
Read Daniel 5:1-9
In today’s lesson we will discover yet another key:
4. Was Belshazzar a man of the flesh, or a man of the Spirit? (Daniel 5:1-4) What
Key #6 Acting immediately on truth about Daniel? (Daniel 1:1-8)
In Daniel 4 we saw how Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan monarch came to accept the Man of the Flesh Man of the Spirit
Lord. After his death, the kingdom began to crumble. About 541 B.C. Nebuchad-
nezzar’s son, Nabonadius, took the throne along with his son Belshazzar. Bels- a. Desired rich foods a. Ate simple foods
hazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, was proud, headstrong and cruel. Under b. Drank alcohol b. Would not drink alcohol
his leadership Babylon would fall.
c. Sacrilegious c. Had given His heart to God
Read Isaiah 45:1-3 d. Morally impure d. Morally pure (a eunuch)

1. What Bible prophet foresaw the destruction of Babylon? e. Denied prophetic history e. Upheld prophetic history

Note: Isaiah wrote this description of the fall of Babylon 150 years prior to its actual Note: Daniel was only 17 years old in Daniel chapter one when it was shown he was a
fall. Archeologists have discovered Nebuchadnezzar’s original plan for the defense of man of the Spirit. Belshazzar, who was 15 years old, was revealed in Daniel five to be a
the city. Here is what he wrote: man of the flesh.

“In order that no pillaging robber might enter, I closed the entrance of the river. It’s 5. What happened as a result of Belshazzar’s mixing of worship and idolatry? (vs.
gratings of iron I set with hinges. . . It was along this street known as Ibar Shaboo 5)
(which means ‘the enemy shall never pass’) that the images of Babylon’s gods were
carried at New Years Day.” 6. Whose hand did he see? What does the Bible indicate God wrote with His fin-
ger? (Exodus 31:18; John 8:6-8)
Even though such precautions were taken, the city would fall just as Isaiah predicted.
The Cyrus cylinder, an ancient record of the fall of Babylon, tells us that the Persians Note: The law of God is never at variance with His Spirit. In Galatians 5 the Bible lists
diverted the Euphrates River and were thus able to march through the gates into the the works of the flesh (vs. 19-21). The context makes it clear that these acts are against
city. The city the Babylonians thought could never be destroyed fell on the day of the God’s law. As we studied Daniel 4, we discovered that God pours out His Spirit on those
‘Full Moon’, October 12, 539 B.C. It is of more than passing interest to note that just who obey Him (Acts 5:32).
five day’s prior, on October 7 th; the Hebrews had celebrated the Day of Judg -
7. What was Belshazzar’s reaction? Who did he call for? Was this wise? (vs. 6-9)
ment (Yom Kippur). God had indeed brought the judgment Isaiah had predicted.
Note: Ultimately when people live in the flesh they have no peace. Unfortunately when
2. What can Daniel’s Babylonian name (Belteshazzar), and the king’s name, faced with a crisis, people of the flesh normally turn to other people of the flesh who can
(Belshazzar), teach us?
Page 2 Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 5

offer them no help. Fleshly friends & counselors ultimately cause those who consult Read Daniel 5:22,23
them with more problems and leave them feeling just like this king: ‘greatly trou-
bled’. 13. Was there any excuse for the king’s life in the flesh?
Note: The king knew the history God’s prophet had rehearsed. He had no excuse for his
Read Daniel 5:10-13 life in the flesh or for His disregard of the Most High God. While God is merciful and
longsuffering, once we know the truth we are held accountable. (Read Jeremiah 51:9;
8. What did the queen grandmother suggest? Hosea 4:6-10; James 4:17; Acts 17:30)
Note: She directed the king to God’s prophet Daniel. She recognized that Daniel was
filled with the Spirit of God and that he was a true prophet. The Bible indicates that Read Daniel 5:24-29
God’s people need to be able to differentiate between false and true prophets (1 Thes-
salonians 5:20,21). One of the best ways to do this is by testing what the prophet says 14. What was the king’s final act?
by what God has already revealed (Isaiah 8:20). As we understand these principles Note: After having the handwriting explained, the king’s last act is to clothe God’s mes-
we can be assured of true prosperity (2 Chronicles 20:20). senger with useless externals and titles. His commitment to the trappings of the flesh was
9. How did the king treat Daniel? maintained to the end.

Note: It is possible that the king had been named after Daniel whose Babylonian name 15. Both Daniel (Belteshazzar) and the king Belshazzar were in Babylon at the time
was Belteshazzar. His grandfather must have been quite grateful, as Daniel had ap- of the attack by the Persians. What can we learn through comparing what hap-
parently watched over his kingdom when he had been forced from his throne (see pened to each of them?
Daniel 4). If we keep this in mind we can see that identifying Daniel as ‘one of the
captives’ from Judah is most rude. Read Daniel 5:30

Read Daniel 5:14-16 16. What happened to king Belshazzar?

10. What fleshly promise did the young king make to Daniel if he could explain Read Daniel 6:1,2
the writing on the wall?
17. What happened to Belteshazzar (Daniel)?
Note: The promise of material goods, money, and high position are often used to ma-
nipulate people in the world. It was in this manner that the devil would tempt Christ, Note: According to the Bible, every person that has ever lived must face the judgment of
even though He was the ruler of the world. (See Matthew 4) Though the king seems God. (Romans 14:10) There will only be two groups: those that stand like Daniel, and
to be offering great gifts and advancement, we notice that he still reserves the highest those that do not, like Belshazzar.
position for himself. This is another indication of the fleshly nature of his promises
and plans. Read Psalm 91

Read Daniel 5:17 18. What Psalm would have brought special courage to Daniel?
Note: This entire Psalm would have given special courage to Daniel. Certainly he saw
11. Are people of the Spirit motivated by such fleshly tactics?
thousands fall all around him during the destruction of Babylon. But even though he was
Note: Things of the flesh do not motivate people of the spirit. They desire the fruits of clothed in the royal apparel issued by the king’s decree, he was unharmed. God’s angels
the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentle- protected Daniel and they will protect all that live according to the spirit and have victory
ness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) over the flesh.

Read Daniel 5:18-21 This Lesson’s Key

12. What was the lesson that the king needed to learn from history? Act immediately on truth that has been revealed to you.
Note: Unless conquered, pride will cause those who indulge it to fall every time. The
young king was making the same mistake his grandfather had made. He was lifting Let Us Summarize
himself up instead of God. He was about to lose not only his kingdom, but also his Daniel chapter five again shows us keys of the kingdom in relation to the battle be -
life. tween being of the flesh, or of the Spirit. We see in Belshazzar and in Belteshazzar
Page 3 Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 5

the contrast of comparison between being a man of the flesh and being a man of r. Psalm 119:11 - Scripture memory gives power for victory
the Spirit. We see God showing us the importance of immediately acting upon s. 2 Cor. 10:3-5 - The Spirit can even change thoughts and imaginations
His truths.
“If you have made mistakes, you certainly gain a victory if you see these mistakes and re-
gard them as beacons of warning. Thus you turn defeat into victory, disappointing the en-
Commitment Questions
emy and honoring your Redeemer.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 33
1. Do you desire to be Spirit-filled and have victory over the flesh?
2. Do you desire to live up to the truth that God has shown you?

Suggested Memory Text

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while
you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not
know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, than you
may become sons of light.’” John 12:35,36

Next Time
In Daniel six we will study what has become a favorite children’s story: Daniel in
the lion’s den. You will be surprised at the deeper significance of the parallels in
the story with what is revealed in Revelation. This story develops further the pic-
ture of the end of time symbolically portrayed in Daniel three. In addition, you
will add to your understanding of the keys of the kingdom.

For Further Study

To have victory over the flesh you must realize:
f. Psalm 51:5; 58:3 - We are all born with a sinful human nature
g. Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23 - We have all gone astray / sinned
h. John 3:3,6 - Our only hope is to be born of the Spirit
i. Romans 8:13 - The Spirit if followed will kill the flesh
j. Colossians 3:1-4 - Victory comes setting our minds on things above
k. Isaiah 45:22 - We must look to Jesus
l. 2 Corinthians 3:18 - As we behold Him, we change
m. Hebrews 2:16-18 - He knows what we are going through and can help
n. Romans 13:14 - We must make no provision for the flesh
o. Galatians 5:24 - The flesh with it’s passions and desires must die
p. Romans 6:13 - We must get busy doing God’s work
q. 1 John 1:7 - It is through community that we have continued victory