An Expositional Sermon
At the end of chapter 4 we saw the repentance of Nebuchadnezzar. Chapters 1-4 describe the events that took place for over 40 years that God used to drive Nebuchadnezzar to repentance. God is always up to more than we can see. God was punishing the Jews for turning away from Him. God warned them, but their hearts were hardened and they were exiled to Babylon. The exile is a picture of God’s judgment. But, it’s also a picture of God’s grace to the nations. Even as the Jews were turning to sin, there was a remnant, some who still trusted in God. The book of Daniel is a picture of how God is using that remnant of faith to bring the knowledge of Himself to the nations. Beware of thinking we have an exhaustive view of all of our circumstances. God is always up to more than we can see. So now, 23 years after the end of chapter 4 we come to Belshazzar. It’s been about 70 years since Daniel had been taken into captivity.