He knew that the Most High God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that He appoints over it whomsoever He will.
The above is Daniel (the judgment of God) speaking to Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, about what His father learned after he was humbled by the Most High God. This description of God, as the Most High, is definitive of His position as the Supreme Power of heaven, earth, and all eternity.
These kings of Babylon rule over the earth’s confusion come from the mouths of dogs ever barking in and out darkness: their ignorance, which confounds and defiles all discourse and make the world an endless wilderness. The title, from Daniel 5:21, is preceded by the word “till,” speaking of Nebuchadnezzar’s mind (heart) being like that of a beast (without intelligence) of the wilderness until he knew God as the “Most High.”
The passage tells of his son, Belshazzar, knowing this happened but yet refusing to humble himself. Therefore, per Habakkuk 3:4, the hand of God is sent to write of His reign ending and the land given to a new nation. This writing isn’t understood because he and his wise men refused to look up, for understanding from the One who sent the word, and therefore, Daniel (God’s judgment) is called to interpret.
The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon gives the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar as “”may Nebo protect the crown,” and Belshazzar as “Bel protect the king.” These two (Nebo and Bel, meaning prophet and lord) are idols put in God’s place, as protectors and “most high.”
In a deeper deconstructing of these king’s names, we find they are the cause (their pride and misleading) of the confusion (Babylon) that rules over the world as the shadow (darkness and ignorance) of death.
Nebuchadnezzar is from the Hebrew words naba, meaning prophesy; kdab (kedab), (Chaldee) meaning false (“lying”); and natsar, meaning to conceal (hide to protect). It is speaking of the lies of false prophets mixed among us, which now rule over the world, and caused the desolation of God’s people and it (the world).
Belshazzar is from the Hebrew words bal, meaning a failure; and a derivative of the word shazaph, meaning “to tan (by sun-burning [turned dark by the church]); figuratively (as if by a piercing ray) to scan:–look up, see.” It is the failure to look up, to the Most High God, from who comes the only true “interpretation” (ptsar).
This latter word (shazaph) is associated with (referring us to) the word shezab, (Chaldee) meaning ” to leave, i.e. (causatively) free:–deliver;” and the Hebrew words, shazar, meaning “to twist (a thread of straw):– twine;” and sha’ar, meaning “to split or open, i.e. (literally, but only as denominative from 8179 [opening a door or gate {the gates into death and hell}] to act as gate-keeper (see 7778): (figuratively) to estimate:–think [as in its only use, Proverbs 23:7, speaking of these king’s words].”
Proverbs 23
1 When you sits to eat with a ruler [these kings], consider diligently what is before you [because in their ways and ideas are death]:
2 And put a knife to your throat, if you be a man given to appetite.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
4 Labor not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom.
5 Will you set your eyes upon that which is not [is worthless]? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
6 Eat you not the bread of him that has an evil [misleader’s] eye, neither desire you his dainty [deceitful] meats:
7 For as he thinks [sha’ar] in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to you; but his heart is not with you [he is an enemy at war with God’s good and sound mind].
8 The morsel which you have eaten shall you vomit up, and lose your sweet words [lose your understanding].
9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Remove not the old landmark [the ways and ideas of the Ancient of days]; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless [because the LORD of hosts is their avenger and protector]:
11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with you.
12 Apply your heart unto [the LORD’s] instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if you beat him with the rod [of these words of correction], he shall not die.
14 You shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from hell.
15 My son, if your heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when your lips speak right things.
17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
18 For surely there is an end; and your expectation shall not be cut off.
19 Hear you, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart in the way [derek].
The word shazar only appears in Exodus, and speaks of the curtains and veils in the temple made of “fine twined linen.” Shazaph appears three times, all describing what these curtains and veil depict, what men see when they fail to look up.
Job 20
… The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds [though he thinks he understands];
7 Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
8 He [those who will not remain] shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
9 The eye also which saw him [shazaph – looked to him for understanding] shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
Job 28
3 He [the Most High God] sets an end to darkness [ignorance], and searches out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4 The flood breaks out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it has dust of gold.
7 There is a path which no fowl knows, and which the vulture’s eye has not seen [shazaph – who’s vision has failed because they haven’t looked up]:
8 The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9 He [the Most High God] puts forth his hand upon the rock; he overturns the mountains by the roots [these corrupt governments of church and state – see Matthew 21:21].
10 He cuts out rivers among the rocks; and his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He binds the floods [the words of the wicked] from overflowing; and the thing that is hid [by the lies of the false prophets] brings He [the Most High God] forth to light [understanding].
12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? [It is with the wise king who is, by it, raised {as Daniel} by the Most High God]
Song of Solomon 1
4 Draw me, we will run after you: the king has brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in you, we will remember your love more than wine: the upright love you.
5 I am black [my body has become ignorant], but comely, O you daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar [houses of darkness – churches of ignorance], as the curtains of Solomon [covering wisdom].
6 Look not upon me, because I am black [covered in ignorance], because the sun has looked [shazaph – because the church failed to look up, to the Most High God for understanding that only comes from Him] upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me [wisdom] the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept [they, my mother’s children, have no wisdom].
7 Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, where you feed, where you make your flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turns aside by the flocks of your companions [why do you reject my presence]?
8 If you know not [that I Am that I Am], O you fairest among women, go your way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed your kids beside the [let them return to the good] shepherds’ tents.
The LORD, in Isaiah 46:1, speaks of these idols (Nebo and Bel) who His people trust, who’ve become the burdens they bear, who are now bowed down with them, unable to deliver, and in captivity.
Isaiah 46
1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb [the children the LORD has given me]:
4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
5 To whom will you liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he makes it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he stands; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
8 Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O you transgressors.
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man [Cyrus – the LORD of the furnace, the messenger of the covenant, God’s chosen king and priest in the order of Melchizedek] that executes my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
12 Hearken unto me, you stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
Isaiah 45
1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus [the LORD in the furnace], whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates [out of hell and into New Jerusalem]; and the gates shall not be shut [Revelation 21: 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there];
2 I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron [holding all the world in darkness and hell]:
3 And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you mayest know that I, the LORD, which call you by your name, am the God of Israel.
4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called you by your name: I have surnamed you, though you have not known me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded you [prepared you with the understanding needed], though you have not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
7 I form the light [understanding], and create darkness [and without me there is ignorance]: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
8 Drop down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
9 Woe unto him that strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioned it, What make you? or your work, He has no hands?
10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begot you? or to the woman, What have you brought forth?
11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command you me.
12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
14 Thus saith the LORD, The labor of Egypt [the oppressed], and merchandise of Ethiopia [those covered in ignorance] and of the Sabeans [drunken, whose minds were confused by deceptions], men of stature, shall come over unto you, and they shall be yours: they shall come after you; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto you, they shall make supplication unto you, saying, Surely God is in you; and there is none else, there is no God.
15 Truly you are a God that hides yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior.
16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: you shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he has established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek you me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together [into My ONE BODY], you that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
21 Tell you, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who has declared this from ancient time? who has told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.
22 Look unto me, and be you saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Daniel 5
9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
10 Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spoke and said, O king, live forever: let not your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance be changed:
11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar [the LORD of the straitened’s treasure]: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.
13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Are you that Daniel, which are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
14 I have even heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in you.
15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not show the interpretation of the thing:
16 And I have heard of you, that you can make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if you can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, you shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
18 O you king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor:
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; and whom he would he put down.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the Most High God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointed over it whomsoever he will.
22 And you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this;
23 But have lifted up yourself against the LORD of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you, and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine in them; and you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, have you not glorified:
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.
26 This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it.
27 Tekel; You are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
28 Peres; Your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
Psalms 81
1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder: I proved you at the waters of Meribah [strife]. Selah.
8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto you: O Israel, if you will hearken unto me;
9 There shall no strange god be in you; neither shall you worship any strange god.
10 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt: open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured forever.
16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied you.
