Inviting Wisdom In: Daniel 5:10-16
If we don’t take the time to invite wisdom into our life, we may end up like King Belshazzar and not be able to see the writing on the wall. Nobody can predict the future. Some people have developed the ability to see the world around them clearly enough to know how things are likely to go. Some people, like Daniel, are good to have around because they are grounded in the truth.
The queen mother comes when she hears about the message written upon the wall. She reminds Belshazzar about Daniel and the amazing circumstances God created in his life. She may not give God credit for Daniel’s wisdom, but we know from where it came.
Why wasn’t Daniel brought in with the first group? Daniel proved himself superior to the Chaldean wise men, so why was he not consulted? Why wasn’t he consulted first? If you had someone who could tell your dreams and their interpretations, wouldn’t they be near the top of the list for consultation?
This story reminds us about prophets like Jeremiah, who were not particularly popular under the kings of Judah and Israel. Human beings love gossip and are drawn to the spectacular and gossip-worthy details, but when it comes to our future we only like to hear good news. Prophets like Jeremiah force people to look at themselves and see their sin and depravity. It’s not that fun to examine yourself and realize you’re not perfect. It is far more fun to have people talk about how great you are and how far you are going to go in life because of your incredible giftedness.
Daniel is the same way. Daniel wasn’t the type to grovel at the feet of the king. Daniel had no desire to be obsequious. He preferred honesty because he believed it is better to work hard and change what is broken rather than burying his head in the sand and make people feel good. I’m pretty sure Daniel was looked at as overly honest and potentially abrasive because he saw through clear eyes and not the rose-colored glasses the world prefers.
As a result, King Belshazzar doesn’t know Daniel. He knows about Daniel, but he hasn’t made a habit out of gleaning wisdom from him. He knows stories about what Daniel can do, but up until now he wasn’t particularly interested in having Daniel be a part of his life.
If we want to have a realistic perspective on life, we need to be intentional about it. We need to be willing to take off the rose-colored glasses, look at ourselves with an honest glance, and invite people in who are willing and capable of honesty. It is a difficult process, and many people don’t want to take the time to do it. If we don’t take the time to invite wisdom into our life, we may end up like King Belshazzar and not be able to see the writing on the wall.
