Daniel brought God’s message to Belshazzar. He has given the explanation of the writing on the wall. It may appear as if Belshazzar responds to it in faith. We do know that he honours Daniel. Daniel gets everything that Belshazzar had promised. Yet we would be mistaken to think that the king has truly come to his senses. In reality, he believes none of the words Daniel has spoken. He cares nothing for God’s message to him. The appointment of Daniel—after the message he received from God—as the third person in his kingdom shows just that. It shows that Belshazzar thinks his kingdom will last. From other sources that describe Belshazzar’s history we know that he continued to feast until the Medes and Persians entered the banquet hall. Belshazzar did not bow down before God. He did not take refuge in the Lord. He continued to feast. It seems that putting the gold chain on Daniel, giving him a purple robe, and appointing him as the third in his kingdom was more of a mockery than a reward. It only served to add to the gaiety. Even now Belshazzar wants to laugh and party away the words of God.
29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.