What does Daniel 5:22 mean?
True to his calling as a prophet of God, Daniel delivered God's message faithfully and fearlessly—one might even say ruthlessly. King Belshazzar summoned Daniel to explain a supernatural sign which interrupted his blasphemous, drunken party (Daniel 5:1–5). Daniel immediately dismissed the king's offer for payment (Daniel 5:17) and began describing the experience of a prior king, Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:28–33; 5:18–21).That history lesson now rises to a direct accusation: Belshazzar, a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar, knows about these events already. Yet he has learned nothing from them. Instead, he is arrogant. Belshazzar's defiance of God demonstrates how the human heart "is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:9). Despite having more than enough knowledge (Romans 1:18–20; John 5:39–40), he rejected God anyway.
Daniel will not stop there, however. He will continue to rebuke the king's blasphemy (Daniel 5:23) and explain that the sign predicts dire judgment (Daniel 5:24–28). A preacher today should strive to be as courageous as Daniel, delivering God's Word in truth and love to people as they are. The apostle Paul charged young Pastor Timothy with the responsibility to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Timothy 4:2).