Learning the lessons of history

I have got to do some teaching on Daniel 5 tomorrow for a group who are attending a course called getting to grips with the Bible. It is an amazing passage of contrasts between the living active God and idols, between a wise queen and a foolish king, among others.

But the thing that has really struck me is the failure of Belshazzar to learn the lessons of history. As Daniel explains the writing on the wall in verse 18 he begins by emphasizing the sovereignty of the very one that Belshazzar began the evening mocking. Daniel then gives (18-21) a history lesson on the life of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar's ancestor. But the emphasis is on God not Nebuchadnezzar: “the most high gave…he gave him…he was deposed…he was driven…until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign…” The lesson of Nebuchadnezzar's life that he finally acknowledge was that God rules not Nebuchadnezzar.

And then Daniel turns to Belshazzar who is held accountable; (22-23) the accusations begin “But you…” highlighting another contract between Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. There follows the charge sheet against Belshazzar the repeated use of “you…” emphasizes the personal nature of the accusations God has against Belshazzar.

It is a sobering thought and as Hegel said “the only thing we learn from history is that we have learned nothing from history” That is an apt summary of Belshazzar, but as I have read I wonder if it us too. Have I learnt the lessons from my own history, that God saves and works all things for our good? Has the church learnt the lessons from history?