Around twenty years after King Nebuchadnezzar had been restored to his throne in Babylon, the king died, and new leadership was put in his place. Nebuchadnezzar’s “son” (actually grandson) Belshazzar was now reigning as co-regent, and he presided over the governance of the nation from the palace. He enjoyed lavish drinking parties, and no expense was spared in the pursuit of revelry.
1 Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. Daniel 5:1 (NASB)
A party atmosphere had permeated the city and its officials. But outside city walls, danger lie in wait. Darius the Mede, a sub-king of King Cyrus, unifier of Medo-Persia, had his armies encamped there. He was looking for a way to breech Babylon’s defenses to add to their empire’s list of conquests. The festive crowd in the party either did not know, or, in their inebriated state, did not care about the imminent threat just outside the city.
The young co-regent added to his troubles by taunting Almighty God, desecrating holy articles that had been plundered years earlier from the Lord’s temple, in Jerusalem.
2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines could drink out of them. 3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank out of them. 4 They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Daniel 5:2-4 (NASB)
King Nebuchadnezzar had had a change of heart, developing a sincere faith in God in the years since he had stolen the articles. God forgave him for his ignorant act. But faith in and respect for the Lord was not passed down to Belshazzar – in fact, quite the opposite. And tonight, without the favor of the Lord, all hell would break loose in Babylon, beginning with an uninvited guest at the king’s party.
5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. 6 Then the king’s face became pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints loosened and his knees began knocking together. Daniel 5:5-6 (NASB)
Have you ever been so frightened that you realized your knees were actually knocking together? I have. The appearance of this frightful, disembodied hand that began to write had this profound effect on the young co-regent. Whatever or whoever this was writing on the wall was as perplexing as it was terrifying. Furthermore, no one could comprehend the written words’ meaning.
8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were perplexed. Daniel 5:8-9 (NASB)
Finally, a queen in the palace remembered the prophet Daniel, and how he had previously been able to decipher such divine mysteries.
11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—appointed him chief of the soothsayer priests, sorcerers, Chaldeans, and diviners. 12 This was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of riddles, and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation.” Daniel 5:11-12 (NASB)
The writing was now on the wall for Babylon and for its failed leadership. It was about to be judged by God for all the pain and hardship it had inflicted on His people, the exiles from Judah. Daniel would now be brought in to explain all to Belshazzar and his court. In it, would be a warning to all who mock the worship of the Lord.
23 … the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Daniel 5:23b (NKJV)
Daniel’s message will remind us that, when we fail to give God glory for what He has done for us, even for giving us the very breath of life in our lungs, we are not being pleasing to Him.
If anyone, like Belshazzar, adds sacrilegious behavior and taunting of the Lord, they are putting themselves in a very dangerous position. But God will forgive even this if they “see the writing on the wall”, come to their senses, turn away from evil behavior, and humbly seek His face.
Reflection
Where am I falling short in honoring the Lord?
Father God, forgive us for all the times we have failed to give honor to You. Help us to acknowledge You in all of our ways so that You may intercede to make our paths straight. We turn to the cross for forgiveness and a new life in Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 (NKJV)
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 