The Writing’s On The Wall

Scripture Reading: Daniel 5:5-8

God’s hand appeared and wrote on the wall. What was God’s message to King Belshazzar? Does God still communicate to us today the same way He has in the past? Messages from God are all around us, dreams, visions, in scripture, through others, and the list goes on. The question for tonight is what do you do when God “speaks” to you?

The Message To Belshazzar:

Dan 5:25-28 "This is the inscription that was written: [Mene], [Mene], [Tekel], [Parsin] "This is what these words mean: [Mene] : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. [Tekel] : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. [Peres] Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

This was a warning from the hand of God, written before their very eyes. Belshazzar was the son of King Nebuchadnezzar. We all remember that King Nebuchadnezzar was a ruthless King, a King who refused to submit to the authority of God. Instead he chose to worship false gods of silver, gold and bronze.

God had put Nebuchadnezzar into power: Vs. 18 "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.

Vs. 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.

The position of power went to King Nebuchadnezzar’s head. Something that power does to most people. Remember, with power comes responsibility, if we allow God to guide us and direct our decisions we will prevail. If we do not allow God’s will He will take action.

Vs. 20-21 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes.

King Nebuchadnezzar was “given the mind of and animal” and “deposed from his thrown”, he was forced to roam in the wild like an animal until he “acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes.”. It is not by our own actions that we become leaders or people of power, it is by the hand of God. We need to always keep that in the back of our minds, God is in control of everything. We need to rely on God’s grace.

Vs. 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father--your father the king, I say--appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.

King Nebuchadnezzar knew Daniel was a man of God. He called upon Daniel often to interrupt his dreams. Did he really believe in God or did he think Daniel had the “knowledge of gods”. Daniel was appointed “chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.”. King Nebuchadnezzar did not know our God, our Lord. His son Belshazzar followed in his foot steps as well.

Vs. 2-4 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

Belshazzar was just like his father, ruthless and cruel. He did not know God nor did he allow God to guide and direct him. Even after witnessing his fathers exile into the wilderness he still didn't get it.

Vs. 22 "But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.

Vs. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.

Belshazzar chose to live in this world and be part of this world. He chose to ignore the God of all creation and to defile what God had put in place. Even after what he had witnessed in his fathers life he still let power go to his head.

What was the writing on the wall? What did it mean? What is the message we should get from this chapter?

Vs. 26-31 "This is what these words mean: [Mene] : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel] : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. [Peres] : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.

God is in control. When we get discouraged that evil men are getting their ways be assured that God is aware. I always go to Psalm 37: 7-11 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” Read the writing on the wall, God wishes for us to be at peace, keep your faith that He is in control and He will deliver you through any adversity that you may be going through.