2 Kings 25:27-30; Jeremiah 52:31-34; Isaiah 13:1-14:23; Isaiah 21:1-17; Isaiah 33 – 35; Daniel 5

From the accounts of royal courtesy paid from a king toward his vassal to more prophecies of the fall of even the great kingdom of Babylon, the believer sees the mighty hand of God in world affairs. Like a wave rolling through time, the plan of Yahweh moves ever forward. Like the prophecies in the book of Revelation foretelling the fall of Rome, the fall of Babylon during its heyday seem ridiculous to those who were there. Christians living in Asia Minor in the late first century were as dubious that anything could bring down the Roman Empire as the Hebrews living in Babylon were concerning its fall. Yet, God said it would happen.

Enter Daniel. Like Joseph many centuries before, the hand of Yahweh guided him through a sojourn in a foreign land that included false accusations, imprisonment and great honor. Though they had not met before, the king (actually he was a regent serving while his father was “away”) knew who he was. Also like Joseph, God gave Daniel the ability to interpret dreams and visions. When a giant hand appeared at the kings feast and wrote strange words on the wall, none of the Babylonian wise men could interpret. Daniel was called.

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Daniel 5:13-16

Refusing and reward for using the gift God gave him, Daniel made certain to point out the hand of God in Belshazzar’s career. Sometimes it’s hard for a king to consider these things. Before the interpretation could be given, the foundation must be laid.

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.

Daniel 5:17-23

Although he was Babylonian royalty with power on earth beyond compare, Belshazzar was faced with the same reality as the humblest Hebrew. Having seen the hand of Yahweh Elohim Shaddai and the mighty works He has done, everyone must choose. In the face of who Yahweh is, will I humble myself before Him? The prince and the pauper will each stand before the judgment seat of God and answer for this choice. Belshazzar ruled as a king, but he was just a man. And now he sees the handwriting on the wall.

“MENE” – God has numbered your kingdom and finished it. The modern father says (hopefully in jest) “I brought you into this world and I can take you out”. The heavenly Father makes certain who is really the King of kings. Yahweh gave him a time to reign and the time is up. Belshazzar has no choice. The time appointed for your reign has ended. The very next day, Darius the Mede ruled the land and the Persian Empire consumed the Babylonian Empire.

“TEKEL” – You have been weighed in the balances and for wanting. Above all else, the judgment of God is just. There is no heavy finger on the scales either way. He takes the measure of a man accurately. He knew Belshazzar’s heart and he saw his life. He came up light. Like a merchant in the marketplace caught ripping off his customers, Belshazzar was busted. The scales of God’s justice are perfectly in balance.

“UPHARSIN” – Your kingdom is split up and given to the Medo-Persians. The hand of God truly is sovereign over the affairs of men, from the lowly to the powerful. The page of history turned, and the next world power took the stage. Daniel had seen this in the dream of the giant statue with the head of gold, chest of silver, thighs of bronze and feet of iron and clay.

The golden head passed into history and the silver chest now took its place. Two more pages would turn before Messiah comes – in the fullness of time.

Now, another page has turned and we are in “the last days”, the days of the Kingdom of God and the reign of King Jesus. “MENE” – we all have been granted a number of days to “reign” and must chose to deny self and exalt Jesus or deny Jesus and exalt self. “TEKEL” – we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, having been accurately weighed in the balances. all are found to be light, but the blood of Christ can tip the scales. “UPHARSIN” – our reign must end, and the reign of Christ and His kingdom must overcome us as we bend the knee now or at the judgment. It’s our call.

The handwriting is on the wall.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!