Dan. 5
A rich king of Babylon Belshazzar gave a fine feast in his big palace for a thousand noblemen and women of his kingdom. He thought of the gold and silver dishes which had been brought from the Temple of God in Jeralem, and put in the idols’ temple, and he ordered those to be brought and filled with wine. Then he and his guests drank from those dishes and praised their idols. This king knew of the true God, but did not want to honor Him.
That evening while the big company were eating and drinking and praising their idols, suddenly, the king saw a hand writing words on the wall above him; there was no person, only the Fingers of a hand writing. The king was so frighned at the strange sight, that his knees trembled. The light of the lamps shone on the words, and they were very plain, but no one in the big company could read them. The king sent for the wise men, astrologers, and magicians, but they could not read the words or tell the meaning. The writing stayed on the wall, and the king was greatly worried.
The queen mother was not at the feast, but was told of the writing, and of the king’s fear, and came to the room. She told the king that there was a man, wiser than any other, whose name was Daniel, and she was certain that he could explain the writing.
The king sent at once for Daniel; told him that if he could tell the meaning of the words, he should have gifts, and be made a ruler. Daniel said he did not want any reward, but he would explain the writing. Daniel then read the strange words,
“Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.”
He said the word, “Mene” meant that God had numbered (condemned) the kingdom and ended it: that word was written twice, so was urgent, the time had already come.
The word “Tekel” meant, “Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting.”
The word “Upharsin” meant divided, and Daniel said the great power, Babylon, had been divided between the Medes and Persians.
So the writing on the wall was a sad one for the king; he had ruled over all nions, now he was to lose his crown and riches, and other kings would have them. Daniel told the king that he should have honored the living God of heaven: he said,
“Thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold, and of brass, iron, wood and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.”
If the king had believed God, He would not have written the words, “Thou art found wanting.”
That very night all the words on the wail were proven true; while the king and his men drank, the armies of the Medes and Persians made a way into the city, and killed the king and many others, but Daniel was not hurt.
May we believe what God has said to us.
ML 07/19/1942