THERE was a sound of wild revelry in the banqueting house-of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, the night he made a feast for a thousand nobles of his realm.
What gorgeous splendor must have been displayed in that hall. The guests were dressed in garments of the richest Eastern shades, adorned with wonderful embroideries and costly jewels, the flowing folds of their robes adding grace and dignity to the wearers.
The sparkling wine had brought a flush to their faces, and a brighter gleam to their eyes. The sound of revelry rose higher and higher whilst they extolled the senseless images of wood and stone which they worshipped as gods.
To do honor to these the impious king commanded his servants to bring the sacred cups of gold and silver which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from the temple of God in Jerusalem. With fearful profanity these heathen feasters drank wine out of the consecrated vessels, and triumphantly flaunted the praises of their gods.
But whilst the revelry was at its height, the whole scene was suddenly changed.
A deathlike stillness fell upon the guests, and deepest consternation overspread each countenance, as every eye was turned to a spot on the wall, where, over against the candlestick, appeared the fingers of a man’s hand, slowly tracing mysterious characters upon the plaster.
The king, ashy pale and trembling with fear, sent in haste for his astrologers and soothsayers, to tell him what this terrifying omen foreboded. A magnificent reward was offered to the man who could interpret the characters inscribed upon the wall.
But, with all their magical arts, none of the Chaldean could even decipher the writing.
Then the queen remembered Daniel, a man in whom was the wisdom of God. He was brought before Belshazzar, and by divine inspiration declared the vision.
He told the king that the fingers were sent from God, the Lord of Heaven, against whom he had exalted himself, but in whose hand his life was. This was God’s message to him: ―
“MENE: God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it.
“TEKEL: Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
“PERES: Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
That night the Persians entered the city through an unguarded gate. Belshazzar was slain, and the kingdom was taken by Darius the Mede. God had required that Belshazzar should humble himself before Him. This he refused to do, and had ignored God’s claims upon him. Thus he entered eternity stamped with those significant words, “FOUND WANTING.”
Unsaved reader, if God were now to weigh thee in His scales of equity, upon all the years of thy life would be stamped the same sentence, “Found Wanting.”
God as Creator rightly requires of man a lifetime of obedience, but this man has failed to render. Does this solemn fact cause thee no anxiety? Canst thou offer anything to God to atone for thy failure to meet His demands?
As God is righteous, it is evident that none “found wanting” can be admitted into heaven to stand in His presence. Art thou conscious that thou hast sinned and come short of the glory of God? and dolt thou inquire— “What must I do to be saved?” Then I have good tidings for thee. God has found a ransom. Christ died, the Just for the unjust. Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, God can remit thy sins and bring thee into favor.
Turn then to Christ. He is able to cleanse thy soul from all its guilt.
Christ shall be made unto thee wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, and thou shalt stand complete in Him.
But turn to Christ now, lest, like Belshazzar, thy days, nay thy very hours already numbered, thou slip from time into eternity “FOUND WANTING.”
L. M. B.
WE can only effectually serve Christ as we are enjoying Him. It is while the heart dwells upon His powerful attractions that the hands perform the most acceptable service to His name; nor is there anyone who can minister Christ with unction, freshness, and power to others, if He be not feeding upon Christ in the secret of his own soul.
C. H. M.