BELSHAZZAR the King of Babylon, feasting with his lords, drank with them out of the holy vessels of God’s temple, which had been despoiled by his father Nebuchadnezzar. God was publicly insulted by the greatest potentate on earth. Alas! history repeats itself. Today the holy things of God are dragged down in a thousand ways more or less to the level of man’s carnal feasting and pleasure (Dan. 5:1-41Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 3Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. (Daniel 5:1‑4)).
In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, writing mysterious words upon the wall over against the candlestick (probably the seven-branched one). No voice was heard, no form seen beyond those significant fingers: It was enough. Mighty Belshazzar saw them; his countenance was changed, his thoughts troubled him, the joints of his loins were loosed, his knees smote one against another. God knows how to abase man in the height of his pride and wickedness. The King of Babylon trembled like an aspen leaf in view of that small sign of the presence and intervention of the almighty and invisible God (vss. 5, 6).
Recovering himself, he cries aloud for the wise men of his kingdom, promising rich rewards to whomsoever could read and interpret the mysterious words upon the wall. But all of them were completely at fault, and astonishment filled the vast assembly (vers. 7-9).
At this critical moment, the queen, having heard of the king’s words, came into the banquet house and said, “O king, live forever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: there is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods... forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar; now let Daniel be called, and he will spew the interpretation” (vers. 10-12).
All this is given on the inspired page of Scripture that men may profit thereby. It is a striking foreshadowing of what is revealed in the gospel, and has a present application of the deepest moment for everyone who reads these lines.
In Christendom the holy things of God, as already remarked, have been dragged down more or less to the level of man’s carnal ways and pleasures, regardless of the infinite holiness of His nature and claims. The covetous pursuits and worship of those things which enrich—gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, stone, &c. (vs. 4), abound on all hands. And God has spoken. To Belshazzar and his lords and ladies He spoke it judgment. The hour of its execution had come. To us He speaks in wondrous love and grace, whilst forewarning, too, of judgment for all who neglect or despise the great salvation which grace brings. Has His Holy Word arrested you? Have you been brought to tremble in heart in the light of the presence of the invisible God?
Maybe you have had qualms of conscience, being rebuked as you have heard or read the pleadings of His love and grace, and the warnings of coming judgment. And what have you done? Probably turned, like Belshazzar, to the wise of this world―to some noted professor of theology, or science, or otherwise. God says He has made foolish the wisdom of this world (Isa. 44:2525That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; (Isaiah 44:25)). “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:1414But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)). The most profound thinker, the most learned theologian, the most successful scientist is utterly at fault, apart from the teaching of the Spirit of God. To all such you will most surely turn in vain. Not one can make known to you that which will give peace to your heart and rest to your conscience.
But is there no resource? Is there no one to whom you may turn? Thank God, there is. We have the key in the words of the queen, “There is a man.” She pointed Belshazzar and his lords and ladies to Daniel, the faithful prophet of God. And it is our privilege and joy, dear reader, to point you to a greater than he. “There is a Man.” Yes, truly a Man after God’s own heart; a Man who glorified Him; a Man who went into death that He might display grace through righteousness; a Man who, having borne the judgment of sin on Calvary’s cross, and accomplished the mighty work of redemption, His precious blood being shed, rose triumphant over all the enemy’s power, and sat down as victor at the right hand of God. His name is Jesus; He is God’s own Son. Now let Jesus be called, and He will show thee the interpretation. The words of the queen concerning Daniel can be employed of Jesus in the very highest sense. An excellent spirit, perfect knowledge, unsearchable understanding, are to be found in Him. He can interpret all the dreams and visions of the human mind, He can show the meaning of all the hard sentences of Scripture, He can dissolve all the doubts of the human heart. All these are found in the same Jesus. Now let Jesus be called (vers. 11:12).
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. Twice he said, “I have heard of thee,” and he promised him rich rewards if he could read and make known to him the writing on the wall. Daniel, faithful man of God, refused his favors, and bore faithful testimony before all. He vindicated God, and rebuked Belshazzar, showing him he had not sinned ignorantly, but had lifted himself up against the Lord of heaven, and not glorified God (vers. 13-23).
“Then was the part of the hand sent from him, and this writing was written: Mene, mere, tekel, upharsin.” These words signify, “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting. Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” In that night the king was slain, and Darius the Median took the kingdom.
What does Jesus, the Son of God, say to us? Though guilty, like Belshazzar, or otherwise, whatever the character of our sin may be, who amongst us has glorified God? Not one. We deserve, then, the judgment of God. Do you own this in heart before Him? It is the only way to escape it. There is boundless grace for the self-judged. This is the fruit of the work of Jesus, and His blessed testimony to all. Our days are numbered. Each one of us, weighed by the balances of God, is found wanting. At any moment the door of grace may be closed, and the execution of judgment ensue. But so long as Jesus sits at God’s right, hand, there is pardon and salvation for all. “There is a Man,” through and in whom alone what your soul needs is to be found. “Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)). What think ye of Christ? Believe on Him, in repentance towards God, and He will make clear to you what may appear to be hard sentences, and dissolve every doubt that you have harbored in your heart.
Judgment, richly deserved, overtook Belshazzar, but judgment, though equally deserved by you, will never overtake you if you believe on the Son of God, for this blessed Man bore the judgment on the cross. He it is who has said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him who sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (or judgment), but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). Precious indeed are the glad tidings of God’s grace! But no one knows how long grace may reign. Hence the importance of the present moment, and of present decision. Delays are dangerous. Death is busy on all hands. The Lord Himself may come at any moment for His own.
Hesitate, then, no longer. All here is vanity; leave it sooner or later you must. If you leave it to come into the judgment of God you had better never have been born. But by faith in the Man, who is greater than Daniel, who is still seated as Saviour at the right hand of God, His, great salvation will become yours. In the knowledge of pardon, peace with God, and reconciliation to Him, abiding joy and happiness will be your present blessed portion, the sting of death (if it come) will be gone, and eternal glory is yours at His coming again. And to follow and serve Him till He come will be your soul’s daily delight. “There is a Man.” It is Jesus.
E. H. C.