Have you ever heard someone say: “This is not good! I see the ‘writing on the wall’!” “Don’t blame me, I’m just the messenger!” and “Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall!” Did you know these sayings originated in the Old Testament? Daniel is a powerful book of prophecy and Chapter 5 gives us an in-depth look at what happens to humble people of faith and prideful people who lack faith. Daniel fears the Lord as he knows God’s majesty, power, and justice and Daniel sees himself as a humble servant of the Lord. Belshazzar also knows the power of God, has seen the power of God work in other’s lives, but still does not fear the Lord God due to his own pride. Like Daniel, Christians know there is no fear in telling the truth - God always approves of truth. For people like Belshazzar who lack faith, are prideful and challenge God, the scriptures give chilling insight into what can happen. These verses represent blessings for believers and warnings for unbelievers.
Is Belshazzar’s experience different from many people today? Belshazzar knew the power of God. He knew from his predecessor (Nebuchadnezzar) that God had humbled powerful earthly kings. Today, many people fail to acknowledge the Lord God and if they remain unrepentant, God will eventually bring judgment upon them just as He did on Belshazzar. This is the last thing God wants. The Bible tells us that God is patient in His final judgment of mankind because He is giving all time to come to Him before He sends Jesus back to rapture His people. God does not want to condemn anyone! Belshazzar’s actions were those of a prideful man. How does God feel about prideful people? The Bible is clear: “The Lord despises pride; be assured that the proud will be punished (Proverbs 16:5).
The ‘writing on the wall’ serves to show that Daniel’s faithfulness, humility and desire to do right gave him the courage to tell the truth. During Daniel’s time, the messenger of bad news was often killed. If you were a king in Daniel’s time, you could have the messenger put to death if he brought bad news. But Daniel did not fear as he knew the Lord would be with him. We are encouraged by Daniel’s actions because the same God who watched over Daniel watches over us! The truth is not always popular or well received. Telling the truth, while knowing there could be punishment, takes courage.
Conversely, Belshazzar although he knew God and knew God’s power, he chose to desecrate items taken from the Temple by drinking from them. Belshazzar’s pride caused him to openly defy and challenge God. His pride led to his praising the gods of silver and gold all the while knowing the power of God! God responded by sending the mystery hand to write on the wall. Is God sending you messages that are being ignored? Are you living a life that is displeasing to God – and you know it – but you continue to challenge God through your language, actions, pride, and thoughts? How many times has God spoken to your heart through a guilty conscience but you ignored it? Belshazzar realized he had made a major mistake and was so afraid when the hand appeared that his knees were knocking together! But it was too late. As written in Proverbs, the proud will be punished. None of Belshazzar’s magicians could read what the mysterious hand had written on the wall! When the queen mother heard all the uproar, she told Belshazzar to call Daniel to interpret the writing! Daniel told Belshazzar that his days were numbered, he had been judged and found to fall short, and that his kingdom would be divided up and others would take it. That night, Belshazzar was killed and Darius the Mede took over! Daniel’s words were true and accurate!
The ‘writing is on the wall’ for all of us. God sent Jesus to die for the world. Jesus said in John 14:6 that He was the way, the truth and the life and that no man came to the Father but through Him. That’s pretty clear. The ‘writing is on the wall’. We can choose to be like Belshazzar and rebel against God and suffer the consequences or we can choose to be like Daniel and clearly see what God is telling us. Sadly many people believe that they, themselves, can be ‘good enough’ through doing works or rituals etc. to spend eternity with God without acceptance of Jesus. My friends, this is pride in oneself. We humble ourselves before God and admit that we cannot reach Him without a redeemer. Without Jesus, we will be judged as ‘having fallen short’ just as God judged Belshazzar. Only Jesus can intercede for us with God. Who will you be like: Daniel, the humble servant who looked to the Lord for his salvation, or Belshazzar, a prideful person who believed only in himself?
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
Have you ever heard someone say: “This is not good! I see the ‘writing on the wall’!” “Don’t blame me, I’m just the messenger!” and “Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall!” Did you know these sayings originated in the Old Testament? Daniel is a powerful book of prophecy and Chapter 5 gives us an in-depth look at what happens to humble people of faith and prideful people who lack faith. Daniel fears the Lord as he knows God’s majesty, power, and justice and Daniel sees himself as a humble servant of the Lord. Belshazzar also knows the power of God, has seen the power of God work in other’s lives, but still does not fear the Lord God due to his own pride. Like Daniel, Christians know there is no fear in telling the truth - God always approves of truth. For people like Belshazzar who lack faith, are prideful and challenge God, the scriptures give chilling insight into what can happen. These verses represent blessings for believers and warnings for unbelievers.
Is Belshazzar’s experience different from many people today? Belshazzar knew the power of God. He knew from his predecessor (Nebuchadnezzar) that God had humbled powerful earthly kings. Today, many people fail to acknowledge the Lord God and if they remain unrepentant, God will eventually bring judgment upon them just as He did on Belshazzar. This is the last thing God wants. The Bible tells us that God is patient in His final judgment of mankind because He is giving all time to come to Him before He sends Jesus back to rapture His people. God does not want to condemn anyone! Belshazzar’s actions were those of a prideful man. How does God feel about prideful people? The Bible is clear: “The Lord despises pride; be assured that the proud will be punished (Proverbs 16:5).
The ‘writing on the wall’ serves to show that Daniel’s faithfulness, humility and desire to do right gave him the courage to tell the truth. During Daniel’s time, the messenger of bad news was often killed. If you were a king in Daniel’s time, you could have the messenger put to death if he brought bad news. But Daniel did not fear as he knew the Lord would be with him. We are encouraged by Daniel’s actions because the same God who watched over Daniel watches over us! The truth is not always popular or well received. Telling the truth, while knowing there could be punishment, takes courage.
Conversely, Belshazzar although he knew God and knew God’s power, he chose to desecrate items taken from the Temple by drinking from them. Belshazzar’s pride caused him to openly defy and challenge God. His pride led to his praising the gods of silver and gold all the while knowing the power of God! God responded by sending the mystery hand to write on the wall. Is God sending you messages that are being ignored? Are you living a life that is displeasing to God – and you know it – but you continue to challenge God through your language, actions, pride, and thoughts? How many times has God spoken to your heart through a guilty conscience but you ignored it? Belshazzar realized he had made a major mistake and was so afraid when the hand appeared that his knees were knocking together! But it was too late. As written in Proverbs, the proud will be punished. None of Belshazzar’s magicians could read what the mysterious hand had written on the wall! When the queen mother heard all the uproar, she told Belshazzar to call Daniel to interpret the writing! Daniel told Belshazzar that his days were numbered, he had been judged and found to fall short, and that his kingdom would be divided up and others would take it. That night, Belshazzar was killed and Darius the Mede took over! Daniel’s words were true and accurate!
The ‘writing is on the wall’ for all of us. God sent Jesus to die for the world. Jesus said in John 14:6 that He was the way, the truth and the life and that no man came to the Father but through Him. That’s pretty clear. The ‘writing is on the wall’. We can choose to be like Belshazzar and rebel against God and suffer the consequences or we can choose to be like Daniel and clearly see what God is telling us. Sadly many people believe that they, themselves, can be ‘good enough’ through doing works or rituals etc. to spend eternity with God without acceptance of Jesus. My friends, this is pride in oneself. We humble ourselves before God and admit that we cannot reach Him without a redeemer. Without Jesus, we will be judged as ‘having fallen short’ just as God judged Belshazzar. Only Jesus can intercede for us with God. Who will you be like: Daniel, the humble servant who looked to the Lord for his salvation, or Belshazzar, a prideful person who believed only in himself?