[:en]SCRIPTURE: DANIEL 5
“This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means” (Daniel 5:12)
“But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inception. This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. This is what these words mean” MENE: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. TELE: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. PERES: Your kingdom is divided and given to the medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:22-28)
THE WRITING ON THE WALL
After King Nebuchadnezzar died, his son Belshazzar took over as king of Babylon. He gave a great banquet and invited a thousand of his nobles. He used the gold goblets taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem to drink wine and praise the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. Suddenly a hand appeared and wrote on the wall “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PERSIN”. The king was frightened and called out the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to read the writing. But all could not read. The queen remembered Daniel having interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar, so she suggested the king to call Daniel. So Daniel was brought before the king. He read the inscription as follows: MENE : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. TELE: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. PERES: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. That very night, Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.
LESSON:
In Noah’s day, judgment came when people least expected. When Belshazzar was on the throne, he was slain the very night he gave a great banquet for his nobles. So, beware! Don’t be proud and feel so confident because God’s judgment can come anytime.[:]