Have you ever ignored the subtle warnings in your life, only to later face the consequences of neglecting them?
In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar witnesses a supernatural warning that reveals a powerful lesson: pride, arrogance, and disregard for God lead to downfall.
Key Verse: “But you, Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven.” – Daniel 5:22-23 (NIV)
Background Context: Daniel 5 tells the dramatic story of King Belshazzar’s feast, during which he defied God by using sacred temple vessels for a pagan celebration. In the midst of this revelry, a mysterious hand appears, writing a message on the wall. No one could interpret the writing except for Daniel, who reveals its meaning: Belshazzar’s pride and failure to honor God have led to the kingdom’s imminent judgment. The chapter serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of arrogance, the consequences of defying God, and the importance of living with reverence for Him.
(Summarized and continued after scripture)
Belshazzar’s Feast
1Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. 2When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. 3Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. 4They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
5Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. 6Then the king’s face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints went slack and his knees began knocking together. 7The king called aloud to bring in the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom.” 8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or make known its interpretation to the king. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, his face grew even paler, and his nobles were perplexed.
10The queen entered the banquet hall because of the words of the king and his nobles; the queen spoke and said, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts alarm you or your face be pale. 11“There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans and diviners. 12“This was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation.”
Daniel Interprets Handwriting on the Wall
13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 14“Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15“Just now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not declare the interpretation of the message. 16“But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the inscription and make its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.”
17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18“O king, the Most High God granted sovereignty, grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father. 19“Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every language feared and trembled before him; whomever he wished he killed and whomever he wished he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated and whomever he wished he humbled. 20“But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. 21“He was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. 22“Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, 23but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not glorified. 24“Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.
25“Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.’ 26“This is the interpretation of the message: ‘MENE’—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. 27“ ‘TEKEL’—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28“ ‘PERES’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”
29Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.
30That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain. 31So Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.
Reflection on Daniel 5:
- Belshazzar’s Arrogance: The chapter opens with King Belshazzar hosting a grand feast, during which he arrogantly uses the sacred vessels from the temple in Jerusalem to drink wine and praise false gods (Daniel 5:1-4). This act of blatant disrespect demonstrates Belshazzar’s disregard for God’s holiness and sovereignty. Like his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar exhibits pride that blinds him to the reality of God’s power.
- The Writing on the Wall: In the middle of the feast, a hand appears and writes a cryptic message on the wall: “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin” (Daniel 5:5, 25). The king is terrified and calls for all his wise men to interpret the writing, but they are unable to do so (Daniel 5:6-8). This supernatural event reveals God’s judgment, reminding us that God sees all and will not be mocked. The appearance of the hand and the message on the wall signify that God’s patience has run out and the time of reckoning has come.
- Daniel’s Bold Interpretation: When Daniel is called to interpret the writing, he does not mince words. He recounts how God humbled Nebuchadnezzar for his pride and lack of reverence, but despite knowing this history, Belshazzar failed to humble himself before God (Daniel 5:18-23). The message on the wall—”Mene” meaning that God has numbered Belshazzar’s days, “Tekel” meaning that he has been weighed and found wanting, and “Parsin” meaning that his kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians—pronounces the judgment that Belshazzar’s reign will soon end (Daniel 5:26-28). Daniel’s boldness in speaking truth to power reminds us that God’s servants must stand for righteousness, even in difficult circumstances.
- Immediate Consequences: That very night, Belshazzar is killed, and his kingdom is taken over by Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:30-31). The swift and decisive nature of God’s judgment illustrates that there are real and immediate consequences for pride, arrogance, and rebellion against God. Belshazzar’s fate serves as a warning to all of us to take God’s holiness and commands seriously.
Summary Key Points:
- The Danger of Pride: Belshazzar’s downfall was rooted in his arrogance and failure to honor God. Pride blinds us to our need for God and leads to destructive consequences.
- God’s Sovereignty and Judgment: The appearance of the hand writing on the wall demonstrates God’s sovereign power to judge those who defy Him. He sees all and will hold us accountable for our actions.
- Heeding God’s Warnings: Belshazzar knew the history of Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling but ignored the lesson. We must heed God’s warnings and learn from the past to avoid making the same mistakes.
- Standing for Truth: Daniel’s faithfulness in delivering God’s message, even when it was difficult, encourages us to boldly stand for truth, regardless of the circumstances.
Application: Reflect on areas in your life where pride or arrogance may have crept in. Are you ignoring any warnings from God, whether through His Word, His Spirit, or circumstances? Take this time to humble yourself before God, confessing any areas of disobedience or self-reliance. Remember that God is sovereign, and He calls us to live in reverence and submission to His authority. Like Daniel, commit to standing for truth and righteousness, even when it is difficult.
Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come before You humbly, acknowledging that You are sovereign over all things. Help us to recognize the dangers of pride and to live with reverence for Your holiness. Give us the courage to heed Your warnings and to respond with humility and repentance. Strengthen us to stand boldly for truth, just as Daniel did, even when it’s hard. We trust in Your wisdom and justice, knowing that You see all and will hold us accountable. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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