The Writing on the Wall

The Book of Daniel
Chapter 5

The Writing on the Wall Bible Prophecy
The Hand Writing on the Wall

Glad to have you back with us once again for another story at Daily Bread Bible Study. Where does the saying "Read the writing on the wall," come from? Well, perhaps it's from this Bible story.

The kingdom of Babylon was passed down to Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar's son. One day Belshazzar was partying with his friends, worshiping strange gods and drinking wine. He had an idea to impress them by serving his guests with God's vessels that his dad stole from the temple in Jerusalem. You could think of those vessels as God's good china.

God, on the other hand, didn't think this was such a hot idea, being that they were worshiping other gods and all. So in that same hour the fingers of a man's hand (God's) wrote a message on the wall of the king's palace where they were having their good old time.

The Writing on the Wall Bible Mystery
The Hand Writing on the Wall Warning

Understandably, when Belshazzar saw this, he was so shaken that his knees were knocking. He called for all the fortune tellers, stargazers and scholars of Babylon and offered a reward to whoever could discern the message. But, nobody could. So he called in his personal group of "wise" men but they couldn't tell him what it meant either. Then his wife said, don't worry, there's this guy named Daniel who has the Spirit, wisdom, light and understanding of God, he can tell you what it means. He did the same thing for Nebuchadnezzar.

They brought in Daniel and the king offered him great gifts to interpret the writing. Daniel said, keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. (See, Daniel knew that the credit always goes to God for the interpretation of things of this nature.)

Daniel explained that God gave Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom and fame. And for all the magnificence that God gave to him, all people respected him. He killed whoever he wished to, and whoever he wished, he kept alive. Everyone's success or failure was in his control. But when he became arrogant and his pride overtook him, God took away his fame and glory and he was driven from the people and his mind was changed to be like that of a beast. He lived in the wild and ate grass like oxen. He lived like an animal until he learned that God rules over all and it is in His power to elect whoever He wants to be important. The humbling of Nebuchadnezzar took seven years.

The Writing on the Wall Bible Interpretation
The Hand Writing on the Wall Fears and Tears

Daniel's interpretation continues as he tells Belshazzar that even though he knew all this, he had not humbled his heart either, but had put himself above God and brought the things of God's temple that was in Jerusalem in while he and his filthy friends drank out of them while praising false lifeless gods. But the God whose hand his own breath (life) was in ... Belshazzar had not glorified.

That was when the hand was sent from Him and He wrote this thing, Daniel explained. This is what it means: God has numbered (put an end to) your kingdom. (Numbered, as in "your days are numbered") You have been judged and have been found unworthy. And your kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and the Persians. Well, imagine that in today's world. A country like (Iraq) Babylon, and the king (Sadaam Huessein) Belshazzar, hearing that his country is going to be split up like a candy bar and given to (Iran and Syria or Turkey) the Medes and the Persians. Oh my!

Belshazzar was astonished. So Belshazzar ordered that Daniel should be the next ruler in Babylon. That night, old Belshazzar was killed and sure enough, Darius the Median, took over the kingdom.

The Writing on the Wall Bible Summary
The Hand Writing on the Wall Conclusion

It's funny how we go through years of our lives, using phrases like "the writing on the wall" without knowing where they originated. We need to obey and respect God and all that is His. Now that Babylon is under the rule of Darius, what's in store for Daniel next? We will find out.