Daniel 5:5

Context:The events described in Daniel 5 take place during the Babylonian captivity. Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, organised a great feast and used the sacred vessels that had been taken from the temple in Jerusalem. During this feast, a mysterious hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall, causing great fear and confusion among the king and his guests.

The appearance of the hand:The hand that appeared was not attached to a body. It was a supernatural manifestation, and its purpose was to deliver a message from God. The fact that it wrote on the wall of the king’s palace indicates that the message was intended specifically for King Belshazzar.

The significance of the writing:The writing on the wall was in a language that the king and his wise men could not understand. This caused the king to be greatly troubled and seek an interpretation from anyone who could provide it. Eventually, Daniel, a Hebrew captive known for his wisdom and understanding, was brought before the king to interpret the writing.

The message on the wall:The writing consisted of the words “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.” Daniel was able to interpret the message as a judgment from God upon Belshazzar and his kingdom. “Mene” meant that God had numbered the king’s days and brought his reign to an end. “Tekel” meant that Belshazzar had been weighed in the balances and found lacking. “Upharsin” meant that the kingdom would be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

• Divine judgment:The appearance of the hand and the writing on the wall serve as a reminder of God’s sovereignty and His ability to judge rulers and nations. Belshazzar’s disregard for the sacred vessels and his prideful actions led to his downfall and the fall of the Babylonian empire.
• Importance of humility:Belshazzar’s arrogance and pride were evident in his misuse of the sacred vessels and his failure to heed the warnings from his father Nebuchadnezzar’s experience with God. This serves as a lesson for us to humble ourselves before God and not to exalt ourselves in pride.
• God’s faithfulness:The story also highlights God’s faithfulness to His people. Despite being captives in a foreign land, Daniel and his companions remained faithful to God. Daniel’s interpretation of the writing on the wall demonstrated that God was still at work and would fulfil His promises.