Handwriting on the Wall

O. T. #1987  "Handwriting on the Wall"

July 21, 2021

Daniel 5-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Belshazzar was king who had a feast for a thousand of his people. In ancient times, their feasts were extremely large, and in many cases they were sensual events with drunkenness. The thing is, he brought out vessels of gold, silver, and brass to use. This was sacrilege in their use because those were sacred vessels taken from Solomon's Temple and used in the idolatry worship of the gods of gold. (They were polytheistic.) (verses 3-4) Sounds like pride of the king came out with the vessels, as though bragging what Neb had done to Jerusalem. Self-indulgence, exploiting of wealth and splendor is what happened. Plus using valuable consecrated vessels used in the House of God were used as common drinking cups while praising false gods of Babylon.

That same hour, a supernatural occurrence happened that cause this king's knees to knock. Look at verse 5:

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

This is why folks say they saw the handwriting on the wall. Can you image the quietness that came over the attendees and royalty  as a human hand appeared writing on a wall lit up by a candlestick. What an awesome sight it must have been! All would have stared in amazement and perhaps fright at the unique event.

Are we amazed when God does something supernatural in our life or those around us? Do we recognized it as God working? What has He done lately in your life?

LET IT GROW

Assuming Belshazzar knew of Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation at the hands of God (chapter 4), he certainly hadn't learned from it. Rather, he showed his contempt for God's holy vessels by treating them like bar mugs. From God's perspective, this move was the last straw. The king literally lost control of his bowels, out of fear. (Evans) 

Did you notice the reaction that Belshazzar had?

Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. (Verse 6)

Have you ever been so angry that your blood pressure rose to an extremely high amount and you almost had a heart attack or stroke? Anxiety takes over. Or maybe you got so upset that you froze and experienced everything shutting down in a panic attack? I have and that is when you must separate yourself from the cause so you survive. Breathe deeply and call out to Jesus, walking away. God can rescue and restore us in our time of need.

LET IT GO

Pray while amidst the trying time.

Let God give you a wall of protection from the degrading and harmful words or actions of others.

God is the strength of my heart. My portion forever. (Psalm 73:26b)