Daniel 5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it. 27 Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
The kingdom of Babylon under the rule of the king Belshazzar was about to come to an end, and the way in which it occurred should serve as a wake-up call to individuals, nations, and rulers alike. God had given ample room for change, if the king was thus disposed but as is too often the case, God’s grace was taken for granted. The history of his predecessor was before him so that he could study from cause to effect, what was the right course of action to pursue.
Daniel and his companions had been living testimonies to the fact that it is futile to war against the revealed will of God, especially after it has been made abundantly clear to one’s mind. When judgement had been visited upon king Nebuchadnezzar for his indulgence of pride, it had been outlined in detail by God through his servant Daniel what was to be done at that time to correct his course. He was instructed to show mercy to the poor, and to break of his sins, and if he were to acquiesce, his tranquility was to continue. Let’s read:
Daniel 4:24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most-High, which is come upon my lord the king. 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, till thou know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will. 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.
But the graphic history of Nebuchadnezzar’s fall did not accomplish the work of repentance that it was intended to do in Belshazzar, because he went even further in rebellion against God. The history of the rise and fall of nations and individuals, as is written in the Bible, is intended for those who would come after, so that they may accurately trace the reasons why some fall.
And as we study their histories, we are not only to make straight paths for our feet, we are also to understand that we will be held accountable for the light, knowledge, and the information that has been granted to us. This is the reason given in the bible for the detailed histories of nations, rulers, and individuals alike.
In other words, if Nebuchadnezzar as the leader of the then known world, fell on the issue of pride and cruelty towards his people, rulers who come after will be dealt with more severely, because they have opportunity to know God’s will in such matters. And thus, they are required to do differently. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Therefore, the history of Belshazzar’s fall furnishes a treasure trove of instructions that are pertinent to us in our day. God requires that both rulers and the regular John Doe should study it with a humble and teachable spirit so that those errors may be avoided in our own experience. The following is an outline of Belshazzar’s departures from truth and duty.
[1] Indulgence in mind altering substances, sights, and sounds.
Daniel 5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords and drank wine before the thousand.
“Wine” in the passage represents in our day, any and all of the mind-altering substances that are ingested for reasons other than necessary medical treatment. These substances run the entire gamut, from alcoholic beverages, cannabis, opium, cocaine, and the myriads of other drugs and cocktails used for recreational purposes. Also included are foods that may cause the body to deteriorate prematurely or place one’s health and well-being at risk unnecessarily.
There is a close symbioses between what we eat and drink, and our spirituality, because our decisions and our morals can be adversely affected by what we ingest. The battle that is raging for the soul of man is one that primarily includes the battle for our minds, for the mind is as the steering wheel for the rest of the body, and wheresoever it turns the entire body will surely follow.
Therefore, as we reason from cause to effect, those failures of Belshazzar we’re under sacred obligation to preserve our minds from every soul-destroying substance, and influence that will compromise our ability to think clearly and rationally. In a nutshell, anything that will alter our minds in a negative way, that will lead to a distortion of one’s judgment, should never be ingested or indulged in any way, shape or form, because that constitutes a violation of God’s law.
When David desired Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba so that the unborn child could be credited to them, he drugged Uriah with alcohol so as to impair his better judgement. And very many persons, if they are not careful will stumble and fall on what may have been permitted by The Lord in times past, because a much higher premium is to be placed on the current generation, in view of all the information God has seen fit to reveal to us. Therefore, the instruction to keep our bodies and minds in the best possible condition always, is not merely a good suggestion from God, it is the law. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1st Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
There are several different agencies that are used by devils to negatively impact the human mind, and that’s why, after mentioning food and drink in the previous passage, the Bible also includes the words “Whatsoever ye do”.
With the indulgence of wine, an impairment of his reasoning powers and better judgement will soon follow, for Belshazzar is now primed to do what no king or president should never do, that is to mix in religion with politics, for whatsoever may be one’s political persuasion, all sacred things, including the word of God is off-limits for making political points. Which leads us to Belshazzar’s second error:
[2] Mingling religion and politics.
Daniel 5:2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
In sending for the sacred vessels of God that were consecrated for holy use, Belshazzar crossed a red line, for he sought to make a political statement by using the vessels that were devoted to the service of the sanctuary. It was the policy of nations that went to war anciently, to parade the captives and spoil of the defeated ones.
This was a political statement often made to boost the already too inflated ego of the conquerors, and the multitudes under their jurisdiction, and in some cases, it had the effect of instilling fear and praise in the citizens for the leaders whose political standing with the masses was sure to be venerated. Thus, the political point Belshazzar sought to make by so doing, was to demonstrate his superior power and pride, over the God of Israel, thus attempting to place God in a subservient position to himself.
This is the very same error that was committed by the former Nebuchadnezzar, for which he was forced to eat a ton of grass. The word of God is sacred and must at all times be handled with the utmost reverence, for it was one of the items placed in the side of the sacred ark for holy use alone. Especially should persons avoid the misuse or mishandling of the Bible when they are not walking in obedience to its sacred utterances, for it can bring a curse instead of a blessing.
Thus, when the philistines of old had tried to mingle politics with the word of God that was contained in the ark, deadly pestilences broke out among them as a warning for future generations not to trifle with sacred things. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 5:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord.
And they took Dagon and set him in his place again. 4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. 9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
In referring to the sacredness of the scriptures, it is stated that it is indeed the word of God, inspired by the Holy Ghost, and written out by holy men, for all to obey. And as such, it is better left alone, instead of being mishandled by anyone who may view it as a mere tool to bolster their image, as the philistines of old tried to do with the sacred chest. Let’s read:
2nd Peter 1:19 We have also a more-sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
And therefore, Belshazzar, and any other ruler for that matter, who should come after, ought to stay clear of repeating the same error, for whenever and wherever this is deliberately, and presumptuously done, the proverbial handwriting on the wall will be seen sooner or later. Which leads us to our next point.
[3] Belshazzar is terminated.
Daniel 5:5 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. 6 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.
7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 8 Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
Here it is: מְנֵא מְנֵא תְּקֵל וּפַרְסִין
The language in which that cryptic message on the wall was written was Aramaic, a language that was well known in Babylon and neighboring nations and is derived from the Phoenician alphabet. Thus, the question, is why could not the translators, linguists, and the wise of Babylon not able to read it?
Whenever individuals in authority have surrounded themselves with yes men, who will tell the king only what he wants to hear, and will agree with him in all wrong doing or will sustain him in a wrong course of action, especially when truth and conscience dictate a different direction, the hearts and minds of such persons can become quite blunt.
That’s because the bad habit of excusing the most blatant violations in leaders leads to the syndrome of spiritual blindness, a dire condition which aptly describes our day, in which professed Christians of Laodicea, in high and low places have succumbed to the malady. When Belshazzar went out on a limb, and did the unthinkable, by signally desecrating those sacred vessels from the house of God, none of them stood up against the king, but instead, basely buried their heads in the sand as if nothing wrong had taken place, and they cheered him on in a wrong course of action.
Therefore, as far as God is concerned, they were just as guilty as Belshazzar, because aiders and all abbetors in crime are viewed as partaking of the same sprit as the offender, and thus when the king falls, those who supported and encouraged him in sin would fall too. It is not absolutely necessary for individuals to do wrong, in order for them to be held culpable in the books of heaven. They just have to countenance or support, protect, or agree with the transgressor, for them to be huddled together in judgment.
That is why in the scriptures, we often read of supposedly innocent persons suffering on account of another’s misdeeds. This is why Eli’s immediate family was deceased in one day, because Eli was a yes man, who feared to deal justly with the wrongs he knew of in his sons. He continuously buried his head in the sand, even when there was a national outcry, yet he just would not do the right thing.
Similarly, in our day, the handwriting is on the wall for all those who continue to countenance evil in high and low places for personal gain or advantage, on any level and for any reason. Whenever those who are in authority fail to do the right thing, after God has sent them warning over and over again, then He will take matters into His own hands, and the proverbial handwriting on the wall will be made manifest, both to violators and their supporters, just as it was in Belshazzar’s day. Let’s read:
Daniel 5:9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. 13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
15 Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing. 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O thou king, the Most-High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appoints over it whomsoever he will.
22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. 26 This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it. 27 Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28 Peres; Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. 30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
To many minds, Covid 19 seems to have come out of thin air, and it continues to ravage millions of people, with the death toll rising each and every day. Yet, in the minds of people, it is a mystery why that scourge is being permitted to do such serious unprecedented damage on many different levels, with much more to come.
One day it will be discovered that several errors on the part of the human agent, both on a physical and spiritual level were responsible for the fallout, and if we do not take a step back, and reason from cause to effect, it will continue to drag on and morph into various forms that will dodge, for months on end the various cures that are now being experimented with.
To be more precise, just as Belshazzar and his men indulged unrestrained during that last banquet, just so, the eating of forbidden foods will become the downfall of millions, and it will produce collateral damage in others if we do not change course. Also, when individuals claim to embrace the Bible, without following its teachings, a curse, instead of a blessing would be the result, and this also will have collateral damage in persons who are not covered by the blood of Christ.
These are days for both national and individual soul searching, for us to see where we have departed from righteousness, and just as it was in days of old with Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar, Solomon, and David, it must begin from the top down. Therefore, let none be deceived concerning this, for as the day for Christ’s second coming draws nearer and nearer, only obedience to His every word would prove a bulwark against the many devices and evils that will be coming in from different directions.
Let small and great rich and poor, those in high and low places serve God in sincerity and truth, but if not, let us not countenance evil under a veneer of the Bible, because Christ says that He prefers us to be either cold or hot, but never lukewarm, where our profession does not match practice. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should enable us to understand the import of those things that are coming upon the earth in short order and may it reinforce in our minds the importance of obeying God, to the best of our knowledge. Let’s read:
Revelation 22: 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and makes a lie. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
God Bless!