The writing's on the wall (Daniel 5:1-7)
Billy Milton - February 8, 2004
As I was preparing this sermon this week it occurred to me what an unusual book this book of Daniel is. If you’ve read it you’ll know that much of it is taken up with almost incomprehensible visions and prophesies, and yet it also contains at least 3 of the best known stories in the Bible. Most of us are probably familiar with:
- Shadrak, Meshak and Abednego in the fiery furnace;
- Daniel in the lions’ den (next week’s sermon) and;
- Today’s story about the writing appearing on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast.
Regardless of what you think of the theology of these passages, you have to admit that they are riveting stories that grab our attention.
Last week we finished with Nebuchadnezzar at last acknowledging the one true King of heaven and giving him glory in a very public way. The chapter finished with rather a chilling warning, “Those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” The Babylonian people would never forget this lesson… would they? Well sadly, just as we over time forget the things that shock us to the core, so did Nebuchadnezzar’s descendants. One of his descendants was a young king called Belshazzar who refers to Nebuchadnezzar as his “father”. This was just a Hebrew way of saying that he was related to Nebuchadnezzar on his father’s side of the family. We know that he was actually Nebuchadnezzar’s great-grandson.
The year was 539 BC. and Nebuchadnezzar had been dead for 23 years. The great, unconquerable kingdom of Babylon was under tremendous pressure from the Medeo-Persian armies under Cyrus and Darius. King Nebonides, grandson of Nebuchadnezzar and co-ruler of the Babylonian empire with his son Belshazzar, was outside the city with his army defending it against the invaders. As I mentioned last week, the city itself was considered impregnable because of its massive walls and deep moats. It’s reckoned that there was enough food stored to withstand a 20 year siege if necessary. So confident were the Babylonians that their city was impregnable that whilst Nebonides was out defending the city, his son Belshazzar was inside the palace getting drunk with his cronies! Can you believe it? Neither of them in their wildest dreams would have thought that by the end of the day the mighty Babylonian empire would have fallen! We’re all well used to reading about the exploits of spoilt playboys - the sons of rich and successful men who indulge their sons and often condemn them to a shallow and aimless existence. If Belshazzar had lived today he would spend the winter season in Aspen and would do the summer rounds of Ascot, Wimbledon, Cowes, Monaco and the South of France.
But in many ways he typifies what a large section of our society aspires to and seeks after - self indulgence and self gratification. In Verses 1-4 the writer has skillfully conjured up an image of a magnificent party which was descending into debauchery. Belshazzar had thrown a great banquet for a thousand of the nobles of his empire. The party was in full swing and Belshazzar was in full party mode, enjoying the popularity that his possessions and his wealth brought him. He denied himself nothing. His philosophy, which will probably strike a chord with many of us today, appears to be: “If you want it, get it. If it feels good, do it!” or as Queen used to sing, “I want it all and I want it now!” And if I can’t afford it I’ll put it on credit card. As I read this account this week I felt a knot in my stomach. I can see quite clearly, and maybe so can you, that we too are partying our lives away whilst the enemy is camped at our door.
Then Belshazzar had a great idea. He remembered the sacred vessels that his great-grandfather had captured from the Jews and brought back to Babylon and put in one of their temples and he decides to have a laugh. I mentioned this a few weeks ago folks and I’m going to say it again. This is what drunkenness leads to. He probably wouldn’t have dreamed of doing this when he was sober but with a few too many drinks in him, and his inhibitions weakened by alcohol, he makes the biggest mistake of his life. As Christians we are called to be sober minded and self-controlled. There is no room in a Christian’s life for drunkenness. It only leads us to compromise our faith and brings dishonour to God. Ask Belshazzar!
He was so full of his own importance and smug with his grand position that he brought the sacred vessels and used them to carouse with his friends. What a laugh - to profane the holy things of God. He was totally insensitive to the demands of God and the feelings of God’s people. He didn’t hesitate to blaspheme the very God who held his life and his future in His hands. And God could not ignore Belshazzar’s blasphemy.
In his drunkenness, Belshazzar was heedless of the battle raging outside and the enemy ready to invade the city. He is certainly ripe for judgement. Then something amazing happened. I’m sure that initially he only thought that he was seeing things because of his drunkenness and then he realised that this was real. A hand appears and writes on the palace wall: v5 “You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.”
Now of course, “The writing’s on the wall” is still a common way today of referring to a potential future disaster. I read recently in the paper that the “writing is on the wall for Leeds United.” 80 million pounds in debt; bottom of the league; selling their best players - disaster looms. Equally it doesn’t take an expert in social engineering to predict that the writing is on the wall for our once great nation. Look around you - watch the news from God’s point of view. For example, I wrote to Tony Blair this week regarding the issue of the proposed “Gender Recognition Bill”. Amongst its proposals is a little section which says that if I, as a Pastor, should refuse to marry a transexual I could be liable for a fine of up to £5000. God says this is wrong - the government threatens to punish me if I go against God’s law! Get saving folks - I could be passing the hat around some day. The time is approaching when Christians will be persecuted for obeying God in this country. Can you see that? The writing is on the wall, will you be found wanting?
Incidentally, if you’d like to be part of a group that keeps an eye on what our government is up to please talk to Anne Power afterwards and she’ll keep you informed. All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing!
Belshazzar couldn’t understand the handwriting on the palace wall and he was terrified: vv7-9 In fact, he was so frightened his face turned pale and his knees knocked together. So what did he do? Well what most rich and powerful people would do - he threw money and resources at the problem! But all his wisest advisors failed even though they were promised wealth and power. The king became even more terrified.
It’s inconceivable that we can go through life without some sort of trauma afflicting us. How did you respond - how will you respond? Belshazzar panicked, but one of the queens remembered a man of God called Daniel. By now he was an old man, who had lived 70 years as an exile in the Kingdom of Babylon. That’s a long time in obscurity but his time had now come again. Vv 10-12. God brought him to this place for this hour. Just as He called upon Daniel to witness for him in his day, God calls upon us to live and speak for Him in our day. Who knows when we might have an opportunity to influence powerful people and do great things for God?
Daniel’s interpretation of the writing on the wall was very scary. vv 26-28 God announced the end of His tolerance of evil and oppression in Babylon. Belshazzar’s days were numbered. He was about to reap what he had sown. He is called to account for his evil …as we will all be some day. v27. “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.” What a chilling sentence - you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. Let me assure you, were God to write our epitaph right now he could write the exact same words about all of us. We will always, based on our own efforts, be found wanting. Belshazzar’s fate awaits all of us…. unless we bring Christ into the scales with us!
Belshazzar was found wanting and he lost all he had. God had blessed him richly but he had refused to acknowledge God and God took away everything. Babylon, the impregnable, became a Persian city. Everything happened just as Daniel had predicted. The God who Belshazzar blasphemed had the last word as He always will.
But let me finish on a positive note. This is something that we discussed at housegroup this week. When God predicts or even promises punishment, is that it? The answer is no. In almost every occasion God, who loves us dearly and is willing that none should perish, provides a way of escape. Normally it involves us humbling ourselves and repenting. I believe that the writing is on the wall for our nation, and perhaps for us as individuals, but it is not too late. We can still turn around. We can pull back from a course of action that is going to damage us. We can become salt and light to our neighbourhood. We can show those around us the Good News of Jesus. The writing may still be on the wall, but for us, and those we bring to Jesus, there is nothing to fear.