6/30/24 - The Handwriting On The Wall - Daniel 5 - Pastor Jason Fritz

Many are acquainted with the phrase "He couldn’t see the handwriting on the wall," often unaware of its origins in Daniel chapter 5. Here, during King Belshazzar’s extravagant feast, his arrogance invites God's judgment, marked by a mysterious inscription on the palace wall.

 

As the soiree persists, the Persians encircle Babylon. Did Belshazzar grasp the imminent danger? It seems likely, given the formidable size of the amassed army. So why indulge in revelry while the enemy lurks at the gates? Perhaps he deemed Babylon impregnable—a notion well reasoned considering its colossal walls. The remnants are still visible today in modern Iraq. Some historians doubted the city could fall in a single night, yet the ancitent historian Herodotus recounts the Persians' ingenious tactic: diverting the Euphrates to infiltrate Babylon through its waterways, swiftly seizing the city. At Belshazzar's feast, the glow of the lampstand dims as he retreats into the darkness of his final night. Belshazzar met his end, and Darius the Mede ascended to power. (Daniel 5:30-31)

God's mode of communication reveals a recurring pattern. Some 550 years later, Jesus faces a similar test of power. Confronted by accusers wielding the law against a woman caught in adultery, Jesus challenges the judgmental hearts of those present. Stooping to write in the dirt, his message brings conviction, driving away the self-righteous.

Similarly, God's hand continues to write upon our hearts today, calling us to faith, exposing our sins, and urging repentance. Most profoundly, those very hands were later extended on a cross, offering forgiveness and eternal life. Belshazzar's tale serves as a stark reminder: arrogance invites downfall and disobedience leads to ruin.

 

As Christians, we carry the light of God's Son within us. Let us therefore represent him faithfully, interpreting rather than receiving the handwriting on the wall, just as Daniel did.