Daniel 5 Mene, Mene, Tekel Upharsin This is an incredible chapter filled prophetic fulfillment, not only from Daniel; but from Isaiah and Jeremiah as well. We read of the fall of the Babylonian Empire, with the subsequent transition to the Medo-Persian Empire, led by Cyrus and Darius. The chronology of this chapter would likely be better placed later in this book, yet here we read of a spectacular occurrence where once again Daniel is called upon to give the interpretation. Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar and the queen was most likely his grandmother. Being at least one generation removed from all that his grandfather had experienced and his subsequent coming to faith, this was of no concern to Belshazzar who reigned for 17 years. On this, his final night of life and reign, he threw a party with a thousand in attendance. In a drunken stupor, the king requests articles of worship that his grandfather had taken when Jerusalem fell. He and all his contemporaries desecrated them through the profane use; which elicited the Lords response. If it werent enough they profaned the articles of worship, they praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. The scene went from being a party atmosphere to being very somber. A hand appears and begins to write on the wall mene, mene, tekel, upharsin; God has numbered your kingdom and finished it, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting and your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians. The king couldnt read or understand what had been written, nor could those of the astrologers or soothsayers. His physical reaction (vs. 6) indicates great fear gripped his heart, which changed the entire atmosphere of the party. The queen reminded her grandson of a man with a proven track record of accuracy and integrity, a holy man of God, Daniel. This man had a favorable testimony within the world and by the world. May we live our lives in such a manner so as to have that same kind of wholesome testimony. Daniel discounts to possible reward for providing the interpretation. Heres a man who didnt prophecy for gold or glory, he simply was faithful to his calling and what God had graced him to give. Daniel didnt mince words; he delivered the word of the Lord that seems to be initiated by the desecration of the articles of worship. That very night Belshazzars life was taken and the kingdom was divided. In some circles today, there are activities that desecrate not articles of worship, but houses of worship. Others gods are being praised and lifted up in places that have been dedicated houses of worship to the Most High God. There are movements that are attempting to blend into Christianity all kinds of demonic and false religions. Should that continue, will not God judge with as great a severity as He did in Babylon? As Billy Graham is quoted as having said, If God doesnt judge America, and then Hell need to repent to Sodom and Gomorrah. 2 Chron 7:14 is still the Word of God and is still true and applicable today. May we join together in repentant prayer on behalf of our nation and trust the Lord to hear and heal our land.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:06:23 +0000
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