Judgment Night

Daniel 5:25-31 “This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN  26 “This is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 27 Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. 28 Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” 29 Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, 31 and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
 
THE first thing Daniel did to interpret the words on the wall was to read them. You might say, “That’s obvious.” But it wasn’t to the wise men, astrologers, etc. They had not been able to read the words. The Lord’s message to Belshazzar would come only from God’s prophet.
    “MENE” is to number, to hold to account. “TEKEL” refers to a shekel, which is “to weigh”. “PARSIN” is to divide, break in two. The king is accountable to God. His days are numbered; his life and reign have been weighed. He is found wanting, lacking in moral and spiritual character, and his kingdom will be divided. Humble, obedient Hannah prayed for humble, wise leaders: 1 Samuel 2:3 “Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.” Also consider Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Your life is in the balance before God. Will he account you as saved in your faith?
    It is somewhat surprising Belshazzar was good to his word to honor Daniel. Such condemnation would seem to cause the king to erupt in rage. But could it be the king was awakened to his sins? Did he perhaps hope to escape condemnation by honoring Daniel?
    But, of course, God’s judgment time had been set. There is no escape when the wrath of God judges sinners. Belshazzar is an example. In God’s providence, the Medes and the Persians conquer Babylon that night. God’s judgment is also protecting his people and fulfilling his prophecies. This is the destruction of Babylon from Isaiah 47:5 “Sit in silence, go into darkness, Daughter of the Babylonians; no more will you be called queen of kingdoms. This is the silver, the next nation, in the chest of the statue of Daniel 2. Babylon is finished, never to rise again. The time is coming for the exiles’ return to rebuild Jerusalem, as God continues his plan to send the Messiah.
   
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.