The Handwriting on the Wall

Daniel 5

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."  Proverbs 16:18

King Belshazzar was the son of Nebuchadnezzar. One night the king gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles. They were drinking wine, and Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem so he and his guests could drink out of them. As they drank, they praised their gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Suddenly a hand began to write on the wall. The king was so frightened that he turned pale, his legs became weak, and his knees began to knock. He summoned his wise men to tell him what the writing said, but they couldn't understand it. Then the queen told the king about Daniel and his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams and solve difficult problems.

The king sent for Daniel. When Daniel appeared before the king, he reminded Belshazzar of the greatness and power of his father, Nebuchadnezzar. Then he reminded Belshazzar that his father's heart had become arrogant and hardened with pride. God caused Nebuchadnezzar to be removed from his throne and stripped of his glory. He became like an animal, living outdoors and eating grass. When he humbled himself and acknowledged God, God placed him back on the throne and allowed him to rule his kingdom again.

Belshazzar was also filled with pride. He had not humbled himself at all. He worshiped idols rather than God. So God sent the king this message by the hand writing on the wall: Mene--God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel--You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres--Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. Daniel 5:26b-28. That very night Belshazzar was killed, and Darius the Mede took over his kingdom.

One of the qualities God hates most in a person is pride, haughtiness, self-sufficiency. He said in Proverbs 8:13b, "I hate pride and arrogance..." He warned in Proverbs 11:2, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 29:23 tells us, "Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor." Proverbs 6:16 lists seven things that the Lord hates, and at the top of the list is haughty eyes. Paul tells us in Romans 12:3a, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought." And Nebuchadnezzar, from his experience, assures us that God is able to humble those who walk in pride. We often say a person has gotten too big for his britches. We need to remember who we are and who God is and not confuse the two.

Father, may we always remember that You are the One with power and wisdom.  We are simply Your creatures, totally dependent on You.  May we worship and praise You with gratitude in our hearts for all that You have given us and done for us.  Amen.