Daniel 5:25-31 – Responding to the overtures of God's love.

The account in Daniel 5 is sad because Belshazzar should have known better. He had the example of his father, Nebuchadnezzar III, whose pride had led to his downfall. It's not as if Belshazzar was too far away to notice; he saw it firsthand. Yet, he didn't seem to care even when his father's experience testified to God's greatness.

Belshazzar's story teaches us that God sees everything, and pride repels Him. Belshazzar's arrogance is evident when he commits his wrongdoing most brazenly and ostensibly. His actions are even more despicable than those of his predecessors. How dare he defile the sacred vessels that were meant for God? Belshazzar is nothing more than a personification of pride.

The inscription on the wall reads "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN." Daniel explained the inscription's meaning in verses 25-28 using three words: numbered, weighed, and divided. Through a play on words, Daniel interpreted the message for the king. The word MENE indicated that God had counted the days of Belshazzar's reign and that it would soon end. TEKEL represented Belshazzar's judgment, and he was found lacking. PERES is the singular form of UPHARSIN, meaning "divided." It foretold that Belshazzar's kingdom would be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

Though Belshazzar now understood the writing on the wall, he remained unconcerned. He seems to have resigned to his fate and rewarded Daniel as promised. However, on the same night that judgment fell, Belshazzar died, according to verse 30. As told him, his kingdom was handed over to King Darius the Mede, who was 62 years old at the time.

This chapter shares the stories of two kings, Nabonidus (also known as Nebuchadnezzar III) and Belshazzar. Both were guilty of pride and attempted to take the place that belonged only to God. Nabonidus repented of his pride, while Belshazzar did not. As a result, Nabonidus saw his reign restored and extended, whereas Belshazzar witnessed the collapse of his empire. The lesson to be learned here is that God will deal with pride. No one can play with it and expect to be free from its consequences. Therefore, let us guard against pride and not let it ruin our lives.

Know it or not, the dream of Nebuchadnezzar's message and Belshazzar's vision of the mysterious handwriting on the wall are warnings from the heart of the God of love. The way we respond to God’s love messages will determine our destiny. Therefore, we should not harden our hearts if we hear God's voice. Otherwise, we may end up seeing the handwriting on the wall coming to pass in our lives.