The Writing is on the Wall
In Daniel chapter five there was a happening, the like of which has never been seen again. The king of Babylon, Belshazzar, was throwing a great banquet. In his exuberance to humiliate the Jews, he ordered the holy vessels that his father, Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple of God to be brought before him. With a thousand of his nobles present, he began his feast.
To drink from these holy vessels was an utter disgrace to the Jews. As Belshazzar and his companions continued their party, God intervened. From out of nowhere a hand came down and began to write on the wall before them. Belshazzer was so terrified that his knees became weak, knocked together and finally gave way. There was no doubt. . .he was frightened.
As they pondered the situation, Belshazzar sought to find the meaning of the words inscribed on the wall. With no success, he was instructed to call in God’s prophet Daniel.
With great caution, Daniel gave the meaning of the writing. As he interpreted the event, he let the king know that God would not allow something holy to be defiled without punishment. In verse twenty-two he rebuked the king for his pride. Next he said, “. . .you have set yourself up against the Lord of Heaven…”
As they conversed, he gave the meaning of the writing, “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.” 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. PARSIN – your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. That very night the king died and another world power took over.
God is not pleased when something holy is defiled. He no longer has holy cups, bowls, candlesticks and such. He now has vessels that are of far greater value. He has made us His vessels. Paul said in I Corinthians 6, that the Spirit of God dwells in us. God only dwells in what He has made holy. You and I are the holy vessels of God.
Since this is true, we should never lose sight of the need of purity. Jesus said that we are blessed when we are pure in heart. For it is the pure in heart who will see God.
When we use our lives in pride, as Belshazzer used the temple vessels, we defy God. We take something holy and treat it as if it were common. When we hurt one another, we desecrate something that God has made holy. If He caused a nation to lose its status as a world power, how will He view me if I act in an unholy manner?
We have a great responsibility to one another as the vessels of God. We have the responsibility to honor and protect, keeping one another in tip-top condition in order to serve the Master. God made us holy. We must not defile what He has made!