Song # 1214 from Our Gospel In Song Collection by Col Johnston. The Book of Daniel tells us that while King Belshazzar was giving a great banquet for his nobles, a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall.
King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles (Daniel 5:1). He gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that his father, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so they could drink from them (Daniel 5:2-3). As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone (Daniel 5:4). Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall. The king watched the hand as it wrote (Daniel 5:5). His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way (Daniel 5:6). The king called all his advisers and said "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means, will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom (Daniel 5:7). The king's wise men could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant (Daniel 5:8). King Belshazzar became even more terrified, and his nobles were baffled (Daniel 5:9). The queen came into the banquet hall and said "Don't be alarmed" (Daniel 5:10). "There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father, he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods" (Daniel 5:11). "This man Daniel, was found to have the ability to interpret dreams. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means" (Daniel 5:12). So Daniel was brought before the king and the king said (Daniel 5:13), "I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom" (Daniel 5:16). Daniel said "I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means" (Daniel 5:17). Daniel explained "The Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendour" (Daniel 5:18). "But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory" (Daniel 5:20). He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal" (Daniel 5:21). "But you, his son, oh Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this" (Daniel 5:22). "You did not honour the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways" (Daniel 5:23). "Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription" (Daniel 5:24). "This is what the words mean:
Mene -- God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end (Daniel 5:26).
Tekel -- You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting (Daniel 5:27).
Peres -- Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians" (Daniel 5:28).
That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians was slain (Daniel 5:30), and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom (Daniel 5:31).
Thought for today: enjoy the abundance of God's gifts, but never forget the giver.
Thought for the future: set your heart on heavenly things above, not on earthly things below. Where will you spend your eternity?