Daily Devo
The Writing on the Wall
By: Kathie Welch
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
...“Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come." Revelation 14:7
King Belshazzar hosted a banquet for a thousand of his nobles, wives, and concubines. He demonstrated his disdain for Israel's God by bringing in the temple goblets from Jerusalem. Everyone drank from them as they praised their gods of stone, iron, and gold. Belshazzar's blatant contempt for God quickly changed to terror when a human hand appeared and began writing words on the wall (Daniel 5: 1-6). The king's magicians couldn't interpret what was written, but in God's power, Daniel could! His interpretation is recorded in the following verses.
“This is the inscription that was written Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin. “Here is what these words mean:
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 5:25-28
King Belshazzar was extremely prideful, just like his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar who failed to give God glory. Like his famous grandfather, Belshazzar disrespected God and bragged about himself and his self-centered accomplishments. When Belshazzar displayed contempt and a complete disregard for God, the prophetic "writing on the wall" became his sentence. His unrepentant disdain for the Lord is what ultimately sealed his fate. He was killed that very same night, and just as God wrote, his kingdom was divided.
Some important lessons we must learn:
- God hates pride and selfishness.
- There are limits to what God allows.
- Unrepentant sin doesn't go unpunished.
- Judgment day is coming.
- God is always in control.
People still refuse to acknowledge God's sovereignty, and they openly flaunt their sinful behavior. Not only that, some of them ridicule and persecute believers for upholding God's principles. Looking at our world, we might say the time is ripe for God’s judgment. Daniel wasn't afraid to tell King Nebuchadnezzar he needed to repent. When he didn't listen, God punished him. Daniel wasn't afraid to tell King Belshazzar that his time was up. In both cases, Daniel could have been executed on the spot! Over and over, Daniel chose to honor God instead of earthly rulers.
We are surrounded by people who need to hear there is only one God and He is sovereign. If they don't listen, He will hold each of them accountable. Like Daniel, our God-given mission is to speak God's truth, regardless of the consequences. Pray for an opportunity to share this vital message with those in need and pray their hearts will receive it. Like Belshazzar, one day it will be too late for them.... the writing will already be on the wall.