Daniel 5:5 “In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.”
This is a unique and incredible story. We read about a man’s fingers, writing on a wall in the shadows of a candlestick. This is very significant and recorded to be a reminder for all of us. God is the God who writes. He watches, observes, and feels, but he also writes. He writes what is in heaven and in earth. What happened to Belshazzar happens today, but we don’t see the fingers. It’s still as plain as day. Belshazzar looked at it, but didn’t know what it meant. God is writing on the wall of our heart and life in the conscience, the emotions, and the soul. It’s a critical fact. Do we understand what God writes down? The king got a jolt when he saw the fingers writing on the wall. It’s all about God’s participation in our lives regardless of who we are.
This takes place in Babylon. The Tower of Babel was built here, and the origins of all pagan religions came from Babylon. These were all the gods before the flood, and the king had taken these gods as his own. When he saw the fingers he realized they were not his god’s. He knew, as we do, that it was God—the real, living God of the universe. Belshazzar knew the God who had fingers had come to his palace, and he was writing on his wall. Every word carried the signature of God.
We certainly have God’s writing today. It’s in the 66 books of the Bible. Inspired men wrote the words of the Lord. When it was done, God didn’t lay his pen down. He writes everyday. As we go through each day God writes intentionally and purposefully. It’s as direct to us as it was Belshazzar. The priority of our life should be that we recognize and understand the writings. God wrote yesterday. Did you consider it? He’s writing again today.
Belshazzar felt that everything was under his thumb. He could relax and live life as a party. Yet this was the last night of his life. The message was all about Belshazzar. What God writes on our wall is all about us. I’m glad to have a God that cares enough and pays that much attention to me that he writes on the walls of my heart. He is not silent; he writes every day and night. He has something to say.
What is God writing today? I don’t know what he’s writing to you. Belshazzar was weighed in the balances of God and found wanting. His kingdom was going to be divided among his enemies. What a surprise to him. It may surprise you just how much you don’t know about yourself.
God writes what he already knows. I don’t know myself as well as I think I do. God knows me to the deepest level, 100%. Are there things you haven’t faced about yourself? Give attention to the writing. We must understand that God will always be the master of our destiny and give priority to the writing. God is giving us notice. If we need to repent, he is giving us the opportunity. Do we have the nerve to read what he’s writing?
I appreciate a God that comes down into my frail, little palace and writes. Now it’s up to me. Belshazzar brought the party to a halt and made it his quest to find someone who could interpret the writing. Is it time to say “Lord, I’m not sure what you’re writing? Help me.”
It’s scary to think of God’s hand writing a personal message. It’s for a purpose. If you need to come and pray, do so. God will give the interpretation so you can read it. You will have learned the most important thing in life.
God is a God who writes. And he is doing so, right now. Can you read the writing?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 