ABOUT six hundred years before the first advent of Christ, the Jews were overcome by a great king called Nebuchadnezzar. The temple of God was burnt and Jerusalem destroyed, and a multitude of the people carried away captive into Babylon, the capital of the Chaldean kingdom. This fearful judgment came upon them on account of their sins, and God transferred the kingly power on the earth into the hands of the Gentiles in the person of Nebuchadnezzar, and the times of the Gentiles commenced. Lifted up with pride, he forgot Him who had so highly exalted him, and as he walked in his palace, spake and said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” And “while the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee,” &c. (Dan. 4:30, 3130The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? 31While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. (Daniel 4:30‑31)). Smitten by the Lord, his reason departed from him, and he became an outcast. But later on the Lord restored him in mercy both to health and to his kingdom, and he extolled and honored the King of heaven.
Succeeded by his grandson Belshazzar, the latter totally ignored the ways of God with his predecessor, and lived in luxury, pleasure, and carnal indulgences. At the height of his glory and prosperity he made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before them. Picture to yourself, dear reader, this festive scene. A gorgeous palace of vast dimensions, in the midst of a city renowned throughout the earth for its immense proportions, magnificence, and wealth. In one of its vast halls, ornamented with columns, sculpture, tracery, painting, executed by the most skilled workmen and artists of the day that money could command, is spread a royal banquet. Ten thousand glittering lamps fill this magnificent apartment with one vast blaze of light. A royal throne of most costly workmanship, surmounted with gorgeous canopy, occupies one end; and handsome tables, with luxurious couches after oriental fashion, stretch throughout; the former groaning beneath the most splendid gold and silver ornaments and plate, lovely flowers and exotics, piles of the most luscious fruits, wines of the choicest vintages of Babylon, and multitudes of dishes containing all the greatest delicacies of that fruitful and productive clime, and prepared with the utmost care to meet the refined tastes of the guests of so magnificent a monarch. And surrounded with princes, princesses, and courtiers, clad with royal robes, is seated the greatest potentate of the earth, Belshazzar, king of Babylon; and reclining upon the couches surrounding the tables are a thousand of his lords, his wives, and his concubines, arrayed in costly robes of every hue suited to this great occasion.
Mighty to drink wine, this impious king drank before his thousand lords, and whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple of Jerusalem (Dan. 5:33Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. (Daniel 5:3)); and the king and his guests drank in them, and praised the gods of gold and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. Excited by his potations, Belshazzar openly insults the God of heaven in the presence of his guests, and all follow his wicked example. The holy vessels of the temple, set apart for the worship of God, are brought down to the level of man’s carnal festivities, and the praise that is alone due to Him rendered to false gods.
How strikingly this illustrates the way of masses at the present moment! On all hands we see the mixing up of the holy things of God with the carnal ways and doings of men; Christendom reducing Christianity to a worldly level, and making the worship and service of God subservient to their own self-pleasing; and Christ Himself displaced in the heart by a thousand idols.
The men and women of this world, from the king downwards, were having what the world calls a good time of it at Belshazzar’s palace, ―enjoying themselves. God was left out altogether. There was no fear of Him before their eyes. But little did they think, that though they saw not the invisible God, the invisible God saw them. The eye of Him who had humbled the mighty king Nebuchadnezzar was fixed upon that guilty company. The heart-knowing God was reading the deep secret thoughts and intents of every soul, and at the height of their carnal feastings and drunken orgies the word of His righteous judgment went forth.
As that vast and notable assemblage drank their bumpers of wine, and the whole hall reverberated with praise to the false gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone (which men were using without God for their own enrichment and advancement in this life), suddenly the king’s countenance changes, his thoughts trouble him, the joints of his loins are loosed, and his knees smite one against another. Every eye turns for a moment upon him, and wonder and amazement are depicted upon every brow. The burst of praise dies away, and the loud murmur of voices is suddenly hushed altogether. Belshazzar, at whose word a kingdom trembled; ―Belshazzar, the mightiest of earth’s potentates, the great master of the eastern world; ―Belshazzar, the worldly, carnal, impious king of Babylon, trembles like an aspen leaf in the presence of his lords!
What is it that so suddenly caused this vast change? What is it that produced so great a revolution in a moment throughout that gay company of revelers? What is it that so suddenly turns the boldest into cowards, and men who probably had never known the fear of their fellow to quail and blanch with terror and affright? The answer is simple: The word of God. Yes, reader, God spoke. Not by a terrifying thunderclap, or fearful lightning flash; but, “in the same hour came forth the fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote” (Dan. 5:55In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. (Daniel 5:5)).
The fingers of a man’s hand. Only the fingers. Why should the fingers of a man’s hand produce such an effect? It is what those fingers wrote. Four mysterious words. And over against the candlestick; probably the seven-branched golden candlestick of which the temple of God had been despoiled. It is a message from God, and written over against that holy vessel which tells us that the One who sent it is Light. A message from God to Belshazzar; from the King of heaven to the king of Babylon! “A guilty conscience needs no accuser,” men say. Thus was it with this man. Not a syllable was uttered, not a sound was heard; the mysterious fingers write mysterious words; and it is enough, ―the greatest potentate on earth, in the zenith of his glory, trembles like a convicted felon from head to foot.
Beloved reader, how is it with you? Maybe you are one of many who, instead of glorifying God, has brought down His holy things to the level of your own carnal ways and pleasure. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). The word of God arrested the guilty king of Babylon in his career of sin, but, as we shall see, it was a message of judgment. Has the word of God arrested your conscience? Blessed be His name, it is now a day of abounding grace. And if you have been convicted by His word as a guilty and lost sinner in the presence of God, it is not yet too late to escape the threatened judgment. A free and full salvation is offered now (Acts 28:2828Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (Acts 28:28)).
Recovering himself from his first affright, the guilty king cried aloud to bring in the wise men of Babylon, promising high honors and rich rewards to anyone who should read the writing, or make known to him the interpretation. But all their wisdom was unavailing. Not one could understand. Ah! poor sinner, ‘tis vain to turn to the wise of this world to interpret the word of God. All the wisdom of the schools, however valuable in its place, is utterly at fault when God speaks, “Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (1 Cor. 1:2020Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:20)). “The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:2525Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:25)). “Cease ye from man” (Isa. 2:2222Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? (Isaiah 2:22)); for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:1313Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:13)). Seeing the discomfiture of his servants, then was King Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied (Dan. 5:99Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. (Daniel 5:9)). And how many like him have turned in vain to the help of men around them, when brought face to face with God and His word, only to sink into still deeper trouble of soul!
But there was one in the palace who sheaved greater wisdom than the rest at this critical moment, and that was the queen. Apparently she was not present at the feast, but, “by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house; and the queen spake, and said, O king, live forever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: there is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father, light and understanding, and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”
And, beloved, reader, if your conscience is troubled by the word of God on account of your guilty and lost condition, and you are trembling at the thought of judgment to come, it is our joy to tell you too that there is a Man in whom heavenly light, perfect understanding, and divine wisdom are found; a Man of an excellent spirit above all others, who can settle at once all your difficulties, dissolve all your doubts; yes, and blot out all your sins. It is the Man Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who died upon the cross, was buried in the grave, but is now risen, and exalted in the glory above. Now, let Jesus (so to speak) be called. Come face to face with Him. The wisest of men after the flesh cannot interpret to you the meaning of the Word of God, or give you the rest of conscience, and the peace of heart you want. But here is a Man that can do it all. Sooner or later you must have to do with Him; then why not now? “This Man receiveth sinners.” You are one; come to Him now, and He will receive you, and never, never cast you out (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).
“Then was Daniel brought in before the king.” And Belshazzar, having told him that which he had heard concerning him, promised him rich rewards if he could read the writing, and make known to him the interpretation. “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. O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor: and for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive, and whom he would he set up, and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: and he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified” (Dan. 5:17-2317Then 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. 18O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor: 19And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 20But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 21And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. 22And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 23But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: (Daniel 5:17‑23)).
Thus God brought this impious king face to face with His faithful servant and prophet, who boldly rebukes him for his sin, reminding him of God’s ways with his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar, and of the judgment that had fallen upon him, &c., so that Belshazzar was without excuse. “And thou his son, O Belshazzar,” said he, “hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.” And again, “The God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.”
And again, dear reader, in the face of this solemn announcement, we appeal to you. If Belshazzar was without excuse, how about you? You who have God’s open Word. You who have read it from your infancy, and are intimate both with His ways in judgment and in grace. You who have been brought up in this favored land, where light and truth are disseminated broadcast. You who, unlike this poor idolater, boast, it may be, that you belong to a Christian country, and have been brought up in the Christian religion. Have you humbled your heart, you who know so much? Have you glorified the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all thy ways? How do you reply? Can you heartily say, “Yes”? Or does it not all condemn you, and convict you of your shortcomings and sin in His sight? Be wise in time. You have to do with God, ― “the living God.” Meet Him you must. You cannot say you have glorified Him. Oh, humble yourself then in His sight. Plead guilty at His bar. Confess your lost and hell-deserving condition, and there is mercy still awaiting you, ―mercy and boundless grace.
As to Belshazzar, his hour was come. Judgment had gone forth from an insulted God. But for you, even though men spat in the face of His Son and crucified Him, grace is still reigning, and judgment is still withheld. But take heed how you trifle with His grace, lest His wrath should overtake you.
Next we read, “Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (Dan. 5:24-2824Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 25And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 27TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Daniel 5:24‑28)).
Judgment had gone forth against earth’s mightiest potentate. God’s thoughts about him and his kingdom, his sins, and his judgment, are all pronounced in that short mysterious sentence of four words. The great Belshazzar, hitherto acting according to his own will, is now brought face to face with One far mightier than himself. The greatest of monarchs in his day, he has to learn that he is responsible to God. All he had he owed to Him; his position, his power, his glory, his kingdom, his wealth; but, like his predecessor, he glorified himself in it all. Growing bold in his forgetfulness of God, he insulted the Divine Majesty, and the stroke of richly merited judgment fell at last. The eye of God had followed guilty Belshazzar; He had numbered his kingdom, and its end had come. He who, weighed in human balances, was the glory of the Babylonian people, weighed in the balances of the sanctuary of God was found wanting. His death-knell is sounded; Belshazzar and his kingdom are about to come down with an awful crash, making manifest the vanity of all human glory and greatness. His kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Beloved reader, again we appeal to you, and beseech you to weigh these momentous events. History repeats itself. Tens of thousands are living without God, seeking their own ease, pleasure, and aggrandizement. The glory of God is treated as a thing of naught. Self is the predominant ruling principle that governs the natural heart of man. And not only so, but the precious holy things of God are dragged down in man’s self-will, to suit his own tastes, and please his own senses. Who can deny that it is so, that compares the general state of Christendom with the Word of God? Man and his meddling are stamped more or less upon the whole thing. Ecclesiastical corruption increases and abounds. This will be moral Babylon in its last phase. Man may not bow down within this sphere to the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone; but how many bow in heart to these things themselves? How many hearts are practically worshipping those objects which make men rich?
And God has numbered the days of this evil, although it is not revealed to men. Christendom has been weighed in the balances, and found wanting. Behold, the Judge standeth before the door, ready to judge (James 5:99Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (James 5:9); 1 Peter 4:55Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. (1 Peter 4:5)). But judgment is His strange work, hence in long-suffering He lingers over Christendom and the world. Grace reigns through righteousness and abounds. Belshazzar was guilty, and judgment took its course. Christendom is guilty, but judgment is delayed, and grace flows. Sinner, beware, and bow now ere it be too late. Professor, beware, and see that you have something more than your profession. Judgment, deserved by men, has been borne by Christ, and is gone forever for every one that believeth. God has provided a Saviour in the Son of His love. Once for all upon Calvary’s cross He was judged on our behalf. God hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). Dare you pass by the cross, and risk the judgment of God? Where will you flee in the day of His wrath?
The Saviour who died, whose precious blood was shed, is in glory now. God has highly exalted the Man who glorified Him. There is a Man, even Jesus, presented as the object of faith to all, the Saviour of sinners. Believe on Him and thou, shalt be saved, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). Sinner, professor, all have been weighed and found wanting. None but Christ could meet the claims of God. He has met them. God, glorified by His Son, offers free and full salvation to all. Will you accept it? Without it judgment will surely overtake you. Come, then, to the Saviour now while you may. “To him give all the prophets witness, that, through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)). And again, “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). Be decided. Christ is all. To live without Him is to die without Him, and to perish eternally without Him. Accept Him, follow Him, and wait for Him, and glory with Him shall be your eternal portion.
E. H. C.