The Writing on the Wall

 

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A Christian thought to ponder…

What would you do if you saw fingers appear out of nowhere and begin to write something on a wall?

Would fear and terror grip your heart? Would you think it was a sign from God? What would you do?

The writing on the wall is an idiom that indicates something bad will happen soon. This idiom comes from the Old Testament Book of Daniel, chapter 5, verse five, and the famous story known as “Belshazzar’s feast.” 

“Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing.” (NASB95)

Around 539 BC, Belshazzar, co-regent of Babylon, was hosting a lavish feast and using Jerusalem’s stolen sacred vessels from the temple to worship false gods. They were taken from the Jerusalem temple during King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem in  597 BCE, and in 586 BCE, he returned and completely destroyed the city and its Temple.

Fear and terror gripped Belshazzar’s heart as he watched fingers appear and began writing on the wall. In verse six, we are told that first he became pale, then his limbs became limp, and finally a sense of foreboding doom claimed his thoughts.

In verse seven, after seeing the writing on the wall, and Belshazzar summoned all the enchanters, diviners, and wise men of Babylon to interpret it. “The king called aloud to bring in the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a necklace of gold around his neck and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom.””

Out of the whole kingdom, Daniel was the only person who was able to interpret the writing on the wall. He rebuked Belshazzar, that despite his knowledge of what had happened to his father, King Nebuchadnezzar, he did not have a humble heart and exalted himself above the Most High God. By using the Jerusalem temple vessels for his feast and exalting pagan gods, he brought judgment down upon himself (vs. 22-23 NASB95). Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and arrogance brought judgment down upon himself. It led to his removal from his royal throne, and God took away his glory by causing him to lose his mind, to go crazy, and to live like a wild animal. He was driven from the city into the fields where the beasts were, for seven years, until  he recognized that the Most High God was the sovereign ruler over all humanity (verses 18-21 NASB95). 

Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall which read “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin”.

Mene: God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.

Tekel: you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.

Parsin (Peres): your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians. 

(verses 25-28 NASB95)

Belshazzar’s fate was sealed. Divine judgment was upon him and the great city of Babylon. He would lose his life that very night to the Persian army, led by Cyrus the Great. 

You see, the writing on the wall serves as a powerful reminder to us all about what can happen if we let pride and arrogance rule our lives, and the consequences of such blasphemous actions and behavior as Belshazzar showed. His blasphemy towards God by desecrating what was holy and his total disregard for the divine Most High God sealed his fate.

Although Belshazzar was living in sin, his actions and behavior can teach us many things. One thing we can learn is that no matter how successful or powerful we may become, we need to always give God the credit. Do not let pride rule your heart. God is the one in control of all things, and He is sovereign over all. God giveth kingdoms and God taketh away kingdoms. If it were not for God, Belshazzar would not even have been co-regent of Babylon. God despises pride, and pride can lead to one’s downfall.

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.” (NASB95)

Another thing we can learn from Belshazzar is to beware of idolatry. Belshazzar's misuse of the holy vessels from Jerusalem’s temple for his drunken feast shows how easily we can place worldly things above God. Idolatry in God’s eyes is an abomination and can lead to severe consequences.

Exodus 20:3-5  “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,” (NASB95)

Lastly, Belshazzar attempted to bribe Daniel with riches for interpreting the writing on the wall. True wisdom comes from God. Daniel trusted God and was faithful. He knew God’was more important than material rewards. All of scripture is written to help draw us closer to God, to guide us, to warn us, and to teach us the consequences of our sins. We must turn away from sin, repent of our sin, and seek God. Scripture is our compass in life. Seek God daily for his wisdom, guidance and to reveal His will for you. 

Proverbs 2:6 “For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (NASB95)

Heavenly Father,

Teach us how to love you with all our heart, mind, and soul. Help us to have a desire to serve You and only You. Show us when idols are ruling our hearts and not You. Give us repentant, submissive and thankful hearts. Thank you for Your word to guide us and perfect us. When we get off the path, help us to recognize Your voice to lead us back to You. 

Amen.

Pray you all have a blessed weekend!

Carol Moore

 

“The writing/handwriting is on the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20writing%2Fhandwriting%20is%20on%20the%20wall. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.