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.

Does Prayer Connect us to God?

 

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Christian thought to ponder…. Does prayer connect us to God?

By praying to God, we come before Him and lay our souls bare before Him. We call upon His name and seek supplication and intercession for others and ourselves. It is a time when we can give thanks and praise for the blessings, He has given us and the things He has done in our lives and in the lives of others. Prayer helps build up our faith in Him; it is a time to confess our sins and seek God’s forgiveness, wisdom, guidance, and counsel.

We are urged to pray at all times in Ephesians 6:18 and to “pray continually” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. When we refuse to pray or to pray for others, especially if it is because we do not agree with someone’s lifestyle, beliefs, or past sins, we are demonstrating a heart filled with pride and disobedience. Prayerlessness shows a mindset that we can do things on our own, and we do not need God’s help to win our battles. Prayerfulness, on the other hand, acknowledges our need for God, that we are dependent upon His grace, wisdom, and strength to win the battles in our lives.

Now more than ever, we need to pray for the people and leaders in our nation. Now is the time to step up and fervently pray for those who do not know Jesus that they may come to know him and be saved. Pray for our enemies who would mock us, do great harm to us, and yes, even kill us. Pray for all of those who have lost loved ones for speaking the Truth.

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” — Matthew 5:44

Our nation is in dire need of prayer as school shootings and other mass shootings are becoming the norm, such as the assassination of Turning Point USA Cofounder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and the assassination of Minnesota Democrat State Representative Melissa Hortman and her spouse. Violence, immoral and corrupt behavior, and actions are spreading like a disease in this nation. Our nation needs Jesus, and our country needs our prayers.

There is a spiritual battle going on, and our nation is under attack and influenced by dark spiritual demonic forces. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that our struggles are against physical forces and dark spiritual forces.

"our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness"

Paul is warning us that it is not just political leaders or military establishments that are controlling and shaping nations, but also evil spiritual forces. These demonic powers are using human vessels to help the enemy carry out Satan’s agenda. These human vessels are twisting and distorting God’s truth. They are pushing an evil agenda that is full of false truths and propaganda. They are actively opposing God, God’s will and plan, and God’s people. Prayer is our indispensable weapon to fight this evil.

Jen Psaki, former Whitehouse Press Secretary during President Biden’s term, downplayed the act of prayer in response to the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota. The children were praying when a trans shooter shot through a window at them and injured seventeen and killed two children during mass. Psaki wrote on X:

"Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. Prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers."

It is obvious from Psaki’s statement that she does not believe in the power of prayer. Prayers throughout Scripture have shown that God hears our prayers and does answer them. Prayer has helped interpret dreams, saved the Israelites from genocide, given barren women children, provided revelation, destroyed enemies, driven evil spirits out, healed people, revived people who were dead, comforted people, and redeemed people. The list goes on and on in how God has answered prayers throughout the Bible. The outcome of those prayers may not be what people expected, but it fulfilled God’s purposes, His will, and His timing.

There are many examples throughout Scripture demonstrating how prayer can connect us to God. The following are six scriptural examples to follow.

Jesus was our model for prayer. He consistently went to the Father in prayer. Praying for the Father’s will and not his own. Prayer teaches us to trust His will and His timing.

“Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” — Luke 22:42

Prayer is the way we connect and draw near to God. Prayer is a time we can pour out our hearts to God. 

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” — James 4:8

Prayer shows our dependence on God to help us through the storms that come into our lives.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 

Prayer gives us peace, strength, and comfort in our darkest hours of need.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” — Philippians 4:6

Prayer reminds us that we cannot live by our own strength and wisdom we need God’s guidance, provision, and wisdom.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” — James 1:5

Prayer is powerful and effective. Miracles can occur when we seek God in prayer. King Hezekiah prayed to God asking God for deliverance from the Assyrians and God answered his prayer and the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.

“That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! “ — 2 Kings 19:35

O, Lord God!

You alone are the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. Teach us to pray in a way that is pleasing to You and will help us to connect with You. Teach us to be patient in our prayers and to learn to wait patiently, quietly, and trustingly for Your perfect timing. We lift up those souls who are lost and are suffering in this world, remove Satan’s blinding influence upon them and help them to embrace the Truth and believe in You.

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.