The writings on the wall...

With all the talk of college football conference realignment the old saying "the writing's on the wall" has been throw around a lot (I know, you thought this was a theological blog, why am I talking about college football?), well how many of us know the etymology of this phrase?

It turns out, it is from Daniel Chapter 5. When Balshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans was dining with his lords, concubines, etc a hand appeared and wrote something on the wall of the great chamber where they dined. Maybe some of us know the basic story, but lets look a little deeper.

First of all, as they dine Balshazzar commands that golden vessels (that his father looted from the temple in Jerusalem, now his father, Nebuchadnezzar had been raised up by God to judge Israel, but had become too big for his britches my mom would say and was humbled by the Lord and spent his final days eating with field animals and sleeping in the rain, but that is another blog) be brought for his lords and concubines to drink out of as they celebrated their gods of wood, silver, gold, etc.

Lets stop here for a moment. Balshazzar was the ruler of a large kingdom. He was the man so to speak. But, like his father, he thought he was greater than he was. He was simply a tool, used of God in instruction of his people. All he had was from God, and he did not recognize it. In fact he blasphemed God by drinking in this wine out of vessels looted from the temple. Do we recognize often enough that what we have is from God? Do we thank him enough for all that we have (even if what we have is not that much)?

Back to the story. A hand appears as they eat and writes on the wall. At this Balshazzar turns white. I think were I in his position I might be laying on the floor, but that is another story. Anyway, the hand writes something on the wall, and everyone is mystified. No one can translate the writing. The Queen enters and clams everyone down, letting the king know there is a man in his kingdom that can translate it. Sound familiar? This is very similar to the story of Joseph from Genesis. In fact if you look at the top level analysis, Joseph and Daniel have a lot in common. Anyway, once again a great man of God is in a position to bring glory to God. God placed him (in exile), tested him (with the golden statue), and now gives him a chance to make good on bring Him the glory (and of course there is no question that he will, God does not need a backup plan). What happens next?

The king calls for Daniel and promises him a large reward if he can translate it. Daniel turns down this reward (he knows who gives the best rewards, how often do we settle for the rewards of this world, when there are so much better rewards for us?) and and delivers a message to the King. It is a message letting Balshazzar know that all the power his father had was from God, and when he became too cocky he was humbled by God. Now the same thing has happened to Balshazzar, he has angered God (never good) and will now suffer the consequences. This is bad news for the king! In fact I would be surprised if he were not furious! How often do we try and "save" people (ourselves included) by "softening" bad news? How often do we water down the Gospel for fear of angering or hurting or offending people? Are we following Daniels example? The Gospel has been given to us, to our care, spelled out, and made very clear. It is not up to us to soften it, to take the edges off, to alter it in any way, no matter our motivations.

So, how does the story end? Daniel translates the message, and is clothed in purple robes and gold (perhaps an example of the fate of those who deliver God's messages with their intent), and the empire of the Chaldeans is conquered by Darius.

So, what can we see here?

1. Do we recognize that all we have is from God? He is the giver of all things. Do we devote our resources toward the building of the Kingdom?

2. That we are being placed, tested, and given our positions in life in order that we may bring Glory to God? That God knows what he is doing when does this, that there are no mistakes?

3. That we are messengers of God and entrusted with his most important message (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and that we are to deliver it, unaltered, to those around us, no matter the cost?

By the way, what did the message say? Mene, mene, Takel, and Parsin. Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

What can this message say to us? God has numbered all of our days. How will we spend them? For Christians we have no need to fear the judgment for Christ has tipped the scales and allows us to be found righteous (by his blood along). And people who chose to live for themselves will find their legacy swallowed up by entropy. We might be remembered for 10 years or 100 or even 1000, but only God is everlasting. Only his kingdom will not fall.

Mike

PS Did you ever notice when you say "the writing is on the wall" it is never (or should never be if used correctly) anything good you are referring to? It is always the end of something, the destruction of something, the fall of something....