The Banquet Of Belshazzar

 "King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for his nobles; a thousand of them attended; and he drank wine with them.  Under the influence of wine, he ordered that the gold and silver vessels his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem be brought in, so that he and his nobles, his wives and concubines might drink from them. The gold and silver vessels taken from GOD's temple were brought in; and the king and his nobles, his wives and concubines drank from them.  While they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone.

Suddenly a man's fingers appeared opposite the lamp stand and wrote on the plastered wall of the king's palace.  Watching the hand as it wrote, the king turned pale.  So terrified was he that his knees knocked, and his legs gave way.

Daniel was brought in and questioned by the king, 'Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father brought from Judah?  I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods, that you have insight and extraordinary wisdom.

I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve problems.  If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple, wear a gold chain around your neck, and be appointed third in rank in my kingdom.'

You have defiled the LORD of heaven.  You had the vessels from HIS temple brought to you, and, together with your nobles, your wives and concubines, you drank wine from them.  You praised the idols made of silver and gold, of bronze, iron and stones, which neither see, nor hear, nor understand; but you never glorified GOD who has power over your life and all your fortunes.  So, he sent the hand that wrote the inscription which read MENE, TEKEL, PHARSIN.  And these words mean: MENE, GOD has numbered the days of your reign and put an end to it; TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; PHARSIN, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.'" - Daniel 5:1-6. 13-14. 16-17. 23-28 

(This story could be called: punishment for sacrilege.  These words indicate the destiny of those who make fun of GOD:

- there comes an end which they cannot postpone;

- the fact that they did not do anything worthwhile during their lives is made clear;

- they disappear and so do their works with them.

Scripture knows that GOD reveals HIMSELF not only in events that show HIS goodness, but also in other events that are obvious signs that there is a GOD doing justice.  Many times, those who mock GOD are struck with misfortunes which come as an answer to their insolence.

The author of these chapters is not too concerned about historical facts at the time during which these people were living.  Cyrus is the one who conquered Babylon where Belshazzar died.  He was followed by Darius.)

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