June 17 – The Writing on the Wall – Daniel 5
King Belshazzar does not learn from his father’s mistake of having a mind hardened with pride. Belshazzar throws a party and uses the golden cups that were taken out of the Temple in Jerusalem to drink out of them. He praises the false gods while drinking out of these special cups. This was the last straw for God. Belshazzar saw a giant hand write a message on the wall. The story states that Belshazzar was so frightened that his knees were knocking together. Daniel was summoned to interpret the strange writing on the wall. Daniel’s interpretation was “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” Daniel told Belshazzar in verses 20-23 that this was going to happen because he had not learned from his father’s mistake. He had not humbled himself before God, but lifted himself up instead.
We recognize three important truths: 1) the importance of humbling ourself 2) the importance of learning from others mistakes 3) the example you set by your actions as a parent really does affect your children’s lives.
