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Prophets and Kings
astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this
writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they
could not show the interpretation of the thing: and I have heard of
thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if
thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation
thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold
about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
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Before that terror-stricken throng, Daniel, unmoved by the
promises of the king, stood in the quiet dignity of a servant of the
Most High, not to speak words of flattery, but to interpret a message
of doom. “Let thy gifts be to thyself,” he said, “and give thy rewards
to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known
to him the interpretation.”
The prophet first reminded Belshazzar of matters with which he
was familiar, but which had not taught him the lesson of humility
that might have saved him. He spoke of Nebuchadnezzar’s sin and
fall, and of the Lord’s dealings with him—the dominion and glory
bestowed upon him, the divine judgment for his pride, and his subse-
quent acknowledgment of the power and mercy of the God of Israel;
and then in bold and emphatic words he rebuked Belshazzar for his
great wickedness. He held the king’s sin up before him, showing him
the lessons he might have learned but did not. Belshazzar had not
read aright the experience of his grandfather, nor heeded the warning
of events so significant to himself. The opportunity of knowing and
obeying the true God had been given him, but had not been taken to
heart, and he was about to reap the consequence of his rebellion.
“Thou, ... O Belshazzar,” the prophet declared, “hast not humbled
thine heart, though thou knewest all this; but hast lifted up thyself
against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of
His house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy
concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods
of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor
hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose
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are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: then was the part of the hand
set from Him; and this writing was written.”
Turning to the Heaven-sent message on the wall, the prophet read,
“Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.” The hand that had traced the charac-
ters was no longer visible, but these four words were still gleaming