Writing on the Wall; Part 1

Feb.12

Read: Daniel 5:1-12

Writing on the Wall, Part 1

“Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.” (v.8,9)

I am sure we have all heard a phrase of sorts that refers to “reading the writing on the wall”. In a positive sense, it means being able to see what is coming when others can’t. For instance, “I could read the writing on the wall, and I knew toilet paper would be sold out soon… so I bought 5 pallets of it at Sam’s club right before Covid 19 hit!” In a derogatory sense, it is used to ridicule someone who doesn’t see what is going on. “They just don’t see the writing on the wall… this project is doomed.” Either way, it is fascinating when we come to a biblical text that is the origin of a common saying. What is even more exciting is to see how it pertains to God’s people

One of the unique facts about the people of God is that the Lord allows us to see and understand “the writing on the wall”. We really shouldn’t expect others to be able to grasp the deeper meaning of what is “written on the wall” apart from the Spirit of God. To fine tune this idea a bit more: God is a revealer who is making known to us (his children) what he is doing in this world so that we wold participate with HIM. Furthermore, God is making known in mysterious ways to “the world” the same things… giving them clues and hints… that cannot be fully grasped apart from the Spirit. (cf. 1 Cor. 2) As an example, in Romans 1 we see that God reveals his eternal attributes as embedded in the creation around us. These things can be understood, but they do not in and of themselves lead to Christ… these are clues along the way that one is given “eyes to see”. (cf. John 3) For those who have been “given eyes to see and ears to hear” we can see the Kingdom of God and perceive / understand God’s handiwork / fingerprints / “writing on the wall”.

What was it that enabled Daniel to serve the way that he did? It is spoken of over and over again in the first 5 chapters of Daniel. Daniel was given this “gift” of understanding visions and dreams by the Lord. How was this gift delivered? What was its source? This came about through the indwelling Spirit of God. Notice how many times it is said about Daniel that, “There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.” (v.11) The Holy Spirit of God has been given to us as well… as the children of God the Father through the work of Jesus- God the Son. You have within you the one who can interpret the “writing on the wall”. You can and should be able to see what others cannot. God is awakening your spirit, and opening your mind to see and understand what he is “writing” onto the canvas of history. Through the Holy Spirit, the scriptures, and Christian community - God makes available to us the capacity to see what is coming. Even if this is in a very general sense, it is still true. (For example, take the entire book of Proverbs. God has mapped out many general principles that guide us into the future and should shape our actions… you don’t have to be a wizard to see where the adulteress will get you or whether or not laziness will destroy a person! lol)

I think one of the issues we have as the people of God today is that we are not leaning into the HS or Scripture ENOUGH to understand the current state of affairs. We have been made to think that our current system is some how more complex / sophisticated than the scriptures speak to. We simply cannot fathom that pride, arrogance, and megalomania could possibly be a motivating factor for leaders or “kings”. We refuse to believe that our modern court of “wise men, enchanters, Chaldeans (influencers), and astrologers” could ever be wrong or off base about what they are attempting to read. We simply cannot grasp that these people actually CANNOT interpret or understand the “writing on the wall” correctly or fully because they DO NOT have the Spirit of God within them. For this reason, we are suprised when great men and women fall prey to lust and arrogance. We reject the notion that technology and experts are unable to “fix” everything. We are offended at the idea of a disease that , given enough time, we cannot “control” and maintain. And most of all, we are shocked when a “kingdom” is destroyed on the heals of taking what is HOLY, SET APART, and belongs to God (the vessels from the Temple) - and use those things to fill with wine to get drunk on, and defile ourselves! The church is Jesus’s bride, and look what it is being filled with… what people are proverbially “drinking from it”. Our bodies are vessels of the Lord, and look what we are being used for. Relationships such as marriage and the intimacy of the marriage bed are things God gave us that are to be holy, and look at how they have been “drug out in the middle of a party” and used as common “red solo cups” to fill to the been and get drunk on! I mean… can we not read the “writing on the wall”? The people of God ought to know better. We should be up to speed on what will follow!

We should not be alarmed at the things of this world or its crumbling kingdoms. What we need to do is to come to the Holy Spirit and the word to “read the writing on the wall”. We have been given the tools and power to do this. This is an opportunity for encouragement and hope. We - as God’s people - have a chance to lovingly help others head off at the pass the coming destruction. (Look at how many times Daniel tried to help Neb. avoid destruction and turn to God. May God open our eyes to the “writing on the wall”… may he open our hearts and minds to understand what HE is doing. He is the one who rules over humanity! Love you guys. - JDP