More Than A Ghost Story IV

(from 2005)

Introduction   

One of the more noted horror authors is Stephen King. Having written dozens of books and short stories, he is one of the tops in his business. One of the literary devices he has used in a couple of his stories is that of mysterious writings on a wall. Two phrases come to mind; “Red Rum” in his story The Shining and the more enigmatic phrase, “Give me what I want and I’ll go away”, from Storm of The Century. The scriptures tell of a similar occurrence that took place during Daniel’s time.

         

The Writings’ on The Wall

In Daniel 5:1-5, Belshazzar, descendant of Nebuchadnezzar, and last of the Kings of Babylon, was throwing a party when a bizarre event took place: 

         

“Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.”

It was in chapter 5:24-28 that, after Daniel was summoned; we learned what was written and its meaning: 

"Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."

From this scenario we obtain the phrase, “The writings’ on the wall”. This means a foretelling of things to come. In the case of Belshazzar, it was the impending doom of the kingdom. He violated God’s sanctuary, the Temple, by using the hallowed vessels for their party; toasting the idols. In verses 30 and 31 we learn of the king’s fate, “That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.”

God’s Warning about Sin

This is more than a ghost story because God warns us about sin. It’s not through direct involvement such as a disembodied hand, but through His scriptures. In 1 Cor. 15:33 Paul warns, “Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits.”  This informs us to be wary of those we associate with and that too close of a relationship with them could cause us to stumble.

In Acts 8:18-19, we have an example of Simon the Sorcerer attempting to buy the power of the Holy Spirit and he is given a chance to repent (vs. 22) and Simon asks them to pray on his behalf (vs. 24). Sometimes we need the help of our brethren to get pass a troubling time in our life.

Paul encourages us in this matter when writing to those in Galatia, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:1-2)

God’s Warning about Our Possible Eternity

God also warns us of impending doom; what happens if we don’t repent of our ways.  In Heb. 10: 29-31, the author writes, “of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30. For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

One final example comes from Jesus in Matt. 10: 28, “And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Conclusion

Belshazzar’s fate was already sealed when the hand wrote the message.  Our fate will not be sealed until our death. The time to change is now.  Paul writes, “…behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation).” 2 Cor. 6:2.