"The Inscription Reads"

And this is the inscription that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. Daniel 5:25

Daniel was brought before the king to interpret the inscription that had been written on the wall  because of his reputation. The king put it this way as he sought out Daniel, " I  have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you." Daniel 5:14
A pretty cool thing for the king to be declaring about Daniel in his hour of need.

Daniel on the other hand had different things to say about the king. He started his interpretation by reminding the king about Nebuchadnezzar and all that had transpired with him. He reminded him about how he had become full of pride, become like a beast until his heart attitude had changed, declared that God was the Most High God and that it was He who had given him his kingdom not his own efforts. After the reminder Daniel told him this key statement, "But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven."  Daniel 25:23

He knew! He knew what the right way was. He had made choices that put him in a place where a man's hand appeared and wrote on a wall. He knew in is heart that what it said wasn't going to be good. It says that 'his countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.' in verse 6.  He was afraid because in his heart he knew he had been doing wrong.

After saying this to the king Daniel then proceeds to read the writing on the wall. "Mene: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; Upharsin: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."

'You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting' How would you like this to be the inscription written about you? Daniel and Belshazzar had very different reputations and the key to that difference is found in Daniel's statement to Belshazzar in verse 23.  "... but you have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this.' Belshazzar made a choice not to walk in the way he knew in his heart was right while Daniel purposed to keep the ways of God. He chose to serve God no matter what.

As His people we know His word and the choice to be obedient to it lies with us. We know the right way and we need to choose to walk in it and to serve Him with all our hearts! The choices we make to do what we know is right will determine the inscription that can be written about us can be, 'Well done my good and faithful servant,' or 'You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.'