It was in the lifetime of Daniel that these words were written on the wall of the palace by a hand where the king was having a feast with all his great men. They were cele-brating with their wives and concubines, drinking from the cups that was stolen from the temple in Jerusalem.
The king was Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar. In the midst of his 1000 rulers the king became powerless in a moment. No one could help him. His legs became like jelly and he fell to the ground. After calling all the enchanters and astrologers, no one was able to give him an answer what these words meant.
Daarop is Daniël ontbied, wat geken was as ‘n man met wysheid en op wie die Gees van God werksaam was. Dit was egter nie Daniël wat die koning in sy sonde veroordeel nie, maar God. Daniël was alleen diensbaar en gewillig om te spreek wat God hom lei om te sê.
“Dit is die uitleg van die woord:
Mené—God het u koningskap getel en daar ‘n einde aan gemaak;
tekél—u is op die weegskaal geweeg en te lig bevind;
perés—u koninkryk is verdeel en aan die Mediërs en Perse gegee.” Daniël 5:26-28
Hierdie gebeurtenis is ook vir ons van belang. Ons is baiemaal besig met onheilighede en dink dat God nie sien wat ons doen nie. Hy is egter die een wat die hart van die mens deursoek, ja die Gees ondersoek selfs die dieptes van God (1 Korintiërs 2:10). Die Here ken elke gedagte en elke begeerte. Maar Hy ken ook die goeie. Hy sien as ons teen die sonde stry en teen die sondige begeertes wat ons soms laat struikel.
Today we have the privilege to witness something great by the working of God’s hand. Not the writing of a hand against a wall, but the Holy Spirit engraving on the hearts of believers the new covenant of God’s grace.
May the Lord search our hearts and find us worthy through faith in Jesus Christ.
Lourens (vdm)