Belshazzar, a Babylonian king, is a prominent example of divine judgment upon an individual as recorded in the Book of Daniel. His account serves as a cautionary tale of pride, sacrilege, and the inevitable consequences of defying the sovereignty of God.

Background

Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus, the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. While Nabonidus was absent from Babylon, Belshazzar ruled as co-regent, effectively acting as king. His reign is marked by a significant event that led to his downfall, as described in Daniel 5.

The Feast and the Writing on the Wall

The narrative begins with Belshazzar hosting a grand feast for a thousand of his nobles. In a display of arrogance and irreverence, he commanded that the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem be brought to the banquet. As they drank from these sacred vessels, they praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone (Daniel 5:1-4).

In the midst of this blasphemous revelry, a mysterious hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall. The king's countenance changed, and he was greatly troubled, as none of his wise men could interpret the writing (Daniel 5:5-8).

Daniel's Interpretation

The queen advised Belshazzar to summon Daniel, known for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams and enigmas. Daniel was brought before the king, and after refusing the king's rewards, he proceeded to interpret the writing (Daniel 5:10-17).

Daniel reminded Belshazzar of how God had humbled Nebuchadnezzar, his predecessor, for his pride. Despite knowing this history, Belshazzar had not humbled his heart. Instead, he exalted himself against the Lord of heaven by desecrating the sacred vessels and failing to honor God (Daniel 5:18-23).

The inscription on the wall read, "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN." Daniel explained its meaning: "MENE" meant that God had numbered the days of Belshazzar's kingdom and brought it to an end; "TEKEL" indicated that he had been weighed in the balances and found wanting; "PARSIN" signified that his kingdom would be divided and given to the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5:24-28).

The Fulfillment of Judgment

That very night, Belshazzar's judgment was executed. The Babylonian kingdom fell to the Medes and Persians, and Belshazzar was slain (Daniel 5:30-31). This swift and decisive judgment underscores the biblical principle that God opposes the proud and holds individuals accountable for their actions, especially when they defy His holiness and authority.

Belshazzar's account is a sobering reminder of the consequences of pride and irreverence towards God. It illustrates the certainty of divine judgment upon those who fail to acknowledge and honor the sovereignty of the Almighty.Daniel 5:30
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Of Civil Government.
... venally prostitute all rights, privileges, judgments, and enactments ... and the beast
that are upon the ground ... learn not to consider the individuals themselves, but ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of civil government.htm

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