The number three in the biblical narrative is associated with completeness, perfection, and unity. It sends a holy and divine message that can contain good or bad news. It’s a very symbolic number both prophetically and spiritually.
Here are just a few ways the number three is used in Scripture: three patriarch’s repeatedly listed in the Old Testament [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], Jonah in the belly of the whale three days, three persons of the Trinity [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit], three times Jesus is tested in the wilderness, three disciples [Peter, James, and John] in Jesus’ inner circle, third day resurrection, and three evil leaders rising up in the last days [Satan, Antichrist, and the False Prophet].
In our passage today, king Belshazzar sees the fingers of a hand writing on the wall during a feast and celebration. The king is guilty of defying and mocking God; he uses holy cups from the Temple to serve his guest wine while worshiping idols. While this party is going on, the enemy is outside the city walls. We can never use the things dedicated to serving God in an idolatrous way. God responds to the evil actions of the king who nows sees the writing on the wall and knows something bad is about to happen.
The passage continues with verses beyond today’s reading and reveals God’s message to the king contains three words in Aramaic: Mene, Tekel, Parsin (Dan 5:25). The hand of God writes these words on a wall for king Belshazzar to read; a divine message that is “bad news” for the king, because he has chosen to dishonor the Lord. Mene—God has numbered your days and is done with your rule (Dan. 5:26). Tekel—You have been weighed by God and you have not measured up (Dan 5:27). Parsin—your kingdom has been divided and will go to the Persians and Medes (Dan 5:28).
Sometimes it looks like evil can dishonor God and his children and get away with it, but there is a day of reckoning coming to the prideful who defy that which is holy. God cannot be mocked; we reap what we sow (Gal 6:7). Humility is the only way to approach God. Do not give up serving God, because he will deal with evil. It is written…
Daniel 5:1-12 NLT The Writing on the Wall
1 Many years later King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking the wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups that his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to drink from them with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. 3 So they brought these gold cups taken from the Temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 While they drank from them they praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5 Suddenly, they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king’s palace, near the lampstand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, 6 and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him.
7 The king shouted for the enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers to be brought before him. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple robes of royal honor and will have a gold chain placed around his neck. He will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom!”
8 But when all the king’s wise men had come in, none of them could read the writing or tell him what it meant. 9 So the king grew even more alarmed, and his face turned pale. His nobles, too, were shaken.
10 But when the queen mother heard what was happening, she hurried to the banquet hall. She said to Belshazzar, “Long live the king! Don’t be so pale and frightened. 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor, the king—your predecessor King Nebuchadnezzar—made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon. 12 This man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has exceptional ability and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”
Prayer: Lord, everything belongs to you whether we dedicate them to you or not. Therefore, may we honor you with everything we have been given. In Jesus’ name. Amen.