Day Sixty-Three -- Can you read the handwriting on the wall?

Ezekiel 47:13 to Daniel 8:27

The Book of Ezekiel ends with the prophet describing how the land will be allotted to the twelve tribes once they return from exile.  What Ezekiel doesn't know is that the ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel, those that had be carried away by the Assyrians, would be "lost", and only those taken into exile by the Babylonians would return.

We then launch into the Book of Daniel, the story and visions of a young noble of Jerusalem who was among those taken into exile under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  Daniel rises to prominence with his three companions - Shadrach, Meshach and Adednego - through the LORD granting Daniel the interpretation of the dreams of the king.  It is not as though they don't face challenges to remain faithful to the LORD while living under Babylonian rule, as evidenced by the companions' walk through the fiery furnace (chapter 3).  When they survive unsigned, even King Nebuchadnezzar has to admire their faith and and acknowledge the power of the LORD: "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants!  They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."

This powerful confession by the Babylonian king was apparently lost on his son Belshazzar who followed his father on the throne.  Belshazzar should have seen the writing on the wall, that is, the preeminence of the God of the Jews.  When he profanes the sacred goblets that had been taken from the Temple in Jerusalem, the hand of the LORD literally writes his fate on the wall: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN - which Daniel interprets as the days of the king's reign are numbered, he has been judged unworthy, and his kingdom will be divided among foreigners.  For an artistic interpretation of the scene, take a look at how Rembrandt portrays Belshazzar's feast and see the terror in the eyes of the king.  It is indeed a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.