Daniel Five: The Writing on the Wall
Scripture Reading: Daniel 5:1–31 (ESV)
This chapter takes us into the final hours of Babylon’s rule. It’s a dramatic story of a king who defied God, saw divine writing appear on the wall, and received a judgment that fell the same night.
“You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.”
(Daniel 5:27, ESV)
Key Themes
Deliberate dishonor of God’s holiness (v. 1–4)
Divine warnings that are ignored (v. 5–9)
God’s faithful servant reintroduced (v. 10–16)
Judgment for hardened hearts (v. 17–31)
God’s sovereignty over history (v. 30–31)
Section-by-Section Study
1. A Defiant Feast
Text: Daniel 5:1–4 (ESV)
“They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver...” (v.4)
Belshazzar hosts a massive, indulgent party while the Persian army surrounds the city. In a display of arrogance, he uses sacred vessels from the temple in Jerusalem, items taken by Nebuchadnezzar decades earlier (Daniel 1:2), as party cups.
This is not about lacking dishes. It’s a direct insult to the God of Israel. It is mockery dressed as celebration.
Group Prompt: Why do people sometimes mock what is holy? How does the world today treat the sacred with contempt?
2. The Hand Appears
Text: Daniel 5:5–9 (ESV)
“Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall...” (v.5)
The music stops. The wine goes sour. The laughter dies. Belshazzar is terrified, so much so that “his limbs gave way” (v.6). The writing on the wall is in Aramaic, but its meaning is hidden. None of the Babylonian wise men can interpret it.
Devotional Insight: Sometimes fear is the first sign that God is breaking through our numbness. When His holiness touches our pride, it shakes us.
3. A Forgotten Voice
Text: Daniel 5:10–12 (ESV)
“There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods…” (v.11)
The queen mother reminds Belshazzar of Daniel, who had been the voice of wisdom during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. But now, Daniel is forgotten—until crisis calls.
Reflection: Why do we often forget the people of God until things go wrong? Do you have godly voices in your life that you're ignoring?
4. The Final Warning
Text: Daniel 5:13–31 (ESV)
“You have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven...” (v.23)
“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.” (v.25)
Daniel refuses the king’s gifts and delivers the message. He reminds Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling (Daniel 4), and contrasts it with Belshazzar’s pride and defiance.
MENE – God has numbered your days.
TEKEL – You have been weighed and found wanting.
PARSIN – Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
There’s no offer of repentance this time. Only judgment.
“That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.” (v.30)
Word Study:
Mene – numbered
Tekel – weighed
Parsin – divided
These are common Aramaic weights but here become spiritual verdicts.
Study Questions
God’s Holiness and Our Honor
Why was using the temple vessels such a serious act of defiance?
How do we “profane the sacred” in subtle ways today?
Warnings from God
What role does fear play in waking us up to spiritual reality?
Have you ever felt a “writing on the wall” moment in your life?
Comparing Kings: Belshazzar vs. Nebuchadnezzar
What did Nebuchadnezzar eventually do that Belshazzar refused?
Why is pride more dangerous when it has ignored God’s patience?
Urgency of Repentance
Belshazzar received a warning but did not respond. What does that teach us about delayed obedience?
Are there areas where you’re “weighed and found wanting”? What’s holding you back from surrender?
A Simple Prayer
Lord, help me never to take Your holiness lightly.
Let me not wait for the writing on the wall to humble my heart.
Thank You for Your patience, but don’t let me presume on it.
Make me quick to honor You, and wise enough to listen when You speak.
Helpful Cross-References
Hebrews 10:26–27 – “If we go on sinning deliberately…”
Isaiah 44:28–45:7 – Prophecy of Cyrus opening Babylon’s gates
Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction…”
Romans 2:4 – “Do you presume on the riches of His kindness?”
Revelation 18 – The fall of Babylon as a symbol of worldly pride
Next in the Series: Daniel 6
Next week, we’ll meet Daniel under a new king—and a new test of faith. What does integrity look like when it’s illegal to pray?
Bible Study Toolkit
Translation to Use: English Standard Version (ESV)
Suggested Format: Read Daniel 5 aloud. Use each section of this guide to pause, reflect, and discuss.
Group Leaders: Highlight themes of pride, urgency, and repentance. Invite testimonies of God’s patience.
