In 1957, Johnny Cash wrote the following:
Weighed in the Balance and Found Wanting
Well, the bible tells us about a man
Who ruled Babylon and all its land.
Around the city, he built a wall
And declared that Babylon would never fall.
He had concubines and wives,
He called his Babylon “Paradise.”
On his throne he drank and ate,
but for Belshazar it was gettin’ late.
For he was weighed in the balance and found wanting,
His kingdom was divided, couldn’t stand.
He was weighed in the balance and found wanting,
His houses were built upon the sand.
Well, the people feasted and drank their wine
And praised the false gods of his time.
All holy things they scorned and mocked,
But suddenly all their mocking stopped.
For on the wall, there appeared a hand,
Nothin’ else, there was no man.
In blood the hand began to write,
And Belshazar couldn’t hide his fright.
For he was weighed in the balance and found wanting,
His kingdom was divided, couldn’t stand.
He was weighed in the balance and found wanting,
His houses were built upon the sand.
Well, no one around could understand.
What was written by the mystic hand.
Belshazar tried, but couldn’t find
A man who could give him peace of mind.
But Daniel, the prophet, a man of God,
He saw the writing on the wall in blood.
Belshazar asked him what it said,
And Daniel turned to the wall and read:
“My friend, you’re weighed in the balance and found wanting,
Your kingdom is divided, it can’t stand.
You’re weighed in the balance and found wanting,
Your houses are built upon the sand.”
It would seem that Mr. Cash understood the story of Belshazzar. You too have likely heard the story of how Belshazzar saw the handwriting on the wall. A real, human hand suddenly appeared on the wall of his banquet hall and began writing in blood in a strange language. Now that had to be a scary thing!! He called on the interpreters (seers) of his day who were supposed to figure these things out. They could see what he was talking about and showing them – but they could not understand the writing on the wall.
It was then that he called for Daniel. Now you must understand, Daniel had already been proven to understand dreams and visions. He translated the words to read – You’re weighed in the balance and found wanting, your kingdom is divided, it can’t stand. You’re weighed in the balance and found wanting, your houses are built upon the sand. This was a final warning to Belshazzar from the Lord of Heaven to change his ways before it was too late.
However, Belshazzar didn’t like what Daniel told him, so he rejected the wisdom of his words and called his interpreters back in, who told him what they thought he wanted to hear.
That very night Belshazzar was killed. (Read Daniel 5:30)
The story of King Belshazzar is one of the most tragic of Old Testament history. It is a story that should strike terror in our very souls, and should make us to understand the moral corruption that can result in our lives when God is not honored.
All of this took place after King Nebuchadnezzar (Belshazzar’s father) was taken into captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar was forced to live in exile until he had learned to “KNOW” that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom He will. . . Daniel 5:21
Nebuchadnezzar came out of that humiliating experience a changed man, confessing God’s sovereignty.
One would think that Belshazzar would have learned from the experience of his father, but alas he did not. Although he knew all that there was to know about the situation, he showed no humility or reverence for God. Instead, he threw a big party and became drunk.
Isaiah 5:11-22 “Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink…,” Belshazzar did all of this on the eve of his nation’s end. Even as the kingdom was poised for collapse, he was found to be feasting and drinking wine in front of a thousand people. He was drinking and making merry while on the brink of destruction.
You know, I have found in this life that if someone is set and determined to ignore the warnings their friends and family give them, or to ignore the wisdom found in God’s Word, then they will likely have to suffer the consequences of their pride and stubbornness. It is very painful to watch someone you love go through such an experience.
Belshazzar not only ignored the warning signs, he became absorbed in idolatry. He commanded that vessels of gold and silver – those used by Nebuchadnezzar (his own father), for worship purposes, be taken out of the temple in Jerusalem and be brought out so that the king and his lords, his wives and concubines could drink from them. Not only did they drink from them, they gave praise to the gods of gold, silver, bronze, wood and iron. Rather than praising God, they praised the things that had been used in worship to Him.
To whom are we giving praise to today? Is it to a group of people, an individual, to a building, to things that have been entrusted to us? If it is any other than to the Lord our God, then it is idolatry and is wrong.
Belshazzar’s behavior was arrogant and irreverent. He is an example to us of what happens when the heart is not humbled before God.
Unfortunately, God does not often send a giant hand to literally “write on the wall” for us today!!! But he does send people in our lives who can speak with us and give us insight on matters that we can’t see ourselves. Sometimes we literally can’t see the forest for the trees so to speak! It is up to us whether we heed these warnings or not.
It is simple really to avoid this tragedy. All we have to do is “Praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are right and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride, He is able to humble.” Daniel 4:37