THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL!!! One of the most famous stories from the Book of Daniel concerns the vision that interrupted the banquet of King Belshazzar. He and his entourage are enjoying using the treasures taken from the temple in Jerusalem. A hand appears and writes on the wall, giving us one of the most common biblical allusions in use: THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL, to refer to signs that there is an imminent end to something going on, probably something bad! Sure enough, the Persians replaced the Babylonians as a power and set the Jews free to return to Jerusalem! And King Belshazzar died that same night!
In my pastoral experience, it has been my sometimes uncomfortable duty to point to "the handwriting on the wall" in someone's life. This is the prophetic side of ministry. I can't say that I received a golden chain around my neck, like Daniel, for my efforts! The only satisfaction that can come from such a ministry, in my opinion, is that the imperiled person(s) recognize the danger and take action. In my years in campus ministry, the freedom of undergraduate life can lead to poor decisions about lifestyle that yield "handwriting on the wall" in the form of poor grades, poor health and poor relationships. Similar scenarios exist at all stages of life. What one can hope for is that a "handwriting on the wall" will not be necessary! But if that does occur, one can hope that there is a Daniel on hand to interpret! AMEN