Scared Straight #3 - The Writing Is On The Wall Series

Two weeks ago, we began a new teaching series around the supernatural. We discussed the idea that Jesus' presence and works 2000 years ago represent an orderly working of the world many don’t recognise nor do they understand, so they call the events - supernatural.

Supernatural by definition is: (a manifestation or event) attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.

Science generates solutions for everyday life and helps us to answer the great mysteries of the universe. ... It has a specific role, as well as a variety of functions for the benefit of our society including better relations between people, improving education, increasing the quality and even quantity of our lives while on earth.

However, just because science can not define or systemize an event doesn’t change it or its significance in the world in which we live. The scriptures share hundreds of stories science has yet to fully explain.

Have you ever heard or said the idiom, “The writings on the wall?” The meaning is simple - the event, the action is going to happen. For example: The Chicago Bears will get another quarterback next year. The governor will propose another taxing solution. The media will misrepresent a good idea as bad or vice versa.

Did you know the origin of the phrase? It comes from the scriptures. Specifically, it comes from the book of Daniel, Chapter 5

Today’s supernatural moment comes via Daniel. You remember Daniel.

He was plucked from his family and forced into Babylonian service by the King

He refused to succumb to the beliefs of the society around him.

He would not eat the food of his captors but would still grow strong. .

He would not bow down to the king or any other God.

A little background for the time period, Daniel's life took place during the sixth century before the birth of Jesus. During this period:

- Construction on the Acropolis in Athens began

- Mayan civilization flourished in Mexico

- Aesop wrote his fables

- Confucius and Buddha lived

- Greek art began to truly excel

- The Phoenicians made the first known sea journey around Africa

- The Greeks introduced the olive tree to Italy

The book itself details a number of supernatural moments and more fulfilled prophecies than any other Old Testament book. It offers an incredible story of God’s favor for those who surrender their life to Him and refuse to succumb to both society’s justifications and man’s declarations.

Today’s supernatural moment comes from Chapter 5 of Daniel's book. May God give us ears to hear, a mind to understand and an open heart to assimilate the truth.

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father[a] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. 3 So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. 4 As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. 5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking. 7 The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers[b] and diviners.

Imagine seeing the writing on the wall. It’s definitely something out of a horror movie but it happened. Truth is stranger than fiction. How would you have reacted? And the story goes on with everyone unable to tell the king the meaning so he calls on Daniel. Daniel once again proves his connection to God by sharing the only truth a frightened king could hear. Take a listen of Dan’s words:

22 “But you, Belshazzar, his son,[d] have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

25 “This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin