King Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, Belshazzar, ruled Babylon when Daniel was around 80 years old. Daniel had been somewhat forgotten and replaced by other counselors at that time. That is until God wrote on a wall during one of Belshazzar’s parties. A party that never should have been thrown because a great army was outside Babylon getting ready to invade. In a panic, Daniel was brought in to interpret the message on the wall. He did, and it basically said, “You are done, Belshazzar.” During that night, the Medes and Persians invaded and killed Belshazzar. Amazingly, these two great nations turned to Daniel to help them rule Babylon, which led to the fulfillment of the prophecy that Israel and the Temple would be rebuilt. What can you take from this? Although the world around you may have determined you are irrelevant or replaceable, you are not in God’s estimation. Daniel wasn’t, despite his age, nor will you be. Just stay patient and wait for God to clear the way for you to serve Him as He did with Daniel.
Daniel 5:1,5-6,10,13,25-30 & Ezra 1:1-3 Belshazzar, the King, held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles. Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the wall of the King’s palace. The King’s face grew pale, his hip joints went slack, and his knees began knocking together. Then the queen mother entered and spoke, “There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your Father, illumination, insight, and wisdom.” Daniel was brought in before the King. “Are you able to read the inscription and make its interpretation?” Daniel responded, “This is the message: MENE, MENE—God has numbered the days of your kingdom and put them to an end. TEKEL—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. PERES—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain by the Medes and Persians. Then during the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia, to fulfill the Word of the Lord, Cyrus‘s Spirit was stirred. Consequently, he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, saying, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Therefore, whoever wants to return to Israel will build that house.”