This passage reveals the reality of sinful humanity apart from God’s grace. King Belshazzar, despite knowing the lessons from Nebuchadnezzar, hardened his heart, openly defied God, and pursued idolatry. Outwardly, he displayed the confidence of a king, but inwardly, he was fearful and empty. A hardened heart suppresses the truth, rejecting the light of God. The more light that is rejected, the greater the judgment. Belshazzar’s sin and rebellion brought him under God’s just hand, and when judgment came, it was too late. Scripture reminds us that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. None of us measure up on our own. But the good news is this: Christ has done what we could not. By His perfect righteousness, the scales are balanced in our favor. As Paul writes, “For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar’s defiance of God reaches its peak as he uses sacred temple vessels to worship false gods during a drunken feast. With Babylon under siege, his actions show arrogance, blasphemy, and a complete lack of fear of the Lord. God’s judgment comes swiftly and decisively as the mysterious writing on the wall foretells the kingdom’s fall. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, who humbled himself and found mercy, Belshazzar’s hardened heart leads only to destruction.