Interpreting the meaning of the words

'Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin'...

Interpreting the meaning of the words 'Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin,'

'Mene' means 'to count,' indicating that 'God has counted

the days of King Belshazzar's reign and has brought it to an end.'

'Tekel' means 'to weigh,' indicating that

'King Belshazzar has been weighed on God's scales and found wanting.'

And 'Upharsin' means 'to divide,' indicating that

'King Belshazzar's kingdom will be divided

and given to the Medes and Persians'

(Daniel 5:26-28).

As I meditate on this passage, I gain several lessons:

(1) I pray that the Lord will teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalms 90:12) and keep in mind

that the end of all people is death (Ecclesiastes 7:2).

The wise live not only with a perspective of death

but also with an eternal perspective.

(2) We should not judge according to human standards (John 8:15)

but rather by the correct standard (7:24).

Although we fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23),

the Son of God, Jesus Christ, through His atoning death on the cross,

will raise us on the day of His return with glorious bodies

(1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:21).

We will enter His glorious kingdom (Mark 10:37)

and live forever with Him, rejoicing in glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8).