Numbered, Weighed, and Judged | Daniel 5:24-31
Main Truth
God weighs a person’s life and judges accordingly.
1. The Writing and Interpretation (Daniel 5:24–28)
After Belshazzar dishonors God, a mysterious hand writes on the wall:
“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.”
These words are Aramaic units of weight, but they also sound like .
Daniel’s Interpretation
• Mene – God has numbered the days of Babylon’s kingdom.
• Tekel – Belshazzar has been weighed by God and found wanting.
• Peres – The kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
God’s judgment is not random—He measures, evaluates, and acts justly.
2. The Aftermath (Daniel 5:29–31)
Belshazzar still refuses to humble himself before God.
He keeps his promise to reward Daniel, but that very night:
• Belshazzar is killed
• Babylon falls
• Darius the Mede receives the kingdom
God’s verdict is immediate and decisive.
What This Means for Us
Scripture teaches the same reality for every human life:
• God numbers our days (Job 14:5)
• God weighs our lives (Proverbs 16:2)
• God will judge accordingly
Our lives may appear stable or successful, but ultimately every life stands before God’s scales.
The Problem
When weighed by God’s perfect standard:
Every person is found lacking.
Our sin is not only in our actions but also in our hearts, thoughts, and intentions (Matthew 5).
The Good News of the Gospel
Jesus Christ enters the story as the true and perfect King.
• His days were numbered by God, yet He lived each one in perfect obedience.
• He was weighed by men and condemned, yet found blameless by God.
• On the cross, He bore the judgment for our sin.
Because of Christ:
• God weighs every life and judges justly.
• Christ’s life was weighed and found blameless on our behalf.
• Those who trust in Him live in gratitude, not fear of condemnation.
A Question to Consider
What verdict will God give when your life is weighed?
The gospel invites us today to trust in Christ so that the verdict over our lives is mercy instead of judgment.