Mene, Mene, Tekel, UPharsin by Padre

Posted on by Sarah A. Hoyt

Mene, Mene, Tekel, and UPharsin by Padre

It was the night of 12 October, 539 B.C. The city of Babylon was on edge. The Persian army under Cyrus the Great was camped outside the walls. The Babylonian army had been defeated by the Persians in recent days, the outlying provinces were revolting against the rule of King Nabonidus and his son Belshazzar, and there was discontent against their rule even in the capital city. That evening, Belshazzar, the son of the king and defacto ruler of the empire decided to throw a party.

He, 1000 of his noble sycophants, his and their concubines, and assorted servants gathered in one of the halls of the palace and partied. They partied with the normal restraint Ancient Near-Eastern nobility, which is to say, none. The debauchery flowed with the wine, making a frat party or a Marine 4-day weekend barracks party look like a child’s birthday.

Then, deep in his cups, Belshazzar called for his servants to bring out the gold and silver goblets that his predecessor on the throne of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the various temple and peoples that he had conquered. Including those looted from the temple of the God of Jerusalem. And he and his nobles toasted the gods of Babylon with these sacred objects.

  Suddenly, Belshazzar froze. Across the room, the fingers of a human hand appeared, wrote on the wall, then disappeared. All the drunkenness vanished from his mind, his legs gave way, and he began to scream for the wisemen of Babylon to come interpret the writing for him.

The astrologers and magi came to try, but none of them were able to read and interpret it for him. The king began to panic even more, promising greater and greater gifts to those who could give him the answer, eventually promising that they would be robed in purple, have a gold chain hung around their neck, and be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom. But no one was able to interpret the writing.

Hearing the commotion, the queen (more probably, the queen mother) came in and spoke to King Belshazzar. She remembered a man in the kingdom who had been an advisor to King Nebuchadnezzar, an exile from the kingdom of Judah, and suggested that Belshazzar call him. “Your predecessor called him when he had a problem he couldn’t solve. The wisdom of the holy gods resided in him and Nebuchadnezzar appointed him as chief of the magi. Call him and he will be able to read the writing and interpret it for you.”

So, King Belshazzar called for this Daniel and had him brought in. Now, Daniel was an old man at this point, somewhere around 85 or 86. But the king of Babylon called for him and he was brought before him.

Belshazzar pointed to the writing and asked Daniel to interpret it, telling him that he would be clothed in purple, have a gold chain placed around his neck, and be proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

Daniel nodded, looked at the writing, took in the scene, and began to speak.

He told Belshazzar to keep the gifts. He reminded him of the things that he had seen and known over the last couple decades. Of an incident in the life of Nebuchadnezzar where he had a mental breakdown, believing he was a cow and eating grass like an ox until he acknowledged that God ruled over the kingdoms of the world and placed over them whom he chose. That despite knowing this, he had chosen to use the cups from the temple in Jerusalem to toast his own gods of gold, silver, wood, iron, stone, and bronze instead of the living God, in whose hand is the very breath of his life. And so, He sent the hand to Belshazzar.

As to the writing, Daniel told him, “What is written is this: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. And this is what it means. Mene- God has numbered (mene) the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. Tekel- You have been weighed (tekel) in the balance and found wanting. Peres (the singular of Parsin)- Your kingdom is divided (peres) and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Note that peres also sounds like the Aramaic for Persia, as well.)

And it was so. That very night, Cyrus the Great had his engineers divert the flow of the River Euphrates north of the walls of Babylon into a series of irrigation ditches and the water flowing under the walls of Babylon fell to the point that his forces could wade under the walls. Belshazzar was executed in his bed that night and a couple weeks later, Cyrus entered Babylon to the cheers of the crowds. Babylon had fallen and would never rise again as Persia dominated the world for the next two hundred years until the rise of Alexander.

So, why do we care? Why should we pay attention to an ancient story about the transition of empires and the overthrow of kings?
Because the lesson of Daniel 5 is still the same. God is still on His throne. God is still in charge of the world and nothing happens that is not known and prepared for beforehand.

It doesn’t matter what happens today. The forces conspiring against America and the American people can fraud all they want, cheat all they want, and try to hold on to power by every means at their disposal. They will only reign for as long as God allows them.

God already knows what will happen. The best thing we as His children can do is to pray, vote as best as we are able, and let Him be in control.

77 thoughts on “Mene, Mene, Tekel, UPharsin by Padre”

  3. Indeed I tremble for my country when reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever: that considering numbers, nature and natural means only, a revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation, is among possible events: that it may become probable by supernatural interference!
    — Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Excellent, Sarah.  Our God is Sovereign and definitely in control…not the collective idea that the world would have us believe.MountainJack

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  7. Thank you for this beautiful post.

    Our parish had Mass this morning at 7am when polls opened the Adoration will be ongoing until 7pm when they close. I was able to go to Mass before work and will be at Adoration after work. Voted last week so I could do this.

    It’s in His hands now, where it has always been.

    Whatever He allows to happen will be the best of all possible outcomes. I am confident of this and at peace.

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  8. Stealing from Mathew 6:25-27 (NET translation)

    Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds[ them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?

    And yes it is hard to NOT worry. Even those of us familiar with this passage cringe at least a little today as we know not everything turns out for the best in the short term for even the devout. Just ask Job or the Jews of the first Diaspora how things went.

    continuing on to 6:34

    So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own

    Do your part (vote) and then know that the Author is in control and hang on as sometimes things get bumpy.

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  9. “God helps those who help themselves.”

    I pray God’s thumb on the scale move the majority of each state to endorse President Trump to be our next elected president.

    Note: Not saying #47, because it would not surprise me that if Trump does win the electoral ballot that, for however short of time, Biden will be 25thed (a valid extension), removed-impeached, if needed, and Harris installed as #47, which would make Trump #48. Harris as #47, even for < 2 months, is as scary as Biden left in place. In other words, a joke for the first woman president of the US.

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        1. From what I’ve seen since the DemCoup, while he’s still down on Trump, he’s not inclined to help Que Mala at all; the opposite, in fact. I’d expect him to fight against being “twenty-fifthed” to the last second. And since permanent removal would require the declaration of both Houses of Congress via a 2/3 majority, and given the time available, I can’t see it happening if Gropy Joe fights it as the 25th describes he can and the House stonewalls.

          It would be fun to watch the self-destruction of the Dems in a public spectacle, though. :twisted:

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          1. Given Edith II hates Kamala with a passion hotter than an O class star unless the Turnip up and dies he isn’t going anywhere until 1/20/2025 no matter who wins

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          1. thats just old age too, my moms 93, no filter, some of the stuff she says is eye roll worthy, hard to hold my tongue.

            check out fox news, i guess Jill B wore a red suit to go vote,,,,,,

            the innuendo is priceless on that one

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            1. Mom is 90 in less than two weeks. She has two modes: No filter with TMI, and sneaky secrecy. Hell my filter disappeared when I hit 60. I just normally can’t be bothered. Trust me, mom does not have that problem.

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              1. Filters? Considering that $SPOUSE thinks I’d be on the first boxcar in Flyover County if Que Mala won, it’s safe to say my filtration is fairly poor.

                I did not have the energy/strength to look at the election results, so this morning was the first I saw. O frabjous day!

                Equally pleasing, the worst of the Oregon state measures (which was most of them) got voted down, with even the blue counties helping in the curbstomp on the corporate tax measure. Ranked choice voting got defeated, as did the “independent” commission to set pay raises for the state gubmint. I still smell a rodent (not the ones squatting in the Subaru, sigh) for the impeachment one, but then, no Rs won state wide orifices.

                I had hopes for Sec of State, but nope. Linthicum might be an asshole, but he’s our asshole. He was a local county commissioner back in the day, then state senator. Got railroaded out over the quorum bit, where uncoopoerative Rs got kicked out if they went against the too-many Dems by denying a quorum. (I wonder if a suit might overturn that. Hmm.)

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                1. Thanks. I haven’t looked at the state specific results. I wanted to sleep last night.

                  National election was called just as I was headed to bed (which is a ritual of “must do” so it takes more than a few minutes). I “watched” 6 NCIS saved shows, all night while doing other things, only occasionally hitting the news (she was never ahead).

                  West coast states mail-in-ballot fraud aside, one interesting effect is: Not the last states to get results in, like it used to be. Seriously, the states who haven’t reported in yet? Do not matter. It is decided. How many times since 1976, and before (1976 was my first national vote) that the president result was called before west coast polls even closed, let alone before they could be counted? The change since then (besides mail-in-voting) is national news have agreed to not report the results until west coast polls have closed (not sure that works, but whatever). Those states who, despite “technical” <del>cheat</del> computer methods, or allow extra mail-in-fraud (at least Oregon ballots have to be at the drop boxes by 8 PM on Tuesday voting day) extensions, my response is “You snooze, you lose your voice.” (Not really, but as a live long west coast resident, it seems like it.)

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    3. Point of fact: a 25th Amendment removal does not make the Vice-President the President, but the Acting President. The text is clear. When George Bush served briefly as Acting President when Ronald Reagan was under anesthesia for a cancer operation (Reagan sent notice of his temporary incapacity as the amendment prescribed), that didn’t make him 41: he had to earn that later. Unless they compel a resignation, or conduct an impeachment and removal, they cannot finagle Harris into becoming “President” that way.

      Those are the facts. Whether those facts will matter to the Party media is doubtable to say the least.

      Republica restituendae … or … fiat justitia ruat caelum. Your choice today.

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      1. Which is why my comment above wasn’t entirely serious. Could they 25th or impeach Biden? Yes. Could they do it in time to crown Harris as #47, and first woman president, let alone find a willing VP for her? IDK. Lord knows Biden and Dr. President Jill will drag it out until it doesn’t matter just to thwart, well, everyone. Biden is dementia pissed. Dr Jill has to be in an absolute cold fury.

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  11. AMEN to this story x infinity = the end of the story, as written in the end of the book, the perfect reminder for all those going to vote today. Just pray and vote and let things fall where they may. Thanks for sending this out.

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  12. A few weeks ago, in morning prayer in my closet, I was whining and bemoaning the state of our society and the threats before us, including election issues. The Lord spoke to me “you can live a fruitful life even under persecution.” Not exactly the response I was looking for, but well in line with the spiritual theme He’s had me working through for the last 4 1/2 years. Keep praying!

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      1. Don’t count yourself out to soon. Some weeks ago I ran across the photo of a guy on Tumblr who’d had his picture taken in or around the 1870s when he was about 100-odd….

        He’d fought in the American Revolution. And we have his picture. Whoa.

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          2. souped up 10-22 is excellent, tack driver.
            i opted for a JP upper for one of my milspec lowers, heft and design closely mimics their competition rifle, super accurate and real purdy 😎

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        2. I recommend Ruger 10-22 for a rifle. 77-22 if you prefer bolt-action.

          Henry makes good lever-action .22s.

          If pistol, the Ruger Mk4 .22 is cool and good. They also sell “cowboy” single action. 22s, the Single Six or the cheaper Wrangler. (Both are good)

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        3. If you wish to share approximately where you are, perhaps a Hun (or even an AoS Moron) would be available to help you shop. Several ranges offer rentals so you can see how an item feels in your hands.

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          1. Rural South Central Kansas. There’s a store in town with really knowledgable employees and I can shoot on my own property.

            I found a full box of 22 shells in the boxes-not-yet-unpacked ™ which is what gave me the idea.

            The last time I went shopping for this, fed gov still had my old address and I ended up needing the money for something else.

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          2. Southwestern WA. Yes, there’s a store nearby (in Centralia) that offers rentals at their indoor range so you can test out a prospective purchase. The downside is that due to our insane laws there’s a ten-day wait for said purchase.

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            1. Same here in the Eugene area. An indoor range near Lane Community College. Another range, both indoor and outdoor, north of Junction City on Hwy 99e.

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              1. There’s a lack of official ranges in Flyover County. I’ve been reluctant to ask my neighbor to use his, but it might be time. The unofficial one on FS land west of us is blocked by a bridge repair, and I’m not going to the one in Rattlesnake Meadow for obvious reasons.

                The official range is SW of Flyover Falls, and maybe 60 miles away. I don’t have enough land to do it safely for anything larger than a .22, and the safest location is in the sightline of a sketchy neighbor.

                No indoor ranges open to the public. I suspect the F-Falls copshop has one when they rebuilt a fire station for police work, but nope. Plenty ranges in metro Medford. Maybe…

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                1. None in F-Falls area? I’m surprised. I guess enough traditional public land or private ranch locations that “not needed”? Locally dad used to take us to an old side hill quarry (rarely) otherwise used grandparents or great-uncle’s places outside of Drain. Great-uncle’s was 80 acres, grandparents only 2.75 acres, both had natural dirt hill backstops for the ranges.

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                  1. There’s a decent one west of Keno on SR 66, but it’s rather far from us. (We’re NE of F-Falls, Keno SW).

                    There’s a hogback that’s a potential backstop, though the fenceline is only 2/3s the way up. OTOH, it’s mostly an antelope reserve (and coyote breeding ground, go figure). Problem is N of that site is the one neighbor I don’t want to deal with.

                    If suppressors become easy to get (ie, removed from the NFA list), I have a .22 Ruger 22/45 with a threaded barrel, and would get the 10-22 threaded. I’m resisting the temptation to roll my own. With such, I could shoot .22 on the property safely enough with minimal disruption.

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        4. Heck, if you live in Florida I’ve a .22 pistol I’m looking to trade in for one with a threaded barrel. I’d rather it go to a Hun than a store.

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  15. got up early (for me), was at the polling place by 815. No lone, went straight in and voted.

    New machines this time. I got a blank ballot sheet and took it to a machine that printed my choices on the ballot. Then it was scanned into a box.

    I’m not terribly worried in the deep red heart of Texas, but i pray for the republic.

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    1. As up about the same. Line was around two blocks long. And climbing. Took about an hour to get in and vote, but vote we did. All of us’ns.

      Lone democrat in the crowd confided that she would me moving away soon. Wished her well. This place ain’t for everyone I suspect, but I like it.

      Paper ballots on the table. One lady’s ballot wouldn’t scan, so she had to get another. Girl at the door was checking driver’s licenses. One before me had her change of address and voter registration too, no chances taken that one. Most folk seemed just glad for it to be done.

      No inky fingers this time. Might be worth it to start. Might cause a trend.

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    2. Turns out 2:30 was perfect timing. No lines. A steady flow of people in and out just at the rate to keep them busy.

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    1. Well, we ain’t reached perfection yet. That’s a goal we’d never achieve, but best to strive to.

      Humans are made to strive. We tend to die off sooner when there’s no goal to stretch for. A house. Family. Grandkids. A purpose in life. For some it is fame, fortune. Pfah. They can keep that stuff.

      Me, I strive to be better man than I was before. More honest. Hard working. Reliable. I’m not good at it, but I try. Being a better man of faith is more than mumbling a few words and showing up at church.

      It is a purpose. Live honorably, humbly, and show your character. Teach what you know, and learn what you can. Speak the truth, even and especially when it hurts. Keep your word. Make your work a thing reliably, competently. Leave no ripples of uncertainty or doubt where you stand. Don’t complain.

      In a way, we are better for our flaws. Failure is in a away a blessing, because it is a lesson learned. Fixing those flaws is what makes us better people. And Lord, are there forever flaws in me.

      That’s what forgiveness is for. Forgive yourself, sister. Look upon those flaws as things to be fixed, a little at a time, year over year. My hope is that, as we get on, we get a little less bad, and a little less bad at it, as we get all old and crotchety.

      Got to have something to teach those young whippersnappers then, eh? A flaw can become the foundation for strength. May we all seek that strength as we go, making us better folk in the long run.

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  17. Here in Indiana, I just stood in line for 2 hours to vote.
    And every time I passed by the polling place last week, the line was equally as long.

    For comparison, 2020 had high turnout, and I stood in line (at the same polling location) for twenty minutes, at most.

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  19. And now…. the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say: King Cyrus of Persia was the king who allowed the exiled Jews to return to their homeland. Isaiah 45 says that God used him even though he did not know the Hebrew God.

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    1. Well, as the song says, if the Most High can use “a half-crazed Mississippi squirrel …” And we all know that the Author has a very Odd sense of humor. (One-ton wombats? Giant hairy armadillos? Really?)

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  21. For a little bit more hope:

    The light is ever burning
    It cannot be laid low.
    It shines through every darkness
    Bringing hope with its glow.

    Do not fear the darkness
    It cannot stand the light
    Even as the dawning
    Drives away the night.

    Even in the deepest nighttime
    The defiant stars still burn
    No storm can e’re extinguish
    Just hide them for a turn.

    The storm is cut by lightning
    That drives the dark away
    The storming battle rages
    But the darkness cannot stay.

    So do not fear the darkness
    Strive ever to the light.
    The morning yet is coming
    It always ends the night.

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      1. You’re welcome, I’m glad they help. I’m trying to post more regularly here and elsewhere.

        On the rest of it, I’ll take all the inspiration I can get from Him. He’s definitely got a hand in it.

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  22. I felt confident enough in our future to buy a -nice- vehicle to replace my deceased Saturn.

    Live a little. Been thrifty for decades, so a bit more splurge than I normally would.

    Dang thing is a Battlecruiser! ¡Qaplah Carajo!

    (kzin grin)

    And best of all, the econ activity does nothing for the ballot hopes of the current dorkuloids.

    (moose antler gesture) neenerneenerneener!

    Battlecruiser!

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  24. I voted. Moderately crowded, about 15 minutes wait.

    What the machines will do with the ballots after eating them, no one is allowed to know. The results may have something to do with how actual American citizens voted, or not.

    I know far too much about computers to blindly trust them.

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  25. I run into a similar “nothing new under the sun” comment on YouTube. Rick Beato (interesting guy; music centered) posted a video about fluid vs crystalized intelligence. People made comments clearly showing that they didn’t watch the whole thing. He posted another video basically saying, “watch the whole video before commenting”. In the comments of that one: “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame -proverbs 18:13”

    Things don’t change as much as we’d like to think.

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