That expression has become synonymous with judgment or finality or inevitability. When the successor to king Nebudchadnezzar went too far, he literally saw a hand appear out of nowhere and begin to write on the wall.

Belteshazzar had gotten cocky and assumed he was secure in his position (not unlike Nebudchadnezzar had, before God destroyed him). He called for the sacred articles that had been seized from the Temple when Jerusalem was destroyed. He began to have women drink from them and utter blasphemies against God. They actually used this occasion to praise the gods of silver and gold, iron, wood, and stone.

It almost sounds too fantastic, that this man would be overthrown that very night, but history records that this is exactly what happened. The Medes overthrew Belteshazzar, and once again Daniel not only survives, but is set in a position of high authority.

Can anyone honestly say that they would have believed that the Soviet Union would fall as quickly as it did? In just a matter of months, Saddam Hussein went from an absolute dictator to a confused, lice infested old man hauled out of a rat hole.

I guess the point is this. In the end, the Lord is over all, and once He sets His hand to judging a nation or a ruler, there is no redress. The nations are "a drop in the bucket," the Psalmist says.

It should give us all comfort to know that no matter how things seem to be spiraling out of control, the Lord is still on His throne, and whenever He wants, He can still produce handwriting on the wall.

Amen?