Post by Woody Williams on Oct 25, 2010 6:24:32 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Daniel 5:1-8, 10-14
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King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords,
and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. Under the
influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the
vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken
out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his
wives, and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in
the vessels of gold and silver that had been taken out of the temple,
the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives,
and his concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised
the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on
the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand.
The king was watching the hand as it wrote. Then the king's face
turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and
his knees knocked together. The king cried aloud to bring in the
enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners; and the king said to the
wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me its
interpretation shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold
around his neck, and rank third in the kingdom." Then all the king's
wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the
king the interpretation.
The queen, when she heard the discussion of the king and his lords,
came into the banqueting hall. The queen said, "O king, live forever!
Do not let your thoughts terrify you or your face grow pale. There is
a man in your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods.
In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment,
understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your father,
King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters,
Chaldeans, and diviners, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and
understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve
problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar.
Now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation." Then
Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "So
you are Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king
brought from Judah? I have heard of you that a spirit of the gods is
in you, and that enlightenment, understanding, and excellent wisdom
are found in you."
Devotional
----------
Daniel had the reputation of speaking truthfully the wisdom of God.
He was a prophet of great vision and power. He was a truth speaker.
He was part of the exiled community of Jews in Babylon. In the midst
of a party of pure debauchery that was mocking the vessels taken from
the Jewish temple, God began to write on the wall. The king knew
enough to take it seriously.
Prayer
-----------
Open my eyes to the many ways you speak into my life and those around
me, gracious God. Amen
----------
King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords,
and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. Under the
influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the
vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken
out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his
wives, and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in
the vessels of gold and silver that had been taken out of the temple,
the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives,
and his concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised
the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on
the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand.
The king was watching the hand as it wrote. Then the king's face
turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and
his knees knocked together. The king cried aloud to bring in the
enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners; and the king said to the
wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me its
interpretation shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold
around his neck, and rank third in the kingdom." Then all the king's
wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the
king the interpretation.
The queen, when she heard the discussion of the king and his lords,
came into the banqueting hall. The queen said, "O king, live forever!
Do not let your thoughts terrify you or your face grow pale. There is
a man in your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods.
In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment,
understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your father,
King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters,
Chaldeans, and diviners, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and
understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve
problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar.
Now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation." Then
Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "So
you are Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king
brought from Judah? I have heard of you that a spirit of the gods is
in you, and that enlightenment, understanding, and excellent wisdom
are found in you."
Devotional
----------
Daniel had the reputation of speaking truthfully the wisdom of God.
He was a prophet of great vision and power. He was a truth speaker.
He was part of the exiled community of Jews in Babylon. In the midst
of a party of pure debauchery that was mocking the vessels taken from
the Jewish temple, God began to write on the wall. The king knew
enough to take it seriously.
Prayer
-----------
Open my eyes to the many ways you speak into my life and those around
me, gracious God. Amen