October 26th - Reflection

Daniel 5:1-12 (NRSV)
A hand writing on the wall

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. Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified and his face turned pale, and his lords were perplexed.

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."

Reflection
Doesn't sound so odd to me. You get drunk and somebody is probably going to give you the finger.

These guys were kind of putting it in God's face. Using the vessels from the temple that were stolen to have a party with, and praising the gods of material things instead of God. So God gives them the finger. But God does this in a much more powerful and appropriate way.

A message is sent to the king and written next to the lamp stand. The light illuminates the message.

We have received a message as well. The Word came to dwell with us and the Light illuminates the message. God loves this world so much that his Son saves this world and brings to you the gift of salvation. A gift to free us from sin, death and the devil. A gift that makes us children of God. A gift that calls us to give up our life and follow Jesus. A gift that continues to work in and through each one of us day after day. A gift that will be fulfilled and brings hope and faith and love for one another and love for God.

The hand writing is one the wall. Will you accept the gift? Will you partake of it? Will you give your life?

It's a message for sure. A message so much better than getting the finger. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, give me pause to stop, look and listen for your messages this day. May I pay heed to what you say. May I change where you want me to change. May I grow where you want me to grow. Teach me this day I pray. --- Amen