Scripture Reading : Daniel 5
Theme : Writing on the Wall
Writing on the Wall (1-12). King Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son, took over the kingdom of Babylon after the death of his father. In defiance of the living God, he took God’s holy temple vessels and used them for a debauch drinking party. He blasphemed God by praising gods of gold and silver instead of the true, living God. His sin is even greater since he knew about god through his father (v. 22). Instead of worshipping God for His grace on his father, he blasphemes Him. So God judges him by writing MENE, MENE, TEKEL and PARSIN through a human hand without a body. This scared Belshazzar and the party stopped. He could not find anyone to read and interpret the writing except Daniel.
Fulfillment of the Writing (13-30) Daniel interprets the writing but humbly rejects the gifts from the king. Perhaps he knew they would useless since the kingdom would fall that very night. MENE sounds like the word for numbering, for God has numbered the king’s day, or has brought has days to an end. TEKEL sounds like weight, meaning God has judged him to be unfit. PARSIN means divide, also a word for Persia, meaning God has given the kingdom to the Persian as it was predicted in Daniel 2:39. History records that one night the Persians diverted the water of Babylon in order to get into the waterways under the thick walls and destroyed the city through a surprise attack, thus fulfilling God’s word.
Praying the Scripture
- All proud people who shake their fist at God in defiance will be destroyed by His righteous judgment as He destroyed prideful Belshazzar. Pride is the enemy of faith. It is deadly and leads people to hell. Pray that God will take all our pride away, including our self-righteous pride and our personal pride. Proverb 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pray that God will humble unbelievers and open their hearts to trust in Jesus.
经文：但以理书5
主题：墙上的字
在墙上写的字（1-12）。尼布甲尼撒的儿子伯沙撒在他父亲去世后继承王位，作巴比伦王。他大胆抵触永生之神，竟从神的圣殿掳掠器皿，用于纵饮之宴。他赞美金、银所造的神，从而亵渎那位永活真神。他的罪更为深重，因为他通过自己的父亲晓得神是谁（22节）。他不但不因着神对他父亲所赐的恩典敬拜祂，反倒亵渎神。因此，神向他施行审判，借着无身的指头写下“弥尼，弥尼，提客勒，乌法珥新”。这使伯沙撒受惊，停止了酒宴。除了但以理，他找不到任何人解读这文字，并讲解字义。
文字的经验（13-30）。但以理讲解了文字，但谦卑地拒绝了王的礼物。他或许晓得巴比伦当晚就会沦陷，礼物一无是处。“弥尼”听起来像数算，因为神已经数算了王的日子，或终止了伯沙撒作王的日数。“提客勒”听起来似衡量，意思是神已判断他不配作王。“乌法珥新”意思是划分，也代表波斯，即神已将帝国给了波斯，如但以理在2:29所预言的。历史显示：波斯人用一晚的时间转移巴比伦的水源，进入厚墙下的水道，突击并毁灭这城，从而应验了神的话。
用经文祷告
- 凡以蔑视的眼光向神挥拳的骄傲之人必然在祂公义的审判中被毁灭，如祂消灭伯沙撒一样。骄傲是信心之敌。它是致命的，领人入地狱。祈求神会脱去我们的骄傲，包括我们的自义和个人的骄傲。箴言16:18说：“骄傲在败坏以先，狂心在跌倒之前。”祈求神会降卑非信徒，敞开他们的心房，信靠耶稣。
