“伯沙撒王为他的一千大臣设摆盛筵，与这一千人对面饮酒。” – 但 5:1
有些宴会将以悲剧告终。今天的经文讲的是一个王国突然灭亡而结束的盛筵。这件事发生在当时世上最有权势王的宫殿里。他真的看到了“墙上的文字”，告诉王他的日子不多了（见但 5:25-30），于是王非常害怕。
巴比伦王伯沙撒的盛宴只邀请选定的人。这次聚会什么都不缺：上好的食物，昂贵的葡萄酒，漂亮的女子，甚至有从耶路撒冷神的圣殿掳来的金高脚杯。然后，在这狂欢中，一只手出现了，在墙上写了一条信息。但是王的宾客和哲士都看不懂。
但以理书5章的其余经文告诉我们，但以理被召来解释墙上的文字。这是来自神的信息，宣告伯沙撒王国的终结。就在那一夜，王国被推翻了。
听到自己的王国即将灭亡是多么难受啊！这样的话可能来自医生，也可能是破产宣告，或许最伟大的梦想和计划已经灰飞烟灭。我们不能以违背神的方式生活，或者对只有神才能提供的永生漠不关心。这位真神愿意赐给我们永远、丰盛、自由的生命，我们为什么要寻求短暂的快乐呢？
祷告
主啊，我们知道不惜一切代价寻求快乐会带来痛苦的后果。求你拯救我们脱离毁灭，使我们的心归向你。阿们。
但以理书 5:1-9
1伯沙撒王为他的一千大臣设摆盛筵，与这一千人对面饮酒。
2伯沙撒欢饮之间，吩咐人将他父尼布甲尼撒从耶路撒冷殿中所掠的金银器皿拿来，王与大臣、皇后、妃嫔好用这器皿饮酒。
3于是他们把耶路撒冷神殿库房中所掠的金器皿拿来，王和大臣、皇后、妃嫔就用这器皿饮酒。
4他们饮酒，赞美金、银、铜、铁、木、石所造的神。
5当时，忽有人的指头显出，在王宫与灯台相对的粉墙上写字。王看见写字的指头，
6就变了脸色，心意惊惶，腰骨好像脱节，双膝彼此相碰，
7大声吩咐将用法术的和迦勒底人并观兆的领进来，对巴比伦的哲士说：“谁能读这文字，把讲解告诉我，他必身穿紫袍，项戴金链，在我国中位列第三。”
8于是王的一切哲士都进来，却不能读那文字，也不能把讲解告诉王。
9伯沙撒王就甚惊惶，脸色改变，他的大臣也都惊奇。
Fleeting Happiness
“King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.” – Daniel 5:1
There are parties that end in tragedy. Our Bible reading for today talks about a party that ended with the sudden fall of a kingdom. This happened in the palace of the most powerful king in the world at that time. He literally saw “the writing on the wall” that told him his days were numbered (see Daniel 5:25-30), and the king was terrified.
The feast of King Belshazzar of Babylon included only select people. Nothing was missing at this party: the best food, expensive wines, beautiful women, even the golden goblets raided from the temple of God in Jerusalem. Then, in the midst of this revelry, a hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall. But none of the king’s guests or his wise men could read it.
The rest of Daniel 5 explains that Daniel was summoned to interpret the writing on the wall. It was a message from God announcing the end of Belshazzar’s kingdom. And on that night the kingdom was overthrown.
How hard it is to hear that one’s kingdom is coming to an end! Maybe the words come from a doctor or in a bankruptcy declaration. Maybe the greatest of dreams and plans has gone up in smoke. We cannot live in a way that goes against God or is indifferent to the eternal life that only God can provide. Why would we want just fleeting happiness when the true God offers us life forever, full and free?
Prayer
Lord, we know that seeking pleasure at all costs brings bitter consequences. Spare us from ruin, turning our hearts to follow you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
