但以理書5:1-9

5:1 伯沙撒王為他的一千大臣設擺盛筵，與這一千人對面飲酒。

5:2 伯沙撒歡飲之間，吩咐人將他父（或譯：祖；下同）尼布甲尼撒從耶路撒冷殿中所掠的金銀器皿拿來，王與大臣、皇后、妃嬪好用這器皿飲酒。

5:3 於是他們把耶路撒冷上帝殿庫房中所掠的金器皿拿來，王和大臣、皇后、妃嬪就用這器皿飲酒。

5:4 他們飲酒，讚美金、銀、銅、鐵、木、石所造的神。

5:5 當時，忽有人的指頭顯出，在王宮與燈臺相對的粉牆上寫字。王看見寫字的指頭

5:6 就變了臉色，心意驚惶，腰骨好像脫節，雙膝彼此相碰，

5:7 大聲吩咐將用法術的和迦勒底人並觀兆的領進來，對巴比倫的哲士說，誰能讀這文字，把講解告訴我，他必身穿紫袍，項帶金鍊，在我國中位列第三。

5:8 於是王的一切哲士都進來，卻不能讀那文字，也不能把講解告訴王。

5:9 伯沙撒王就甚驚惶，臉色改變，他的大臣也都驚奇。

1 King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.

2 Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought in the golden vessels 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. 4 They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

5 Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. 6 Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. 7 The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." 8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.

***********

    伯沙撒王擺設筵席，用耶路撒冷聖殿的器皿飲酒，結果有指頭出現在牆上寫字，使得國王驚惶。這個事件發生的年代大約在拿波尼度王第17年，西元前539或538年10月，但以理應該已經八十歲左右了。此處距離第四章末尾記載的事件，已經過了三十年。在那之前幾日，波斯大軍才經過血戰後，攻下位於巴比倫北方八十公里的奧皮斯城。接著渡過幼發拉底河，西帕爾城不戰而降。拿波尼度在奧皮斯之役，城陷時逃走。後來是在巴比倫以南二十七公里處被俘。

「伯沙撒」的字義是「願『彼勒』（一個神名）保護皇帝」。是當時巴比倫王拿波尼度的兒子，因為拿波尼度長年留在他瑪城，西元前 550年任命伯沙撒攝政。瑪代波斯大軍攻陷巴比倫時，伯沙撒被殺。

其實，當時波斯軍隊已經進逼巴比倫城，舉行宴會只是想團結人心，做最後的抵抗。在這種情況下又看到奇怪的手寫字，巴比倫王的驚訝、害怕並不難令人想像。大概也就是在這種鼓勵自己與軍民的士氣宴會中，為要表現自己的國力還很強，才會做出平常不會做的貶低其他國家祭器行為來。

從這裡在一次讓我們看見，人不可以高抬自己高於上帝，竊取上帝的榮耀，這樣的下場是很可怕的！伯沙撒王的無知帶來自己的敗亡，同樣服事上帝的人更是要防止將榮耀歸給自己，一切都是上帝的榮耀！

但以理書4:28-37

4:28 這事都臨到尼布甲尼撒王。

4:29 過了十二個月，他遊行在巴比倫王宮裡（原文是上）。

4:30 他說：「這大巴比倫不是我用大能大力建為京都，要顯我威嚴的榮耀嗎？」

4:31 這話在王口中尚未說完，有聲音從天降下，說：「尼布甲尼撒王啊，有話對你說，你的國位離開你了。

4:32 你必被趕出離開世人，與野地的獸同居，吃草如牛，且要經過七期。等你知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜與誰就賜與誰。」

4:33 當時這話就應驗在尼布甲尼撒的身上，他被趕出離開世人，吃草如牛，身被天露滴濕，頭髮長長，好像鷹毛；指甲長長，如同鳥爪。

4:34 日子滿足，我─尼布甲尼撒舉目望天，我的聰明復歸於我，我便稱頌至高者，讚美尊敬活到永遠的上帝。他的權柄是永有的；他的國存到萬代。

4:35 世上所有的居民都算為虛無；在天上的萬軍和世上的居民中，他都憑自己的意旨行事。無人能攔住他手，或問他說，你做甚麼呢？

4:36 那時，我的聰明復歸於我，為我國的榮耀、威嚴，和光耀也都復歸於我；並且我的謀士和大臣也來朝見我。我又得堅立在國位上，至大的權柄加增於我。

4:37 現在我─尼布甲尼撒讚美、尊崇、恭敬天上的王；因為他所做的全都誠實，他所行的也都公平。那行動驕傲的，他能降為卑。

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.  At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,  and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”  While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,  and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”  Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,       

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,

and he does according to his will among the host of heaven

and among the inhabitants of the earth;

and none can stay his hand

or say to him, “What have you done?”

  At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

************

一年後尼布甲尼撒王的夢應驗了，等到他恢復理性與權位之後，他就頌讚上帝。但以理的勸諫可能有點用，不過一年之後巴比倫王終於還是故態復萌，導致上帝的警告應驗在他身上。因為他驕傲地說：「這大巴比倫不是我用大能大力建為京都，要顯我威嚴的榮耀嗎？」

從尼布甲尼撒王的事讓我們知道：一個正在順境中的人，能不能了解自己不一定能夠掌握一切？能不能謙卑的聽進去這世界另有主宰？上帝對巴比倫王還算不錯，當他悔改後又能得回王權，在社會中常見的狀況是「驕傲帶來無法復原的敗亡」。我們自己能夠隨時保持謙卑嗎？

故此，我們要將榮耀歸給上帝，不要將榮耀歸給自己，尤其是覺得自己有所作為的時候，更是要謙卑自己，尊榮上帝！因為事實上，一切都是上帝的作為，是上帝該得榮耀，不是我們能被尊榮什麼！尼布甲尼撒王是我們的借鏡，一定要學習將榮耀歸給上帝！

歌羅西書1:28

我們傳揚他，是用諸般的智慧，勸戒各人，教導各人，要把各人在基督裡完完全全地引到上帝面前。

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

**********

                   這句話的意思是要人在基督裡成為一個成熟人，意思是說，「我們領人信耶穌基督為救主」只是入門，我們還要教導他們成為一位成熟的基督徒，也就是要他們的生命品質有所改變，就是要基督的生命成形在每一個信主的人身上！

    這是牧者要努力之處，也是教會弟兄姊妹要彼此勉勵，讓大家的生命真正成熟長大，而不是一直停留在吃奶的階段，只是想到自己的需要，而不是長大成人成為服事別人的人！

    這對教會的成長是一個很重要的指標，教會不適人數多的虛胖，教會要實實在在有基督生命的展現，這就要有實實在在的靈命品格，才能發揮出教會是基督的身體之特質。而要做到此就是要大家齊心努力，「用諸般的智慧，勸戒各人，教導各人」！

但以理書4:19-27

4:19 於是稱為伯提沙撒的但以理驚訝片時，心意驚惶。王說：「伯提沙撒啊，不要因夢和夢的講解驚惶。」伯提沙撒回答說：「我主啊，願這夢歸與恨惡你的人，講解歸與你的敵人。

4:20 你所見的樹漸長，而且堅固，高得頂天，從地極都能看見；

4:21 葉子華美，果子甚多，可作眾生的食物；田野的走獸住在其下；天空的飛鳥宿在枝上。

4:22 「王啊，這漸長又堅固的樹就是你。你的威勢漸長及天，你的權柄管到地極。

4:23 王既看見一位守望的聖者從天而降，說：『將這樹砍伐毀壞，樹墩卻要留在地內，用鐵圈和銅圈箍住；在田野的青草中，讓天露滴濕，使他與地上的獸一同吃草，直到經過七期。』

4:24 「王啊，講解就是這樣：臨到我主我王的事是出於至高者的命。

4:25 你必被趕出離開世人，與野地的獸同居，吃草如牛，被天露滴濕，且要經過七期。等你知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜與誰就賜與誰。

4:26 守望者既吩咐存留樹墩，等你知道諸天掌權，以後你的國必定歸你。

4:27 王啊，求你悅納我的諫言，以施行公義斷絕罪過，以憐憫窮人除掉罪孽，或者你的平安可以延長。」

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,' 24 this is the interpretation, O king:It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you:break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

************

    但以理解釋尼布甲尼撒王的夢，表明上帝要管教巴比倫王，讓他知道誰真正掌權。看起來尼布甲尼撒王和但以理的關係不錯，所以他能察覺但以理的猶豫，也願意鼓勵但以理照實說出夢境的講解。但以理也很謹慎的先陳明王的威榮，再講負面的警告。

    從這裡看見但以理趁機勸告尼布甲尼撒王：「以施行公義斷絕罪過，以憐憫窮人除掉罪孽，或者你的平安可以延長。」

    因為歷史上的尼布甲尼撒王崇尚建設，甚至建了「空中花園」成為當時的世界七大奇景之一。因此很可能不太理會勞工的死活，但以理趁機建議巴比倫王去惡從善。

    這也看出基督徒在社會上要站在什麼角度說話，不是巴結有權勢者，而是要照顧弱勢與邊緣者，因為這是上帝託付之使命，因為上帝知道他們發聲的機會很少，並且不被人注意，而那些既得利益者卻常打壓他們，不肯分一點給他們，使他們得不到他們應得的，這就是不公義，是上帝所不喜悅的！