I am ashamed to admit I didn’t sense much from today’s readings at first. How wrong I turned out to be!
The story of King Belshazzar’s hubris is legendary. I found out he was not truly the King. He was a co-regent that ruled while his father was away. This does not mean the Bible is wrong. It does mean the Semitic meaning behind “father” is wider than mine. Father can mean ancestor or predecessor. This “King” also knew very well the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s humility, and he held this party while under siege by an enemy army. At the height of his arrogance, God sends him a message: The writing on the wall.
Belshazzar, who valued gold and silver, which is measured by weight, has been weighed and found wanting. The Aramaic words themselves have a double meaning of money. Even the grammar is instructive. The words that appear are not nouns but Aramaic passive verbs. It signifies that the judgment is not a future warning, but a divine declaration of actions already completed by God.
While still resting in awe of the depth and beauty of the first reading, I stumbled upon the Song in the furnace. The responsive Psalm today is not from the book of Psalms but also from Daniel. I am struck not by the words they sang, but by when they sang them: not after being rescued from the furnace, but while they are still in the fire of the furnace. How best to respond to trials? Sing praise to God.
Jesus warns us of hard times. Jesus is telling me to have endurance, to remain under. I imagine the command in battle to “hold the line.” He says I will have the opportunity to testify, not by words. I will testify by holding the line. The endurance through trial itself is the witness. People are watching, and my example is God’s message. Like Zig Ziglar is fond of saying, “What you do speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you are saying.” How am I to endure? I am to endure with gratitude and praise, just like the three in the furnace.
Greg Dyche
As a professor at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business, I teach courses in Management Information Systems, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence. With over 40 years of professional experience and a commitment to helping students discover “the possibilities of technology,” I bring both technical expertise and a heart for service to my work. I am grateful to participate in Creighton’s Online Ministry, sharing in the journey of faith through daily scripture reflections.
