QT 25/09/2025 Thu. Daniel 5 The Danger of Knowing Yet Not Honouring 知而未敬的危险

QT 25/09/2025 Thu. Daniel 5 The Danger of Knowing Yet Not Honouring
READ http://www.esv.org/daniel5

Scripture Focus: Daniel 5:18–23

[18] O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. [19] And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. [20] But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. [21] He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.

[22] And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, [23] but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. (ESV)

Reflections:

In Daniel 5, the prophet Daniel confronts King Belshazzar with a sobering truth: though Belshazzar knew the history of how God had humbled his ancestor Nebuchadnezzar, he still chose to walk in pride. This wasn’t ignorance—it was rebellion.

Belshazzar had inherited the throne and the legacy of his forefather, but he rejected the lesson Nebuchadnezzar had learned the hard way: “The Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will” (v. 21). Instead of humbling himself before the Lord, Belshazzar mocked God by using sacred vessels from the temple to toast idols made of metal and stone.

God is patient, but He is not mocked. The core issue wasn’t just Belshazzar’s blasphemy—it was his refusal to honour the God “in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways” (v. 23). What a piercing description! Every breath we take is from Him, yet Belshazzar used his breath to praise idols.

Application:

Many of us, like Belshazzar, know the truth. We've seen God's work in others’ lives—perhaps in our parents, friends, or churches. We've heard the gospel. We've read Scripture. Yet the question remains: Are we honouring Him with our lives, or living as if He doesn't matter?

God isn't just looking for acknowledgment—He wants humble surrender. He wants us to recognize His sovereignty, repent of our pride, and give Him the honour He alone deserves.

Let Belshazzar’s story serve as a warning and a call to action. It is not enough to know what is right—we must respond in humility and obedience.

Self Reflection:

(1) Am I living in humble recognition of God's authority over my life?

(2) Have I allowed pride or self-sufficiency to creep in, despite what I know about God?

(3) How can I honour God today with my thoughts, words, and actions?

Prayer: Father, You are the Most High God, and my life is in Your hands. Forgive me for the times I’ve known what is right but chosen pride over humility. Help me to live in awe of Your sovereignty, to honour You in all my ways, and to never forget that even my next breath is a gift from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

QT 25/09/2025 星期四.  但以理书 5章 知而未敬的危险
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/dan/5/

经文焦点：但以理书 5:18–23

18 王啊！至高的　神曾把国位、权势、光荣和威严赐给你先祖尼布甲尼撒。19 因　神所赐给他的权势，各国、各族和说各种语言的人，都在他面前战兢恐惧；他要杀谁，就杀谁；要谁活着，谁就可以活着；要提升谁，就提升谁；要贬低谁，就贬低谁。20 但他心高气傲、妄自尊大的时候，就从国位上被赶下来，他的尊荣也被夺去。21 他被赶逐，离开人群，他的心变如兽心，他和野驴同住，像牛一样吃草，身体被天露滴湿；等到他承认至高的　神在世人的国中掌权，他喜欢谁，就立谁执掌国权。

22 伯沙撒啊！你是他的子孙，你虽然知道这一切，你的心仍不谦卑，23 竟高抬自己，敌对天上的主，使人把他殿中的器皿拿到你面前来，你和你的大臣、妻妾、妃嫔用这些器皿喝酒；你又赞美那些不能看见、不能听见、什么都不能知道，用金、银、铜、铁、木、石所做的神，却没有把荣耀归给那手中有你的气息，和那掌管你一切命途的　神。

反思：

在《但以理书》第五章中，先知但以理向伯沙撒王揭示了一个令人警醒的事实：尽管伯沙撒清楚上帝曾如何使他的祖先尼布甲尼撒受辱，他仍选择骄傲地行走。这并非无知——而是叛逆。

伯沙撒继承了祖先的王位与遗产，却拒绝汲取尼布甲尼撒用惨痛代价换来的教训：“至高的　神在世人的国中掌权，他喜欢谁，就立谁执掌国权”（第21节）。他非但没有在主面前谦卑，反而用圣殿的器皿敬拜金石偶像，以此亵渎神明。

神虽有忍耐，却不容人戏弄。核心问题不仅在于伯沙撒的亵渎，更在于他拒绝尊崇那位“那掌管你一切命途的　神”（第23节）。何等刺痛人心的描述！我们每一次呼吸都源于祂，伯沙撒却用自己的气息来赞美偶像。

应用：

我们许多人如同伯沙撒，明知真理。我们见过神在他人生命中的作为——或许在父母、朋友或教会中。我们听过福音，读过圣经。但问题依然存在：我们是否用生命尊崇祂？还是活得仿佛祂无关紧要？

神所要的不仅是承认——祂渴求谦卑的顺服。祂要我们承认祂的主权，悔改我们的骄傲，将唯独祂配得的尊荣归给祂。

让伯沙撒的故事成为警醒与行动的召唤。知晓何为正义尚不足够——我们必须以谦卑顺服之心回应。

自我省察：

(1) 我是否以谦卑之心承认上帝对生命的掌权？
(2) 尽管深知上帝的作为，我是否仍让骄傲或自满悄然滋生？
(3) 今日我当如何以思想、言语和行为尊荣神？

祷告：

天父，祢是至高的神，我的生命掌握在祢手中。求祢赦免我明辨是非却选择骄傲而非谦卑的过犯。求祢助我存敬畏之心活在祢的主权之下，凡事尊荣祢，永不忘却连下一口气都是祢的恩赐。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。