Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Prayer

The Blessings of Being There

The Handwriting on the Wall at Belshazzar’s Banquet

5 King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and in front of the thousand he drank wine. ² When he had tasted the wine, Belshazzar said to bring the gold and silver vessels that his father^[a] Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines could drink from them. ³ Then they brought the gold vessels that they had taken from the temple, that is, the House of God in Jerusalem. So the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

⁵ At that moment 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 back of the hand that was writing. ⁶ Then the king’s cheerful appearance changed, his face grew pale,^[b] and his thoughts troubled him. His legs went limp, and his knees knocked together.

⁷ The king called out loudly to bring the spell casters, the astrologers, and the diviners. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever is able to read this writing and explain its meaning will be clothed in purple, with a gold chain around his neck, and he will rule as third highest in the kingdom.”

⁸ Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they were not able to read the writing or tell the king what it meant. ⁹ Then King Belshazzar was really terrified. He grew even paler, and his nobles were perplexed.

¹⁰ The queen^[c] came to the drinking party^[d] because of the words of the king and his nobles. The queen said, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, and do not look so frightened. ¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, enlightenment, insight, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. So King Nebuchadnezzar your father, your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, spell casters, astrologers, and diviners, ¹² because an outstanding spirit and knowledge and insight in interpreting dreams and explaining riddles and solving knotty problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be summoned, and he will explain the meaning of the writing.”

Admonition to Elders

5 Therefore, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and as one who also shares in the glory that is about to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: ² Shepherd God’s flock that is among you, serving as overseers, not grudgingly but willingly, as God desires,^[a] not because you are greedy for money but because you are eager to do it. ³ Do not lord it over those entrusted to your care, but be examples for the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory.

Final Exhortations

⁵ Likewise, young men, be submissive to those who are older.^[b] And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility^[c] toward one another. For “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”^[d]

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under God’s powerful hand so that he may lift you up at the appointed time.^{[e] 7} Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary,^[f] the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him by being firm in the faith. You know that the same kinds of sufferings are being laid on your brotherhood^[g] all over the world.

¹⁰ After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you. ¹¹ To him be the glory and^[h] the power forever and ever. Amen.