Series: Resilience
Message: Strength
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 18:7-19.

Read: Daniel 5 and 6 - Read the Message paraphrase, and note 1-3 insights/questions that arise. 

Reflect: There are several ideas as to who this queen was in relation to Belshazzar. The text itself does not feel the need to establish her, yet it does give us some clues. Such as, she was not at the original party. That while others were invited, she came in without an invitation. She speaks with authority, typical of many of the Queen Mothers in the First Testament (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 10:13; 11:1-3; 24:12; Jeremiah 13:18). Belshazzar has his concubines and wives present, which implies she was not his wife. She knows a lot of the history of Daniel. It would be safe to conclude that she is either the wife of Nebuchadnezzar or Nabonidus. Either mother or grandmother in this story. Her statement is a further nudge to assist in bringing Daniel back into the narrative.

As a result, Daniel is able to help the King understand what the writing on the wall meant for him and the empire. In several Biblical texts, the finger of God is connected to creation (Psalms 8:3), plagues (Exodus 8:19), commandments (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10), casting out demons (Luke 11:20), and Jesus writing in the sand (John 8:6), along with this one in Daniel, and help us understand the divine connection.

Recalibrate: 

1. Who in your life unexpectedly spoke truth into your life or brought someone in who helped?
2. Who do you know close to you needs to reconnect with Jesus?
3. What needs to be spoken into your life today? What needs to change in your life today for you to follow Jesus fully? 

Respond: Pray for strength. 

Research: How to engage a stronger intergenerational community? How do we help change the way we treat those who retire and start to engage them with the respect they have earned and deserve?