Wednesday 23 November

Daniel 3: 4-6, Canticle Daniel 3:62-67, Luke 21: 12-19

God there in bad times

King Belshazzar’s abuse of the sacred vessels looted from the temple in Jerusalem as cups for his feast mocked the God from whose temple they had been taken. He assumed that defeating a people discredited its God. Through the Babylonian exile, however, the people of Israel learned that God is still with God’s people when they are defeated and oppressed, if only they keep faith with God. Summoned to explain the mysterious writing, Daniel warns the king that his arrogance will be his undoing. Do we see God’s sustaining care in our lives at moments of humiliation and despair?