v. 26a: “…your kingdom shall be assured to
you…”
o
See our notes on v. 15; the band of iron and bronze represents
a remarkable promise of survival and restoration. The incapacitated king would
be protected from palace coups and intrigues.
o
Though
Nebuchadnezzar would experience personal restoration to his throne, his
approaching death would signify the rapid decline and fall of his
Neo-Babylonian Empire. The Great Tree, as an imperial extension of the King’s
own person, would never again reach its former heights. Thus, the prophecy of
Daniel 2:32, 39 must stand—the Silver Kingdom (Persia) would soon arise
and displace Babylon the Great!
v. 26b: “…after you come to know that Heaven
rules.”
o
Consult our notes on v. 17; God uses judgment to
impart knowledge.
o
In
Nebuchadnezzar’s case, the experience will ultimately prove graciously
instructional—even unto salvation—as opposed to being ultimately
punitive and finally destructive.
9.
Final words of counsel from Daniel unto the King (4:27).
o
A word of grace and opportunity for repentance before
catastrophic Divine judgment falls—even as today’s Church Age is a day of grace
before the onslaught of the Great Tribulation, which is the terrifying
wrath that is to come (1 Thess. 1:10)!
1 Thess. 1:10b: “…Jesus, who
rescues us from the wrath to come.”
v. 27a: Therefore, O king, may my advice be
pleasing to you…
o Daniel continues to
model both a great personal sensitivity and a gracious respect for duly
constituted authority.
v. 27b: “…break away now from your sins…
and your iniquities…”
o But amidst his
graciousness and sensitive acknowledgement of Nebuchadnezzar’s position, Daniel
BOLDLY declares that the King has in fact SINNED and therefore needs to REPENT!
o Again, Daniel does not
mute the impact of what he must impart by cloaking the message in impersonal
generalities; rather, he makes it entirely PERSONAL!
o In addition to his
pride, Nebuchadnezzar was the supreme autocrat, ruling with an iron fist and
customarily doling out the most fearful of punishments. Daniel was indeed both
fearless and accurate in “calling him out” for his iniquities.
o Regarding the King’s
particular & peculiar iniquities, we might note that Nebuchadnezzar’s grand
public works projects—which were achieved in a relatively brief period of
time—doubtless involved a great deal of inhuman political oppression.
We further note that he is found marveling over the grandeur of these projects
at the very moment when the vengeful Hand of God smites him (4:29-31)—transforming
the King himself into something less-than-human!
o Inhuman oppression of
the poor by the wicked is something that God takes very seriously—and
will hold men to account! Likewise, the just and beneficial treatment of the
poor and the oppressed carries with it its own reward.
Ex._3:9: “And now, behold,
the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the
oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.”
Deut. 24:14: “You shall not
oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your
brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns.”
Isa. 1:17: “… learn to do
good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead
the widow's cause.”
Ezek. 45:9: “Thus says the
Lord GOD: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and
execute justice and righteousness.”
Ps. 41:1: “Blessed is the
one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him…”
Matt. 19:21: Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect,
go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow me.”
v. 27c: “…by doing righteousness… …by
showing mercy to the poor…”
o Despite our comments
above, however, Daniel is NOT insinuating that instituting a “Social Gospel
Program” or doing good works will somehow cleanse the King from his personal
sins and make him acceptable before God!
o There has only ever
been one way of redemption (John 14:6, Acts 4:12)! Old Testament
saints were saved by the Blood of Christ, even as we of the present Age
are—retroactively, on credit, with regard to the coming propitiation that would
be wrought by Christ (Rom. 3:25-26).
o Genuine repentance bears
fruit that is consistent with regeneration and genuine conversion (Matt.
3:8: "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance…”).
o Fruit is what others can
see that bears witness as to the nature of our inward spiritual
condition.
Matt. 7:16: "You will
know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs
from thistles, are they?”
James 2:21: “Was not Abraham
our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?”
v. 27d: “…in case there may be a prolonging of
your prosperity.”
o The prospect is
extended unto the King that there might be an extension of reprieve granted
unto him—or perhaps a temporary elongation of his time of peace and prosperity—if
he would but amend his wicked ways.
o Note the example of the
great city of Nineveh in the days of Jonah (Jonah 3), or the temporary
deferment of judgment upon the House of Ahab and its prolongation when Ahab
fasted and went about in sackcloth following the death of Naboth (1 Kings
21:27-29).
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