_Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people._ THE PROCLAMATION OF PEACE TO ALL NATIONS How changed the spirit and deportment of Nebuchadnezzar from what they were on the plains of Dura. Then, we saw him exulting in the pride of power, and girt with the terrors of tyranny. Then, we saw him in a passio... [ Continue Reading ]
_How great are His signs, and how mighty are His wonders!_ MAN TOUCHING THE INEXPRESSIBLE That the spiritual impression of Nebuchadnezzar was of the right kind is shown by his introductory exclamation “How great are His signs, and how mighty are His wonders!” It is beautiful to see how the shining... [ Continue Reading ]
_I saw and behold a tree in the midst of the earth._ THE FALL OF THE GREAT TREE I. UNDUE EXALTATION OF SPIRIT MAY BRING DEGRADATION OF THE FLESH. Rich men often look over a vast domain which they call their own, and the sight of their outward and visible possessions may inflate their spirit with pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_This matter is by the decree of the watchers--the word of the holy ones._ A WATCHER AND A HOLY ONE The word for watcher became an ordinary term in the Syrian church for angel; and Ephrem Syrus classes the watchers with the Seraphim and Cherubim as a special order of Heavenly beings. The use, howev... [ Continue Reading ]
_This dream I, Nebuchadnezzar, have seen._ NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM I. THE SYMBOL. 1. A tree (v. 10). An image common in both Old and New Testament. The image of prosperity; and that both of the righteous, as in Psalms 1:3, and of the wicked, as in Psalms 37:36 (Prayer Book ver.). In this latter pa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Daniel. .. was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him._ THE SYMBOLICAL TREE Being troubled by his dream, Nebuchadnezzar summoned the wise men of Babylon into his presence to explain its meaning. They heard it, and were silent. Daniel arriving afterwards, the king recites his dre... [ Continue Reading ]
MOMENTS, OF ASTONISHMENT “Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him.” There are moments of astonishment in all true ministries. The word “hour” should be replaced by the word “moment”: Then Daniel was astonished for one moment. But into one mo... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will._ GOD THE SOVEREIGN OF ALL KINGDOMS That this world owes its existence to the creating power of God, and that He established its laws, and put its every wheel in motion, is a truth so evident that it has extorted the c... [ Continue Reading ]
_The heavens do rule._ THE ALL-EMBRACING PROVIDENCE OF GOD “The heavens,” emblem of that Divine government that encircles the universe, the all-embracing superintendence of Almighty love. I. It rules MIND as well as MATTER. The whole material universe, organic and inorganic, from the smallest ato... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore, O King, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee._ DANIEL’S COUNSEL Daniel gives counsel to the king like a man of God, directing him to break off his sins by righteousness, and his iniquities or oppressions by showing mercy to the poor, if it might be a lengthening of his tranquility, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is not this great Babylon, that I have built._ THE PRIDE OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR First, we have not so wonderful an opinion of God, or of His word, or of His heaven, as we have of our own acts, although we be never able to do half that Nebuchadnezzar did. Secondly, this is our manner, to attribute all t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen._ BROKEN PRIDE This chapter, which is a rescript to all the provinces of his empire, was written by king Nebuchadnezzar. It is a frank, affecting, and instructive chapter of autobiography. I. PRIDE WARNED. Success had crowned Nebuchadnezzar, and n... [ Continue Reading ]
_I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto Heaven._ AN UNLIKELY CONVERT I. HIS CONVERSION OUT OF A STATE OF HEATHENISM. There was a mass of idolatrous opinion and vicious custom, in the midst of which Nebuchadnezzar was brought up, and by which he was configured. He was ill-placed so far as an o... [ Continue Reading ]
_He doeth according to His will in the army of Heaven._ THE UNCONQUERABLE KING I. Consider THE DOCTRINAL INSTRUCTION here given to us. 1. We have here plainly stated the doctrine of the eternal self-existence of God. “I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth for ever.” “... [ Continue Reading ]
_At the same time my reason returned unto me._ HUMAN REASON I. PERVERTED. 1. In his practical atheism. This man has no God, no being higher than himself. In all the achievements in which he glories there is no recognition of a supreme power. The perversion of this man’s reason is seen: 2. In his... [ Continue Reading ]
_I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto Heaven._ AN UNLIKELY CONVERT I. HIS CONVERSION OUT OF A STATE OF HEATHENISM. There was a mass of idolatrous opinion and vicious custom, in the midst of which Nebuchadnezzar was brought up, and by which he was configured. He was ill-placed so far as an o... [ Continue Reading ]