Daniel 4:36

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 self-adoration. “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” There was nothing greater in the universe to this man than himself. What a perversion of reason was this! A poor, frail, dying, mortal regarding himself as the greatest being. Human reason is here presented as:

II. BRUTALISED. “While the word was in the king’s mouth,” etc. Reason perverted soon becomes brutalised, brutalised in its gratifications and habits. Look at the life of the beasts of the field.

1. What are their supplies? The productions of the earth, the grass, nothing else. What other supplies does the mere worldly man seek? What is of the “earth, earthy,” nothing else.

2. What are their animating impulses? The gastric, the gregarious, the sexual. What else are the governing impulses of worldly men?

3. What are their prospects? All present and material, nothing in the future or spiritual The fact is that all men who practically ignore God live the life of brutes. Human reason is here presented as:

III. RESTORED “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me.” With his restored reason there came three things:

1. Transcendant thought.

(1) He thought upon the existence of God. “I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him.” When reason returns, when the sinner comes to himself, he begins to think on God. He lifts up his eyes to the Infinite.

(2) He thought upon the dominion of God. He regarded His dominion as everlasting; “Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion”; as supreme; as utterly irresponsible to any. “None can stay His hand,” etc. With his returned reason there came:

2. Social elevation.. When man is restored to true reason he will rise to honour and immortality. With his returned reason there came:

3. Devotional life. Worship is at once the highest development and the highest delight of reason. (Homilist)