The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 122

them. We may drown them in frivolity, or quench them by intoxication. When God comes to a soul with thoughta worthy or its nature, it is for the soul to open wide its portals and Jct the glory in. About this young conqueror there wns a certain gra~p and elevation of mind. 1I I. 'l'nE DREAM. Here, at present, ,ve ignore its contents; wo nro supposed, indeed, not to know it: and consider only generally whether, and to what extent, tho dream may become the article of Divine communications to man. In a complete discussion, we should have to cite the following testimonies: Those of: 1. Psychology. 'l'he nature and origin of dreams should be elucidated, with the view to a just estimate of the testimonies which follow. Sufficient will be found for homiletic purposes in Dr. Smith's 'Bible Diet.,' art. " Dreams." 2. Scripru,·e. 'l'hese inductions seem valid: (1) "That Scripture claims the dream, as it does every other action of the human mind, as a medium through which God may speak to man." (2) '"l'hat it lays far greater stress on that Divine influence by which the un<krsfanding a1.so is affected." In dream the imagination is in the ascendant; the reason, dormant. (3) That dream as a mediu~ of Divine communication is inferior to prophecy. (4) That dreams, therefore, were granted: (a) To the heathen rather than to the covenant people of God. (b) To the latter ocly during their wrliest and most imperfect individual knowledge of him. (c) Only in the ro.rliest ages, and less frequently as the revelations of prophecy increase. (d) Almost inve.riably require an interpreter. 'l'hese last four points are all illustrated by the dreams in the Book of Daniel. 3. Experience. The reference here is to that modem experience, of which we may be either the subjects or the observers. Even in a Christian civilization like ours, the superstitious regard for dreams is so common, that the followin11: truths may well be insisted on: (1) That dreams should never for us stand in the p7.ace of revelation. (2) Should be disregarded entirely, when contm- wning the truth" as it is in Jesus." (3) That God may see fit by dream to prepare the mind for the future. (4) That there seems well-authenticated instances in which the coming event has been imaged in dream. Sorely ho who made the soul can have access to it by night or by' day, directly or mediately, as he will. In the application of th~e truths to our own life, the greatest spiritual wisdom will be necessary. IV. THE SEARCH. We do not agree with Keil, that the king remembered the dream, and was intent on testing the value of the interpretation by making the interpreter tell also the dream itself; nor with the reasons he assigns for that interpretation. We believe that the dream was gone from memory, yet leaving behind such an impression that the king would recognize it on its being described, and also leaving behind an idea of its tremendous import, and a conviction that its origin was Divine. Here note : 1. The mission of oblivion. " God sometimes serves his own purposes by putting things out of men's minds, as well as by putting things into their minds." By the king's forgetfulness Daniel came t.o be honoured, and in him the God of Daniel. 2. The adaptation of Divine revelations. From eh. ii. 4 to viii. 28 the language of the book is Chaldee ; as though God would throw open the revelation through Daniel to the people of Babylonia as well as to the Jew. After eh. viii. the language reverts to Hebrew, for the communications are then chiefly for Israel. This adaptation one instance of what obtains universally. 3. The infirmities of even noble minds. 'l'here were many elements of greatness about Nebuchadnezzar; but all shaded by: (1) Superstition. Seeking for light where no light could be found-from the magi of various grades. t2) Unrro.son. Demanding both dream and interpretation. A certain sort of wisdom might interpret ; but only the omniscience of God could recover the dream. (3) Oruelty. Many instances besides that in this chapter. V. THE FAILURE. (Ver. 11.) Observe: 1. The error into which exalted intellect 'flU1,1J fall. "Gods" imply polytheism. 2. The truth which may shine through error. 'l'he magi were aware : (1) Of the omniscience that is essential to Deity. (2) Of the limitation that belongs to the creature, 'l'he flesh is a veil that hides from us much of tlJe spirit-world. VL THE DOOM. Cruel as was the edict on the part of the king, there was, never- theless, a sort of rough justice on the part of God's natural government of the world, in consigning to punishment the practicers of imposition and traders on the superstitious fears of men. "They sought Daniel and bis fellows to be slain" suggests how oft th6 i1,1,ocent are caugl,t in tlte con.sequences of the sin of others,-R. OJI, II, 1-49.] 'l'HE BOOK OF DANIEL. 83