HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-3.-The testimony of experience. It is interesting to observe that the account of Nebuchadnezzar's great humiliation comes from the lips of the king him- self, without a word of comment by his servant Daniel. While the conduct of the prophet teaches us to regard the chastisement of other people with a similar courtesy of reserve, that or the king should remind us of the duty and utility of frankly con- fessing the lessons of our own experience. J. THE DESIRE TO GLORIFY GOD AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR OWN HUlHLHTION IS ONE OF THE FAIREST FRUITS OF GENUINE REPENTANCE. 1. Nebuchadnezzar had been a haughty despot. The confession of deep humiliation by such a man is evidence of a great change of spirit. The moral value of humility must be measured (1) by the strength of the natural disposition to pride, as this varies greatly in different temperaments; and (2) by the temptations of a man's station in society. To some self-abasement is familiar and natural. To others it brings keen agony. In the latter case it is a wonderful result of repentance. 2. Nebuchadnezzar bad defied the God of the Jews. (Ch. iii. 15.) To recognize him as the true God, who held the king's destiny in his hand, was another proof of a great change. It would have been much if Nebuchadnezzar had privately trusted in the true God. But his repentance is con- firmed by this public confession. 3. Nebuchadnezzar had been a selfish tyrant. He now sinks his self-interest in concern for the glory of God. We never truly and perfecLly repent until we renounce self, and give ourselves up to a pure desire to glorify God. IJ. THE TESTIMONY OF EXPERIENCE IS AN EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL TRUTHS WHICH WE SHOULD 0AllEFULLY OBSERVE FOR OURSELVES AND GRATEFULLY OFFER TO OTHERS. The recognition of Divine truths in the passage before us is specially valuable, because it is not based on o.bstract grounds, but is derived.from personal experience. It doe~ not come from an inspired Hebrew prophet, hut from a heathen king, and it derives a special force from this circumstance, because the spiritual teaching of Scripture thus finds an echo in a most unlikely quarter. 1. Ignor1tnce of Divine truths on specula- tive ground gave force to the testimony. There can be no self-deceit in such cases. 2. Prejudice against these truths, after it was overcome, increased the force of the testimony. The kiog was not accustomed to bow before o.ny providential power. llis recognition of this is the more significant. It disposes of auy suspicion of hypocrisy. 3. The depth of the experience gave inteusity to the testimony. Much religious lan- guage sounds hollow because it is not verified by experience. As we realize truth in our lives, we see o.nd feel it with a. new power, and then we have at once the clear light of personal knowledge and the strong earnestness of personal feeling to enable us to Jecluro it to others (1 John i. 1). 150 THE BOOK OF DANIEL. [en. IV, 1-37,
111. A BOUND INTllRI'RETA'l'lON OF EXI'ERIENCE WILL TEA.OR UB TO Bl!:E THE roWEB, '\ll'lBDO'M., TRUTH, AND RlGBTEOUSNEBS OF GoD IN ALL HIS WA.YR WITII UB. (S~e vers. 3 and 37.) 1. The powe1· of God is seen in his successful performanco of his will when the greatest force is set against it, arnl the greatest difficulties lie in its wny, as iu the overthrow of the might of Ncbuchndnozzar, and the more wonderful resto- ration of him from his insanity (vers. 21:1-36). 2. The wisdom of God is seen when mystericg of providence are interpreted by later experience, as when the king snw the purpose and meaning of God's strange dealings with him (vcr. 3G). 3. 'l.'hc truth of God is seen in bis keeping his word. 'l.'he dream-prophecy was fulfilled (ver. 28). 4. 'l'he righteousness of God is seen in the ultimate justice of his chastisements nud their good results, as in the deserved punishment of Nebuchaduezzar, and the final good tbis wrought in him (ver. 25). IV. A RIGHT UNDERSTANDING OF THE MUTABTLITY OF EARTHLY THINGS WILL HELP us TO Rit;E TO FAITH IN TIIF. ETERNITY OF TllIX(lS D1vn,'E. Nebuchadnezzar now sees that "God's kingdom is an cverla.sting kingdom, and bis dominion is from gene- ration to generation." Before this the king had been warned not to trust in the per- petuity or earthly monarchies, but to see that these must give way before an everlaRtina kingdom (eh. ii. 4.4). God sends us changes and disappointments that we mav not rest in the temporal and transitory (Heb. xil 27); and he sometimes reveals, through these changes, principles and purposes which run up into the eternal.