The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 191

" Aslonied for one hour." 'l'his is not quite accurate. The me11ning is that D11niel wns so troubled, so ovorcome, that he remained for some time without uttel'ing a word. Perhaps he st.ood gazing at the king in mute amazement and sorrow. At length tho king himself broke the distressing silence, encouraging the prophet to c11st away all fear of consequences, and to tell the meaning, whatever it might be, With much trembling, doubtless, in a tone of deep rcsp~ct, with fidelity softened by tenderness, Daniel proceeded to point out the meaning-the king's sin and the king's doom. 'l'his passage in the bist,ory suggests much as to the giving and receiving of reproof. We !'rt' our brothers' keepers, but it is to be feared that this duty of spiritual guardianship 1s one very much neglected. Let us first look at things from the point of view of- I. 'l'HE REPROVED. There are many difficulties in approaching a man with even the most necessary reproof, most of which were present in this case of tho king. A sinner is like a fort surrounded by many lines of entrenchment. The reprover is quite conscious of the strength of the moral fortification, and is oft deterred from his duty. The reproved is ready to repel reproof by virtue of: 1. Sel,f-love. "Most quick delicate, and const11nt of all feelings." 2. Pride. The reprover seems to assume tb~ office of both lawgi,.er and judge. But what right thi:1 superiority? 3. Difference in social rank. It matters not whether, as in this case, the reproved be of superior rank or of inferior. If the former, the reproved resents the audacity; if the latter, what he ill pleased to call the patronage. 4. .Absence of moral, aspiration. The reproved does not really desire to be better than he is. 5. Oontrari,ety ef judgment. The reproved doubts the principle npon which yon are proceeding; e.g. you expostulate with a man on the sin of gambling; but he disputes your premiss, viz. that there is wrong in gambling. There is " sin or vice which some men will not be found to defend. Nebuchadnezzar may have considered all his oppressions of the poor, etc., as quite within his kingly right. 6. S'USpicion ef the reprover's motive. II. THE REPROVER-his t.one and spirit. He should be characterized by : 1. Sin- cere and simple sympathy for the man. In this respect Daniel was perfect. 2. Grief over the moral position. 3. &rrow for the consequences. 4. Fidelity. 5. Courtesy. Note the tone of 'l'ers. 19, 27. Daniel was mindful of bis relation to his king. 6, Hopefvlnea. Daniel gave counsel simple, comprehensive, direct. .And then expresses a large hope, " If it may be," etc. (vers. 26, 27). Some elements in- Ill THE REPROOF WILL BE SUGGESTIVE. 1. It was solicited. An immense advan- tage. 2. Based on adequate knowledge. Nothing can be more paralyzing to a would-be reprover than to find that he is proceeding either on false or unproved assumptions. 3. Strong by authority of truth. "In presenting admonitory or accusatory truth, it should be the instructor's aim that the authority may be conveyed in the truth itself, and not seem to be assumed by him as the speaker of it." " One man, a discreet and modest one (and not the less strong for tbat),·sball keep himself as much as he can out of the pleading, and press the essential virtue and argument of the subject. Another makes himself prominent in it, so that yielding to the argument shall seem to be yielding to him. His style, expressly or in effect, is this: 'I think my opinion should have some weiabt in this case; ' 'These arguments are what have satisfied me;' 'If you have any r~spect for my judgment,' etc. So that the great point with him is not so much that you should be convinced, as that he should have the credit of convincing you." 4. Well-timed. "The teller of unpleasing truths _should watch to select favourable times and occasions (mollia temporafandi) when an inquisitive or docile disposition is most apparent; when some circumstance or topic naturally leads without formality or abruptness; when there appears to be in the way the least to put him (the person reproved) in the attitude of pride and hostile self-defence." For aught we know, Daniel may ha,•e had it on his mind for a Jong time to speak to the king; at length the day of opportunity dawned. IV. THE RESULT. 1. The reproef was not at once succe6sful. For a year more (ver. 29) the king seems to have gone on, in the same spirit, to do the same deeds. 2. But was so finally. (Ver. 34.) When reproof had been emphasized by judgment. The memory, then, of Da.niel's counsel.--B. Yerf. 28-37.-I'.e1Je/ation in the world of soul. "Is not this great Babylon, that I have Luilt?" (ver. 30). In appro~hiug the kernel of this remarkable history, many OH. IV, 1-37,) THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 1C5