The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 196

release and rescuo the real man. The prophet feels for him, enters into his peqi'.exitieR boars with him the burclen of sin. He woulcl, if he might, take those bur,:ens on hi; own shoulclers, 1mcl bt·ar them to the feet of the Sin-destroyer. To a large extent he identifies himself wiLh rnffering and enslaved humanity. Daniel's silence wns more oloquent than any speech, and if he could have averted the monarch's clo,,m be wr,ul,l ha~e done so. II. CLEAR INSIGIIT INTO UNSEEN REALITIES. The prophet of God has commerce with the invisible realm. He knows, as a. matter of fact, that there is a sphere of life encompassing us on every side, though unseen by mortal eye. The world, which is pate11t to the senses is a very small worl<l compared with the territory unrevcaler! to sense. The visible creation is full of pictures and symhols of the invisible. Moral truths are adumbrated for us in allegorical forms. The object~ and events, with which we are familiar in daily life, serve as hieroglyphs, and reveal to our <lull under- standings heavenly lessons. The trees of the field illustrate man's growth, prosperity, decadence, sudden fall. His frailty may be read in the grass of the field. No material scythe is needed to mow him down. He falls before the east wind. We are dL11lards and fools if we do not read lessons of wisdom from the scenes of nature, especially when the messengers of God have furnished a key with which to unlock the door of interpretation. III. PERSONAL BEPBOOI!', God's prophet is bold as well as skilful ; fea.rless as well as affectionate. Being God's messenger, he is bound to represent God; and, with all God's might for his defence, nothing can really harm him. Beside, his very eagerness to promote men's welfare inspires him with courage. He is conscious that he has no other end in view, except to please his Master and jto be11efit men; hence he proceeds straightway to put his finger upon the plague-spot of men's disease, and to prescribe the remedy. In dealing with those who desire their guidance, God's prophets cannot be too plain, too pointed, or too faithful. If a wanderer seeks guidance through a perilous wilderness, his guide cannot be too plain in his instructions, nor too persistent in requiring a faithful following of his words. Fearless vindication of the truth is a mark of a genuine prophet. IV. WISE ADMONITION, "Wherefore, 0 king," said Daniel, "break off thy sins by righteousness, and ;thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor.n It is quite probable that this monarch had not been scrupulously upright in his administration of public justice; quite probable that the poor had been enslaved and oppressed. In the enlargement and embellishment of his ea.pita!, it is more than likely that forced labour had been largely exacted from the poor. Possibly the captives from Palestine and from other lands were included in these oppressive measures. Anyhow, Daniel traces the coming disaster to its real fount, viz. the personal sin of the monarch ; and, like a true friend, he implores the king to endeavour by repentance to avert the awful doom. If the end can be obtained by methods less severe-the end, viz. man's salvation-Clod has no wish to employ harsher discipline. His aim is man's good. "Judgment is his strange work." Bnt repentance must be thorough, genuine, practical. It must show itself in real fruit. No half-measures will suffice. The great Physician will have a perfect cure. No human eloquence, however persuasive, will induce men to repent without the a.ttendant and subduing grace of Jehovah. Along with our own efforts, there should be earnest supplication for Divine help.-D. Vers. 29-33.-The sudden collapse of pride. Careful and costly measures had been furnished by God to restrai11 Nebuchadnezzar from the brink of ruin, to which he was fast hasteni11g. The dream, with its appalli11g ome11s; the human messenger; the king's conscience ;-all these were voices from the supreme court of heaven. But conscience was silenced, the prophet was forgotten, the sense of danger dimi11ished; Nebuchadnezzar persisted in his sin, until the patience of God was exhausted. I. WE SEE PRIDE VAUNTING ITSELF IN BOASTFUL VAIN-GLORY. A year had elapsed since the faithful voice of Daniel had wakened the conscic11ce of the king. At first the monarch intended to reform, but procrasti11ation destroyed the se11sitiveness of feeling, blinded him to the imminence of danger, and gave momentum to his down- ward course. The city grew in magnitude and in magnificence. 'l'he royal plans procer.dcd towards completion. Outward prosperity shone upou him in still clearer 160 THE BOOK OF DANIEL. [orr, IV, 1-37,