The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 262

HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-12.-Godleas kingdom,. Daniel's vision brings before us the origin, the character, and the destiny of god.lees kingdoms. I. OaIGm, 1. Earthly. The Divine kingdom comes from above-" with the clouds of heaven" (ver. 13). 'l'heee kingdoms come from below-from the dark depths of the sea. Earthly passions, not the will of God, shape their origin. 2. Tumultuous. "The four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea;" the kingdoms issued from the throes of the storm, The great monarchies of antiquity did not grow up by the development of peaceful arts and commerce. They were formed by wars of conquest, and wild, wicked strifes of ambition. The glory of political success often leads men to disre~ard the crimes by which it is achieved. But these cannot be ignored by God. 3, Successive. One a[ter another the great beasts rise from the sea. God's kingdom is one and lasting, but as these earthly kingdoms are transient, new kingdoms take the place of the old. 'l'hus the same drama is reacted in many ages. Till the reign of Uhrut is complete, we must expect to see the rise and fall of earthly ambition. II. CHA.RACTER. 1. Points of agreement. (1) They are all more or less brutal,. To Nebuchadnezzar the kingdoms appeared bright and glorious (eh. ii. 31). To Daniel, the prophet of God, they appeared savage and brutal. The passions of godless politics are low and nnspiritual. (2) They are destru,ctive. The true end of govern- ment is the peace and welfare of the world. But it has always been the work of wicked ambitious monachies to spread devastation and misery. 2. Points of difference. The great beasts are" diverse one from another." Nationalities are of various types. The faults of governments are not all alike. Evil assumes various forms. .A.11 godless kingdoms are not equally bad. In the vision, the first kingdom shows signs of improve- ment in its later days (ver. 4). The second is far more dtstructive (v~r. 5). The hst power is least in apparent size, yet most fatal to its neighbours (ver. 8). Thus human history is full of variety, change, and surprise. It is only in the Divine order that we meet with assured and peaceful stabilty. Ill. THEIR DESTINY, 1. They are all only temporary. One succeeds another. 2. They 1111 come up for judgment (ver. 10). There is a judgment on nations as well as on individuals. The proudest earthly power mnst bow before the judgment-seat of God. They who ignore God will not escape his notice. 3 . .A.s there are degrees and varieties of crime, so there will be degrees and varieties of punishment. The worst of the great beasts is entirely destroyed (ver. 11). The others are dealt with more leniently. 'l'hus at the great judgment the sentence will be proportionate to the sin (Luke ::i:ii. 47, 48). 4. The godless kingdoms will all be superseded by the universal and eternal kingdom of heaven. God's righteous rule will ultimately take the place of the most violent and destructive earthly powers. Evil will finally succumb to good. Ver. 10.-God's boolcs. "The books were opened." I. GOD HAS nooKs. 1. The book of remembrance. (1) God keeps a. record of his people's troubles (Ps. lvi. 8). Ho is uot ignorant of them, nor indifferent to them. He takes ne,tice and gives sympathy. Ho will take account of them in the futurr, turning them to good, or compcusatiug for the endurance of them. (2) God keeps au account of his people's faithfulness (Mai, iii, 16), '£hough they appear to be for:;vt,en, 228 'l'HE BOOK OF DANIEL. [err. vn. 1-28.