Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc27/v29700

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 6KB | 103 lines

29703
 #8-16 The interest we think we make for ourselves, we must
 acknowledge to be God's gift. Daniel was still firm to his
 religion. Whatever they called him, he still held fast the
 spirit of an Israelite. These youths scrupled concerning the
 meat, lest it should be sinful. When God's people are in Babylon
 they need take special care that they partake not of her sins.
 It is much to the praise of young people, not to covet or seek
 the delights of sense. Those who would excel in wisdom and
 piety, must learn betimes to keep the body under. Daniel avoided
 defiling himself with sin; and we should more fear that than any
 outward trouble. It is easier to keep temptation at a distance,
 than to resist it when near. And we cannot better improve our
 interest in any with whom we have found favour, than to use it
 to keep us from sin. People will not believe the benefit of
 avoiding excess, and of a spare diet, nor how much they
 contribute to the health of the body, unless they try.
 Conscientious temperance will always do more, even for the
 comfort of this life, than sinful indulgence.

29712
 #17-21 Daniel and his fellows kept to their religion; and God
 rewarded them with eminence in learning. Pious young persons
 should endeavour to do better than their fellows in useful
 things; not for the praise of man, but for the honour of the
 gospel, and that they may be qualified for usefulness. And it is
 well for a country, and for the honour of a prince, when he is
 able to judge who are best fitted to serve him, and prefers them
 on that account. Let young men steadily attend to this chapter;
 and let all remember that God will honour those who honour him,
 but those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed.
29717
 * Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (1-13) It is revealed to Daniel.
 (14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (24-30) The dream and
 the interpretation. (31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends.
 (46-49)

 #1-13 The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of
 mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep
 of the labouring man is sweet and sound. We know not the
 uneasiness of many who live in great pomp, and, as others vainly
 think, in pleasure also. The king said that his learned men must
 tell him the dream itself, or they should all be put to death as
 deceivers. Men are more eager to ask as to future events, than
 to learn the way of salvation or the path of duty; yet
 foreknowledge of future events increases anxiety and trouble.
 Those who deceived, by pretending to do what they could not do,
 were sentenced to death, for not being able to do what they did
 not pretend to.

29730
 #14-23 Daniel humbly prayed that God would discover to him the
 king's dream, and the meaning of it. Praying friends are
 valuable friends; and it well becomes the greatest and best men
 to desire the prayers of others. Let us show that we value our
 friends, and their prayers. They were particular in prayer. And
 whatever we pray for, we can expect nothing but as the gift of
 God's mercies. God gives us leave in prayer to tell our wants
 and burdens. Their plea with God was, the peril they were in.
 The mercy Daniel and his fellows prayed for, was bestowed. The
 fervent prayers of righteous men avail much. Daniel was thankful
 to God for making known that to him, which saved the lives of
 himself and his fellows. How much more should we be thankful to
 God, for making known the great salvation of the soul to those
 who are not among the worldly wise and prudent!

29740
 #24-30 Daniel takes away the king's opinion of his magicians and
 soothsayers. The insufficiency of creatures should drive us to
 the all-sufficiency of the Creator. There is One who can do that
 for us, and make known that to us, which none on earth can,
 particularly the work of redemption, and the secret designs of
 God's love to us therein. Daniel confirmed the king in his
 opinion, that the dream was of great consequence, relating to
 the affairs and changes of this lower world. Let those whom God
 has highly favoured and honoured, lay aside all opinion of their
 own wisdom and worthiness, that the Lord alone may be praised
 for the good they have and do.

29747
 #31-45 This image represented the kingdoms of the earth, that
 should successively rule the nations, and influence the affairs
 of the Jewish church. 1. The head of gold signified the Chaldean
 empire, then in being. 2. The breast and arms of silver
 signified the empire of the Medes and Persians. 3. The belly and
 thighs of brass signified the Grecian empire, founded by
 Alexander. 4. The legs and feet of iron signified the Roman
 empire. The Roman empire branched into ten kingdoms, as the toes
 of these feet. Some were weak as clay, others strong as iron.
 Endeavours have often been used to unite them, for strengthening
 the empire, but in vain. The stone cut out without hands,
 represented the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, which should
 be set up in the kingdoms of the world, upon the ruins of
 Satan's kingdom in them. This was the Stone which the builders
 refused, because it was not cut out by their hands, but it is
 become the head stone of the corner. Of the increase of Christ's
 government and peace there shall be no end. The Lord shall
 reign, not only to the end of time, but when time and days shall
 be no more. As far as events have gone, the fulfilling this
 prophetic vision has been most exact and undeniable; future ages
 shall witness this Stone destroying the image, and filling the
 whole earth.