The soul in the presence of great mercy.
"Then the king made Daniel a great man" (verse 48). The revelation of the dream and its meaning was a very large benediction to the king, for it lifted great anxiety from his mind; to Daniel and the three, for it saved their lives. The closing verses of Daniel 2:1-49. present to us the moral effect of the amazing Divine disclosure.
I. THE MORAL ATTITUDE OF THE KING.
1. Entire cessation from self. No trace of that self-consciousness which was so striking a characteristic of the king. Self had become nothing. Self had been swept out of consciousness by the overwhelming benediction which flooded his soul.
2. Gratitude to the human instruments. To Daniel the king gave:
(a) The vicegerency of a province—Babylon.
(b) The chancellorship of the magi.
To Daniel's friends, administrative offices under Daniel in his province (see the Chaldee, verses 48, 49).
3. Homage to the Divine. The ideas of the king were of this kind, that there were many gods, but among them the God of the Hebrews was supreme, through Daniel shone his clear manifestations. Accordingly, to Daniel he offered incense, etc. Distinguish here between the false form and that which was true in spirit. Through the polytheistic cloud the king looked in the direction of the true and eternal Sun—God. He did not, could not, rest in mere secondary causes. He attributed the mercy to the Divine cause.
Lessons:
1. Some omit all gratitude to men.
2. Others withhold devout thankfulness to God. Let the noble king—noble in all the mist that blinded him—in these things be our teacher.
II. THE DEMEANOUR OF THE PROPHET.
1. A moderate estimate of self. Even as an instrument, the benediction had not come wholly through him; he was mindful of his companions, the common danger, their sympathy, their united prayers.
2. Gratitude go friendly helpers. Pleads to the king for them.
3. A consciousness of a real greatness that only God could give. "The king made Daniel a great man." We may argue from all we know of the elevation of the prophet's character that, whilst not ungrateful for the king's kindness, he estimated that elevation at its true value. He must have known that there was a greatness, not of earth, of the spirit, which only the Lord of spirits could give. Such consciousness quite consistent with humility. "Thy clemency hath made me great."—R.
HOMILIES BY J.D. DAVIES