But
whether this came to pass or not, depended, like all God's
everlasting promises and threats, on Nebuchadnezzar's own behaviour.
If he repented, and broke off his sins by righteousness, and his
iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, there was good reason to
hope that so his tranquillity might be lengthened.
But the lesson was too hard for the proud conqueror; he did not take
the warning. He could not believe that the Most High ruled in the
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will. He still
fancied that he, and such as he, were the lords of the world, and
took from others by their own power and cunning whatsoever they
would. He does not seem to have been angry, however, with Daniel for
his plain speaking. Most Eastern kings like Nebuchadnezzar would
have put Daniel to a cruel death on the spot as the bearer of evil
news, speaking blasphemy against the king; and no one in those times
and countries would have considered him wicked and cruel for so
doing; but Nebuchadnezzar seems to have learnt too much already so to
give way to his passion.
Yet, as I said before, he had not learned enough to take God's
warning. The lesson that he was nothing, and that God is all in all,
was too hard for him.
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