prophets and kings-第81节
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had come。 Upon his ears fell the mandate of Jehovah： 〃O King Nebuchadnezzar； to thee it is spoken； The kingdom is departed from thee。 And they shall drive thee from men； and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field： they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen； and seven times shall pass over thee； until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men； and giveth it to whomsoever He will。〃
In a moment the reason that God had given him was taken away； the judgment that the king thought perfect； the wisdom on which he prided himself； was removed； and the once mighty ruler was a maniac。 His hand could no longer sway the scepter。 The messages of warning had been unheeded； now； stripped of the power his Creator had given him； and driven from men； Nebuchadnezzar 〃did eat grass as oxen； and his body was wet with the dew of heaven； till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers； and his nails like birds' claws。〃
For seven years Nebuchadnezzar was an astonishment to all his subjects； for seven years he was humbled before all the world。 Then his reason was restored and； looking up in humility to the God of heaven； he recognized the divine hand in his chastisement。 In a public proclamation he acknowledged his guilt and the great mercy of God in his restoration。 〃At the end of the days；〃 he said； 〃I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven； and mine understanding returned unto me； and I blessed the Most High； and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever； whose dominion is an everlasting dominion； and His kingdom
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is from generation to generation： and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing： and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven； and among the inhabitants of the earth： and none can stay His hand； or say unto Him； What doest Thou？
〃At the same time my reason returned unto me； and for the glory of my kingdom； mine honor and brightness returned unto me； and my counselors and my lords sought unto me； and I was established in my kingdom； and excellent majesty was added unto me。〃
The once proud monarch had become a humble child of God； the tyrannical； overbearing ruler； a wise and compassionate king。 He who had defied and blasphemed the God of heaven； now acknowledged the power of the Most High and earnestly sought to promote the fear of Jehovah and the happiness of his subjects。 Under the rebuke of Him who is King of kings and Lord of lords； Nebuchadnezzar had learned at last the lesson which all rulers need to learnthat true greatness consists in true goodness。 He acknowledged Jehovah as the living God； saying； 〃I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven； all whose works are truth； and His ways judgment： and those that walk in pride He is able to abase。〃
God's purpose that the greatest kingdom in the world should show forth His praise was now fulfilled。 This public proclamation； in which Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the mercy and goodness and authority of God； was the last act of his life recorded in sacred history。
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Chapter 43
The Unseen Watcher
Toward the close of Daniel's life great changes were taking place in the land to which； over threescore years before； he and his Hebrew companions had been carried captive。 Nebuchadnezzar； 〃the terrible of the nations〃 （Ezekiel 28：7）； had died； and Babylon； 〃the praise of the whole earth〃 （Jeremiah 51：41）； had passed under the unwise rule of his successors； and gradual but sure dissolution was resulting。
Through the folly and weakness of Belshazzar； the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar； proud Babylon was soon to fall。 Admitted in his youth to a share in kingly authority； Belshazzar gloried in his power and lifted up his heart against the God of heaven。 Many had been his opportunities to know the divine will and to understand his responsibility of rendering obedience thereto。 He had known of his grandfather's banishment； by the decree of God； from the society of men； and he was familiar with Nebuchadnezzar's conversion and miraculous restoration。 But Belshazzar
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allowed the love of pleasure and self…glorification to efface the lessons that he should never have forgotten。 He wasted the opportunities graciously granted him； and neglected to use the means within his reach for becoming more fully acquainted with truth。 That which Nebuchadnezzar had finally gained at the cost of untold suffering and humiliation； Belshazzar passed by with indifference。
It was not long before reverses came。 Babylon was besieged by Cyrus； nephew of Darius the Mede； and commanding general of the combined armies of the Medes and Persians。 But within the seemingly impregnable fortress； with its massive walls and its gates of brass； protected by the river Euphrates； and stocked with provision in abundance； the voluptuous monarch felt safe and passed his time in mirth and revelry。
In his pride and arrogancy； with a reckless feeling of security Belshazzar 〃made a great feast to a thousand of his lords； and drank wine before the thousand。〃 All the attractions that wealth and power could command； added splendor to the scene。 Beautiful women with their enchantments were among the guests in attendance at the royal banquet。 Men of genius and education were there。 Princes and statesmen drank wine like water and reveled under its maddening influence。
With reason dethroned through shameless intoxication； and with lower impulses and passions now in the ascendancy； the king himself took the lead in the riotous orgy。 As the feast progressed； he 〃commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which 。 。 。 Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of
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the temple which was in Jerusalem； that the king； and his princes； his wives； and his concubines； might drink therein。〃 The king would prove that nothing was too sacred for his hands to handle。 〃They brought the golden vessels； 。 。 。 and the king； and his princes； his wives； and his concubines； drank in them。 They drank wine； and praised the gods of gold； and of silver； of brass； of iron； of wood； and of stone。〃
Little did Belshazzar think that there was a heavenly Witness to his idolatrous revelry； that a divine Watcher； unrecognized； looked upon the scene of profanation； heard the sacrilegious mirth； beheld the idolatry。 But soon the uninvited Guest made His presence felt。 When the revelry was at its height of bloodless hand came forth and traced upon the walls of the palace characters that gleamed like firewords which； though unknown to the vast throng； were a portent of doom to the now conscience…stricken king and his guests。
Hushed was the boisterous mirth； while men and women； seized with nameless terror； watched the hand slowly tracing the mysterious characters。 Before them passed； as in panoramic view； the deeds of their evil lives； they seemed to be arraigned before the judgment bar of the eternal God； whose power they had just defied。 Where but a few moments before had been hilarity and blasphemous witticism； were pallid faces and cries of fear。 When God makes men fear； they cannot hide the intensity of their terror。
Belshazzar was the most terrified of them all。 He it was who above all others had been responsible for the rebellion against God which that night had reached its height in the Babylonian realm。 In the presence of the
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unseen Watcher； the representative of Him whose power had been challenged and whose name had been blasphemed； the king was paralyzed with fear。 Conscience was awakened。 〃The joints of his loins were loosed； and his knees smote one against another。〃 Belshazzar had impiously lifted himself up against the God of heaven and had trusted in his own might； not supposing that any would dare say； 〃Why doest thou thus？〃 but now he realized that he must render an account of the stewardship entrusted him； and that for his wasted opportunities and his defiant attitude he could offer no excuse。
In vain the king tried to read the burning letters。 But here was a secret he could not fathom； a power he could neither understand nor gainsay。 In despair he turned to the wise men of his realm for help。 His wild cry rang out in the assembly； calling upon the astrologers； the Chaldeans； and the soothsayers to read the writing。 〃Whosoever shall read this writing；〃 he promised； 〃and show me the interpretation thereof； shall be clothed with scarlet； and have a chain of gold about his neck； and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom。〃 But of no avail was his appeal to his trusted advisers； with offers of rich awards。 Heavenly wisdom cannot be bought or sold。 〃All the king's wise men 。 。 。 could not read the writing； nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof。〃 They were no more able to read the mysterious characters than had been the wise men of a former generation to interpret the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar。
Then the queen mother remembered Daniel； who； over half a century before； had made known to King Nebuchadnezzar
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the dream of the great
