prophets and kings-第80部分

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kiel　26：7）。　Nebuchadnezzar　nevertheless　at　times　had　ascribed　to　the　favor　of　Jehovah　the　glory　of　his　kingdom　and　the　splendor　of　his　reign。　Such　had　been　the　case　after　his　dream　of　the　great　image。　His　mind　had　been　profoundly　influenced　by　this　vision　and　by　the　thought　that　the　Babylonian　Empire；　universal　though　it　was；　was　finally　to　fall；　and　other　kingdoms　were　to　bear　sway；　until　at　last　all　earthly　powers　were　to　be　superseded　by　a　kingdom　set　up　by　the　God　of　heaven；　which　kingdom　was　never　to　be　destroyed。

Nebuchadnezzar's　noble　conception　of　God's　purpose　concerning　the　nations　was　lost　sight　of　later　in　his　experience；　yet　when　his　proud　spirit　was　humbled　before　the　multitude　on　the　plain　of　Dura；　he　once　more　had　acknowledged　that　God's　kingdom　is　〃an　everlasting　kingdom；　and　His　dominion　is　from　generation　to　generation。〃　An　idolater

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by　birth　and　training；　and　at　the　head　of　an　idolatrous　people；　he　had　nevertheless　an　innate　sense　of　justice　and　right；　and　God　was　able　to　use　him　as　an　instrument　for　the　punishment　of　the　rebellious　and　for　the　fulfillment　of　the　divine　purpose。　〃The　terrible　of　the　nations〃　（Ezekiel　28：7）；　it　was　given　Nebuchadnezzar；　after　years　of　patient　and　wearing　labor；　to　conquer　Tyre；　Egypt　also　fell　a　prey　to　his　victorious　armies；　and　as　he　added　nation　after　nation　to　the　Babylonian　realm；　he　added　more　and　more　to　his　fame　as　the　greatest　ruler　of　the　age。

It　is　not　surprising　that　the　successful　monarch；　so　ambitious　and　so　proud…spirited；　should　be　tempted　to　turn　aside　from　the　path　of　humility；　which　alone　leads　to　true　greatness。　In　the　intervals　between　his　wars　of　conquest　he　gave　much　thought　to　the　strengthening　and　beautifying　of　his　capital；　until　at　length　the　city　of　Babylon　became　the　chief　glory　of　his　kingdom；　〃the　golden　city；〃　〃the　praise　of　the　whole　earth。〃　His　passion　as　a　builder；　and　his　signal　success　in　making　Babylon　one　of　the　wonders　of　the　world；　ministered　to　his　pride；　until　he　was　in　grave　danger　of　spoiling　his　record　as　a　wise　ruler　whom　God　could　continue　to　use　as　an　instrument　for　the　carrying　out　of　the　divine　purpose。

In　mercy　God　gave　the　king　another　dream；　to　warn　him　of　his　peril　and　of　the　snare　that　had　been　laid　for　his　ruin。　In　a　vision　of　the　night；　Nebuchadnezzar　saw　a　great　tree　growing　in　the　midst　of　the　earth；　its　top　towering　to　the　heavens　and　its　branches　stretching　to　the　ends　of　the　earth。　Flocks　and　herds　from　the　mountains　and　hills　enjoyed　shelter　beneath　its　shadow；　and　the　birds　of

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the　air　built　their　nests　in　its　boughs。　〃The　leaves　thereof　were　fair；　and　the　fruit　thereof　much；　and　in　it　was　meat　for　all：　。　。　。　and　all　flesh　was　fed　of　it。〃

As　the　king　gazed　upon　the　lofty　tree；　he　beheld　〃a　Watcher；〃　even　〃an　Holy　One；〃　who　approached　the　tree　and　in　a　loud　voice　cried：

〃Hew　down　the　tree；　and　cut　off　his　branches；　shake　off　his　leaves；　and　scatter　his　fruit：　let　the　beasts　get　away　from　under　it；　and　the　fowls　from　his　branches：　nevertheless　leave　the　stump　of　his　roots　in　the　earth；　even　with　a　band　of　iron　and　brass；　in　the　tender　grass　of　the　field；　and　let　it　be　wet　with　the　dew　of　heaven；　and　let　his　portion　be　with　the　beasts　in　the　grass　of　the　earth：　let　his　heart　be　changed　from　man's；　and　let　a　beast's　heart　be　given　unto　him；　and　let　seven　times　pass　over　him。　This　matter　is　by　the　decree　of　the　watchers；　and　the　demand　by　the　word　of　the　holy　ones：　to　the　intent　that　the　living　may　know　that　the　Most　High　ruleth　in　the　kingdom　of　men；　and　giveth　it　to　whomsoever　He　will；　and　setteth　up　over　it　the　basest　of　men。〃

Greatly　troubled　by　the　dream；　which　was　evidently　a　prediction　of　adversity；　the　king　repeated　it　to　〃the　magicians；　the　astrologers；　the　Chaldeans；　and　the　soothsayers；〃　but　although　the　dream　was　very　explicit；　none　of　the　wise　men　could　interpret　it。

Once　more　in　this　idolatrous　nation；　testimony　was　to　be　borne　to　the　fact　that　only　those　who　love　and　fear　God　can　understand　the　mysteries　of　the　kingdom　of　heaven。　The　king　in　his　perplexity　sent　for　his　servant　Daniel；　a　man　esteemed　for　his　integrity　and　constancy　and　for　his　unrivaled　wisdom。

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When　Daniel；　in　response　to　the　royal　summons；　stood　in　the　king's　presence；　Nebuchadnezzar　said；　〃O　Belteshazzar；　master　of　the　magicians；　because　I　know　that　the　spirit　of　the　holy　gods　is　in　thee；　and　no　secret　troubleth　thee；　tell　me　the　visions　of　my　dream　that　I　have　seen；　and　the　interpretation　thereof。〃　After　relating　the　dream；　Nebuchadnezzar　said：　〃O　Belteshazzar；　declare　the　interpretation　thereof；　forasmuch　as　all　the　wise　men　of　my　kingdom　are　not　able　to　make　known　unto　me　the　interpretation：　but　thou　art　able；　for　the　spirit　of　the　holy　gods　is　in　thee。〃

To　Daniel　the　meaning　of　the　dream　was　plain；　and　its　significance　startled　him。　He　〃was　astonied　for　one　hour；　and　his　thoughts　troubled　him。〃　Seeing　Daniel's　hesitation　and　distress；　the　king　expressed　sympathy　for　his　servant。　〃Belteshazzar；〃　he　said；　〃let　not　the　dream；　or　the　interpretation　thereof；　trouble　thee。〃

〃My　lord；〃　Daniel　answered；　〃the　dream　be　to　them　that　hate　thee；　and　the　interpretation　thereof　to　thine　enemies。〃　The　prophet　realized　that　upon　him　God　had　laid　the　solemn　duty　of　revealing　to　Nebuchadnezzar　the　judgment　that　was　about　to　fall　upon　him　because　of　his　pride　and　arrogance。　Daniel　must　interpret　the　dream　in　language　the　king　could　understand；　and　although　its　dreadful　import　had　made　him　hesitate　in　dumb　amazement；　yet　he　must　state　the　truth；　whatever　the　consequences　to　himself。

Then　Daniel　made　known　the　mandate　of　the　Almighty。　〃The　tree　that　thou　sawest；〃　he　said；　〃which　grew；　and　was　strong；　whose　height　reached　unto　the　heaven；　and　the　sight　thereof　to　all　the　earth；　whose　leaves　were　fair；　and

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the　fruit　thereof　much；　and　in　it　was　meat　for　all；　under　which　the　beast　of　the　field　dwelt；　and　upon　whose　branches　the　fowls　of　the　heaven　had　their　habitation：　it　is　thou；　O　king；　that　art　grown　and　become　strong：　for　thy　greatness　is　grown；　and　reacheth　unto　heaven；　and　thy　dominion　to　the　end　of　the　earth。

〃And　whereas　the　king　saw　a　Watcher　and　an　Holy　One　coming　down　from　heaven；　and　saying；　Hew　the　tree　down；　and　destroy　it；　yet　leave　the　stump　of　the　roots　thereof　in　the　earth；　even　with　a　band　of　iron　and　brass；　in　the　tender　grass　of　the　field；　and　let　it　be　wet　with　the　dew　of　heaven；　and　let　his　portion　be　with　the　beasts　of　the　field；　till　seven　times　pass　over　him；　this　is　the　interpretation；　O　king；　and　this　is　the　decree　of　the　Most　High；　which　is　come　upon　my　lord　the　king：　that　they　shall　drive　thee　from　men；　and　thy　dwelling　shall　be　with　the　beasts　of　the　field；　and　they　shall　make　thee　to　eat　grass　as　oxen；　and　they　shall　wet　thee　with　the　dew　of　heaven；　and　seven　times　shall　pass　over　thee；　till　thou　know　that　the　Most　High　ruleth　in　the　kingdom　of　men；　and　giveth　it　to　whomsoever　He　will。　And　whereas　they　commanded　to　leave　the　stump　of　the　tree　roots；　thy　kingdom　shall　be　sure　unto　thee；　after　that　thou　shalt　have　known　that　the　Heavens　do　rule。〃

Having　faithfully　interpreted　the　dream；　Daniel　urged　the　proud　monarch　to　repent　and　turn　to　God；　that　by　rightdoing　he　might　avert　the　threatened　calamity。　〃O　king；〃　the　prophet　pleaded；　〃let　my　counsel　be　acceptable　unto　thee；　and　break　off　thy　sins　by　righteousness；　and　thine　iniquities

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by　showing　mercy　to　the　poor；　if　it　may　be　a　lengthening　of　thy　tranquillity。〃

For　a　time　the　impression　of　the　warning　and　the　counsel　of　the　prophet　was　strong　upon　Nebuchadnezzar；　but　the　heart　that　is　not　transformed　by　the　grace　of　God　soon　loses　the　impressions　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　Self…indulgence　and　ambition　had　not　yet　been　eradicated　from　the　king's　heart；　and　later　on　these　traits　reappeared。　Notwithstanding　the　instruction　so　graciously　given　him；　and　the　warnings　of　past　experience；　Nebuchadnezzar　again　allowed　himself　to　be　controlled　by　a　spirit　of　jealousy　against　the　kingdoms　that　were　to　follow。　His　rule；　which　heretofore　had　been　to　a　great　degree　just　and　merciful；　became　oppressive。　Hardening　his　heart；　he　used　his　God…given　talents　for　self…glorification；　exalting　himself　above　the　God　who　had　given　him　life　and　power。

For　months　the　judgment　of　God　lingered。　But　instead　of　being　led　to　repentance　by　this　forbearance；　the　king　indulged　his　pride　until　he　lost　confidence　in　the　interpretation　of　the　dream；　and　jested　at　his　former　fears。

A　year　from　the　time　he　had　received　the　warning；　Nebuchadnezzar；　walking　in　his　palace　and　thinking　with　pride　of　his　power　as　a　ruler　and　of　his　success　as　a　builder；　exclaimed；　〃Is　not　this　great　Babylon；　that　I　have　built　for　the　house　of　the　kingdom　by　the　might　of　my　power；　and　for　the　honor　of　my　majesty？〃

While　the　proud　boast　was　yet　on　the　king's　lips；　a　voice　from　heaven　announced　that　God's　appointed　time　of　judgment

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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　dep