June 22: DON’T MISS THE U-TURN
“Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.” Daniel 4:27
In brotherly love, Daniel seized the occasion to offer counsel. In light of the conditional nature of this prophesied judgment, Daniel hoped that the king could avoid it by surrendering his pride. Reflecting the mercy of God, Daniel did not use a harsh or censorious tone. Instead, he wielded the weapons of encouragement and kindness.
The encouragement to break off your sins alludes to the Ten Commandments. The Biblical definition of sin is transgression—stepping over the boundaries—of God’s law (1 John 3:4). Fortunately, the giving of one’s heart to Christ for transformation results in a changed heart that desires to please Him—the very opposite of wanting to disregard the boundaries provided in the law. To see the Ten Commandments as they are meant to be regarded is to open the door of one’s heart to righteousness, or right-doing.
The term iniquities is a general term for selfishness. It refers to an underlying attitude which places self as the top consideration. It is always accompanied by words and actions that show disregard for other people and for the LORD. This is why Daniel advised the king to break off [his]…iniquities by showing mercy to the poor.
Both of these decisions require the king to forsake the pride in his heart: genuine repentance! Today, we might call it making a “clean break” or a “U-turn” from patterns of thought. Daniel’s concern for the king’s spiritual condition, in combination with the good relationship that they had, enabled him to respond compassionately to the Holy Spirit’s leading with winsome advice.
Daniel’s advice, for a brief time—perhaps a few weeks or months—left a strong impression upon Nebuchadnezzar. But the resistant heart that wills against being transformed by God’s grace soon loses the gentle impressions of the Holy Spirit. The traits that the LORD desired the king to surrender soon reappeared, accompanied by a hardness of heart that is the inevitable consequence of rebuffing the Holy Spirit. Nebuchadnezzar continued to claim his God-given talents to glorify himself instead of exalting the loving God who had given him life and power and the very position of king of the world’s largest empire.
A few more months went by, in accordance with the merciful forbearance of the Most High. But then: All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!” (vv.28-31) Spiritual blindness is in and of itself a judgment; one that is self-inflicted.
“Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.” Isaiah 6:10