Dan 4:27-30 | TNotes | STEP | 4:27 Stop sinning and do what is right: Righteousness and justice exalt a nation and extend the reign of a king; the lack of it dooms a people. Daniel humbly pled with the king to change his ways. • be merciful to the poor: This was a requirement of God’s law (Exod 23:6-11 ; Deut 15:10-11 ; Prov 29:14 ; 31:9 ) as well as Babylon’s. A former great king of Babylon, Hammurabi (about 1792–1750 BC ), claimed to have been charged by his god Marduk to shepherd and protect the orphaned, the widowed, and the oppressed. • Perhaps then: Daniel recognized that God was free to act or not act (cp. Dan 3:16-18 ); because he is a merciful God, he might take pity on the condemned king (cp. Exod 32:30 ; 1 Sam 14:6 ; 2 Sam 12:22 ; Joel 2:14 ; Amos 5:15 ; Zeph 2:3 ; 2 Tim 2:25 ).

a4:27►

bExod 23:6-11►

cDeut 15:10-11►

dProv 29:14►

e31:9►

fDan 3:16-18►

gExod 32:30►

h1 Sam 14:6►

i2 Sam 12:22►

jJoel 2:14►

kAmos 5:15►

lZeph 2:3►

m2 Tim 2:25►

n4:28-33►

o4:30►

‏ Daniel 4:27-30

4:27 ^a Stop sinning and do what is right: Righteousness and justice exalt a nation and extend the reign of a king; the lack of it dooms a people. Daniel humbly pled with the king to change his ways.

• be merciful to the poor: This was a requirement of God’s law (Exod 23:6-11 ^b; Deut 15:10-11 ^c; Prov 29:14 ^d; 31:9 ^e) as well as Babylon’s. A former great king of Babylon, Hammurabi (about 1792–1750 BC), claimed to have been charged by his god Marduk to shepherd and protect the orphaned, the widowed, and the oppressed.

• Perhaps then: Daniel recognized that God was free to act or not act (cp. Dan 3:16-18 ^f); because he is a merciful God, he might take pity on the condemned king (cp. Exod 32:30 ^g; 1 Sam 14:6 ^h; 2 Sam 12:22 ⁱ; Joel 2:14 ^j; Amos 5:15 ^k; Zeph 2:3 ^l; 2 Tim 2:25 ^m).
Summary for Dan 4:28-33: 4:28-33 ⁿ Because Daniel’s warning went unheeded, the dream became reality.
4:30 ^o The city of Babylon had magnificent walls covered with royal blue ceramic tile and gold-colored lions and dragons. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were also part of the city’s splendor, as was the dazzling Ishtar Gate. The king recognized all this as a reflection of his own glory and power, not as a gift of the Most High God.