“Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.” Daniel 4:27
Daniel finishes the interpretation of the dream. He accurately and faithfully describes what God said. His role as a prophet is over. This is where many of us break off our conversations about salvation and God’s pending judgment. God’s truth was delivered – we carried out our assignment. Daniel does not stop, however. He presents God’s truth but the king is his friend. Daniel knows God’s word is true and will come to pass. He fears for his friend so he continues. The message now turns into a personal plea.
Therefore, O king Therefore refers back to the message of
impending judgment God sent. One cannot leave the message of
God’s wrath on sin without asking a person to make a decision.
Daniel appeals to the king to hear God’s words and to change his
heart and life as a result. The time is now.
Let my counsel be acceptable to you Daniel asks for permission to give the king some advice. Daniel steps into uncharted territory. He makes God’s message very personal to the king. A response is needed.
Based on God’s truth Daniel gives advice that he trusts will be pleasing or seem good to the king.It is advice that comes from God.
Break off your sins Daniel’s words become pointed and personal. This is what the world hates. Theoretical discussions about God and pending judgment are uncomfortable but applying them to a
person’s life often draws the battle lines for war. (Scotland now calls it a hate crime.) Daniel tells the King of Babylon, the greatest ruler in the world to break off (tear himself away from) from his sin (iniquity, to go
wrong or amiss, to do wrong or err). You can imagine the reaction King Nebuchadnezzar had when one would dare tell him he is a sinner. But he can see Daniel’s compassion and God is in control of the situation.
By practicing righteousness Daniel tells the king to replace his iniquity with righteousness (honesty or being just). He begs the king to do what pleases God. “And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
And your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed Daniel goes further. He knows God is trying to reach this man’s heart and
judgment is pending. He tells the king he can admit his iniquities (the word implies perverseness), change his heart and show mercy (favor) to the oppressed (the poor or the needy). Daniel knows dealing with one’s sin before God means changing one’s heart. This will change how one loves and show kindness to others. Judgment can be averted if the king humbles himself rather than have God do it.
That there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity Daniel knows God is merciful. He knows God warns of pending judgment but He also gives time to repent. Listening to and taking heed to what God says may cause God to allow a lengthening (an extension) of the prosperity (ease and tranquility) that God has given the king to experience. But a response is required! (It still is today too.)
What can we learn? Imagine the room as Daniel talks to the king about confessing and turning from his sin. No one has ever talked
to this king this way before. If other advisors are in the room, they must be stunned and silent. The Lord told us if we live for Him we will suffer persecution. The world hates the message that they are sinners. Who has the right to tell them what they are doing is wrong? The reaction of King Nebuchadnezzar to Daniel’s message is not recorded but we can imagine it is not favorably received. Therein is the dilemma believers in the one true God have. The world hates the message we bring to them for it condemns them individually and calls for the humbling of one’s heart and repentance of the sin they have
committed. Yet that is the only message that brings any hope to the coming judgment. Daniel knew if he truly loved God and the king, he had no choice. He had to urge him to repent from his sin.