Deeper ReflectionOne of God’s purposes in showing us “the riches of His kindness
and tolerance and patience” is to lead us to repentance (Rom 2:4).
Mark the intensity of the description of God. God’s “kindness,
tolerance and patience” come in the form of His blessings upon us,
despite us not living rightly before Him. And here lies the danger of
presumptuousness. We “think lightly” of God’s patient grace, “not
knowing” its redemptive purpose.Daniel completed his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that
revealed God’s supreme sovereignty and His sovereign mercy and grace,
patience and kindness toward the king with advice for repentance: “break
away now from your sins…and your wrongdoings” (v.27). Daniel “put his
finger on the sore spot of Babylon’s imperial glory, its social costs in terms
of human oppression and exploitation”
44 . It was as described in Habakkuk’s
prophecy of the Babylonian conquest expeditions: They “pile up stolen
goods”, “make themselves wealthy by extortion”, “build their houses
by unjust gains”, “build a city with bloodshed” and “establish a town by
injustice” (Hab 2:6, 9, 12). But Daniel included positive counsel on “doing
righteousness” and specifically “showing mercy to the poor” (v.27b).Daniel’s advice ended with “Perhaps then you will continue to prosper”
(v.27b, NLT). The “perhaps” points to possibility rather than certainty.
It means that “judgment may not be cancelled, but it may be postponed
if the threat of judgment is received in humility and penitence”, and “the
king’s ease and prosperity could continue”
45 . Such “perhaps” calls for a humble posture under God’s sovereign grace: “Who knows, God may
relent…” (Jon 3:9).
44 Christopher J. H. Wright, 100
45 Dale Ralph Davis, 63
