Page 96 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

furnace. “Again I was faced with the fact that there was a God greater than I, yea,
greater than any of the gods of Babylon, when He brought His servants unscathed
through the tremendous heat of the fire that even killed those who drew near. But still

I was stubborn and would not yield, though my beloved consort, the Queen, adored of
you all, had long since bowed her head and heart to the Great God Jahveh and had
besought me to do the same! I may say that one of my first acts after my return to
power will be to order that that blasphemous image, yet standing in the Plain of Dura,

be removed, its gold melted down, and minted into coins which will be given for the
relief of the poor or used to purchase food and clothing to supply those who are
needy…” Hastening on in his story he told of his second dream, of the impotence of
the Chaldean astrologers and soothsayers to interpret it, and of the interpretation given

by Daniel, which temporarily sobered him, but still did not bring him to repentance.

“It was plainly told me that I would be driven forth to live as an animal, that I
would eat grass like oxen, that the dew of heaven would fall on me till seven times had

passed over me and I would finally learn that the Most High dwells in heaven and
gives kingdoms to whomsoever He will. You are all aware of the fact that all this
took-place and that as I walked on the roof of the palace in pride of rebellion, I was
suddenly stricken with madness. I knew nothing and remembered nothing until I

returned to full consciousness and sanity a few days since, and realized that the divine
sentence had been executed upon me. But, as the dream revealed, I was left as a stump
and kept through those years in which I lived as a beast, by the mighty hand of God,
preserving me as a band of brass and iron. Now, I know the Most High—Jahveh—to

be King of kings and Lord of lords, the only true God and my God, and I yield my
heart in full obedience and humility before Him. For those that walk in pride, He is
able to abase. I am sure that my government will henceforth be better than ever
before, because it will not be in selfish pride, but in justice and benignity as befits a

humble servant of a God of Truth and Grace.
“And those who have these years misruled you and ground you down with
taxation and oppression, will be henceforth removed from power, and the Hebrew
statesmen who have given such excellent administration in time past, will be restored

to power; also General Nebuzaradan to command of the army, Arioch in the Palace
Guard, and Lord Ashpenaz as personal counsellor to the King.”

At the conclusion of this speech, the king was given a tremendous ovation and the
orchestra played again as the crowd dispersed.

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