(note - this entry focuses on Daniel, Darius and Cyrus during the years following the reign of Nebuchadnezzar using passages from the Bible along with, it would seem, secular historical accounts of the Middle East which focus on the Israelite population in exile, along with contemporary Babylonians, Medes and Persians. my focus will be on the author's use of aphorisms (terse sayings embodying general truths and astute observations)...the authors use of contemporary sources and, probably a bit of his own 'piecing things together' makes for a very blessed addition which fills out the few Biblical words we have concerning this part of history.
notes - Astyages, king of the Medes, ruling under authority of the King of Babylon, wanting wanting to have his own son rule after him, uses covert means to put Cyrus, the rightful heir, being the son of his daughter, Princess Mandane, to death....he thinks. but God overrules and Cyrus ends up, first, becoming the King of the Medes and the Persians and then defeating Nebucadnezzar's wicked grandson, Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon. God's goodness and sovereignty over the affairs of men Shines Through! and gives great confidence expectation of GOOD even in Face of the seeming Boiling Inferno of our current raging and lawless, wicked nations...starting with our own America and, by her turn away from the Creator of all men, the Leader of, seemingly, all the nations into the Pit of Destruction.
I may be a little off on the above sequence and details...my real focus here is to record Only the godly aphorisms that flow from the pen of dear, godly Mr. Nagel...to focus on mankind's only hope...the Lord Jesus Christ who came, was rejected, suffered and died and ROSE AGAIN TO REIGN ALL FROM HIS FATHER'S RIGHT HAND... to set us free in spite of the self-enslavement of mankind at this time and to bring us into His Everlasting Kingdom, Amen.
27 '..love is a very rare quality. so many emotions are mistaken for love. of all the counterfeits, lust has always been love's strongest opponent. nothing is so wonderful, so conducive to happiness, so health-producing, as the heart union of 2 lives, whee true love reigns and lust has no power.'
32 the celebration of the birth of Cyrus in Ecbatana (ie. Hamadan..in western Iran) came to the ears of the Jews in Babylon. traveling tradesmen carried thee news hither. to the world in general his birth was no more than the birth of any other prince, but the captive Hebrews saw in him their promised deliverer. great rejoicing filled the hears of all the loyal ones at this revelation of the working of providence. special service were held; grateful prayers offered. a new hope dispelled gloom.
within the city of Bab herself, they were also to see the marvelous outworking of that power which punishes, sooner o later, all transgression, but grants mercy to the humble and penitent.
King Nebuchadnezzar had grown increasingly proud of his achievements. having been given 2 very marked instances of Jehovah's wisdom and power, he must be called to account for this refusal to walk in the light given. not even age frees one from thee temptation to make a fool of oneself. up until now Neb would see and approve of the better couse, but follow the worse. he had to be given one more lesson before his heart inclined fully toward the true God.
if there is one thing heaven hates in man it is pride. not self-respect, but that quality of pride which causes a man to think more highly of himself than he ought...
33 ...would that today some of earth's proud, ambitious rulers might heed the lesson the king of Babylon was taught. (ie. mind taken away..eating grass like an animal.)..
36 and at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven and mine understanding returned unto me. and I blessed the Most High and I praised and honored Him, that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and His kingdom is from generation to generation...
and all the inhabitants of earth are reputed as nothing and He doeth accoring to His will in the Army of Heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth: and
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