Daniel 4:27

“Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, etc.] Since this is the true interpretation of the dream, and such evils are like to befall thee according to it, permit me, though thou art a king, and I am thy minister or servant, to give thee some advice; and let it be taken in good part, as done with a good design, and a hearty concern for thy welfare: and break off thy sins by righteousness; this advice carries in it a tacit charge of sins, and a reproof for them; which shows the faithfulness of Daniel: these sins probably, besides pride, intemperance, luxury, and uncleanness, were tyranny, rapine, violence, and oppression of his subjects, to which righteousness is opposed; and…”

“break off--as a galling yoke (Gen 27:40); sin is a heavy load (Mat 11:28). The Septuagint and Vulgate translate not so well, "redeem," which is made an argument for Rome's doctrine of the expiation of sins by meritorious works. Even translate it so, it can only mean; Repent and show the reality of thy repentance by works of justice and charity (compare Luk 11:41); so God will remit thy punishment. The trouble will be longer before it comes, or shorter when it does come. Compare the cases of Hezekiah, Isa 38:1-5; Nineveh, Jon 3:5-10; Jer 18:7-8. The change is not in God, but in the sinner who repents. As the king who had provoked God's judgments by sin, so he might avert it by a return to…”

“Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee - Daniel was permitted to see not only the fact that this calamity impended over the king, but the cause of it, and as that cause was his proud and sinful heart, he supposed that the judgment might be averted if the king would reform his life. If the “cause” were removed, he inferred, not unreasonably, that there was a hope that the calamity might be avoided. We cannot but admire here the boldness and fidelity of Daniel, who not only gave a fair interpretation of the dream, in the case submitted to him, but who went beyond that in a faithful representation to the most mighty monarch of the age, that this was in consequence of his…”

“If it may be - Daniel was not certain of pardon for him, nor did he altogether despair of it. With what wisdom and tenderness does he speak: and yet with what plainness? Daniel 4:28”

“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;…”

“let: Gen 41:33-37; Psa 119:46; Act 24:25; Co2 5:11 break: Job 34:31, Job 34:32; Pro 16:6, Pro 28:13; Isa 55:6, Isa 55:7; Eze 18:21, Eze 18:27-32; Mat 3:8; Act 8:22, Act 26:20; Jam 4:8-10; Pe1 4:8 by showing: Psa 41:1-3; Isa 58:5-7, Isa 58:10-12; Eze 18:7; Luk 11:41; Act 10:2-4; Gal 5:6, Gal 5:13, Gal 5:22; Eph 4:28 if it: Kg1 21:29; Joe 2:14; Jon 3:9; Zep 2:2, Zep 2:3 lengthening of thy tranquillity: or, healing of thine error Daniel 4:28”