“God is kind
To the ungrateful
And the selfish.”
ὅτι αὐτὸς χρηστός ἐστιν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀχαρίστους καὶ πονηρούς.
Luke uniquely indicated that Jesus said that the Most-High God is kind (ὅτι αὐτὸς χρηστός ἐστιν), even to the ungrateful (ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀχαρίστους) and the selfish evil ones (καὶ πονηρούς). The goodness of God extends even to the wicked. Does that surprise you?
“There were ten horns
On its head.
The other horn
Came up.
To make room for it,
Three of them fell out.
This horn had eyes.
It had a mouth
That spoke arrogantly.
It seemed greater
Than the others.
As I looked,
This horn made war
With the holy ones.
It was prevailing
Over them.
Then the Ancient One came.
His judgment was given
For the holy ones
Of the Most High.
The time arrived
When the holy ones
Gained possession
Of the kingdom.”
Rather than dwell on the 4th beast, Daniel took notice of the little horn that came out of its head to replace 3 other horns. This little horn had eyes and an arrogant mouth. Somehow, it seemed greater than the others. Then Daniel saw the little horn start a war with the holy ones. In fact, the little horn was winning, until the Ancient One showed up and proclaimed judgment in favor of the holy ones of the Most High God. Finally, the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom.
“But when his heart
Was lifted up,
His spirit
Was hardened.
Thus,
He acted proudly.
He was deposed
From his kingly throne.
His glory
Was stripped
From him.
He was driven
From human society.
His mind was made
Like that of an animal.
His dwelling was
With the wild asses.
He was fed grass
Like an ox.
His body was bathed
With the dew of heaven.
Finally,
He learned
That the Most High God
Has sovereignty
Over the kingdom
Of mortals.
The Most High God
Sets over it
Whomever he will.”
Daniel reminded this King Belshazzar of what had happened in the preceding chapter of this work to his father or grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar, with his hard-prideful heart. Thus, the Most High God deposed him of his kingly throne and stripped him of his glory. The king was driven from human society, as his mind was like that of an animal, living among wild asses. He ate grass like an ox. He was bathed with a heavenly dew. He finally learned that the Most High God ruled over the kingdom of mortals, because God decides who will be in charge.
“‘O king!
The Most High God
Gave your father,
King Nebuchadnezzar,
Kingship,
Greatness,
Glory,
Majesty.
Because of the greatness
That he gave him,
All people,
All nations,
All languages,
Trembled,
As well as feared,
Before him.
He killed those
He wanted to kill.
He kept alive those
He wanted to keep alive.
He honored those
He wanted to honor.
He degraded those
He wanted to degrade.’”
Daniel had high praise for King Nebuchadnezzar, the father or grandfather of King Belshazzar. He mentioned how the Most High God had made his kingdom great, glorious, and majestic. Due to his greatness, the Most High God had the all people, nations, and language groups tremble and fear this king. In fact, King Nebuchadnezzar killed and kept alive whomever he wanted. He honored and degraded whomever he wanted to. In other words, King Nebuchadnezzar was a great powerful king.
“While the words
Were still
In the king’s mouth,
A voice
Came from heaven.
‘O King Nebuchadnezzar!
To you
It is declared!
The kingdom has departed
From you!
You shall be driven away
From human society!
Your dwelling
Shall be with
The animals
Of the field!
You shall be made
To eat grass
Like oxen!
Seven times,
It shall pass
Over you,
Until you have learned
That the Most High
Has sovereignty
Over the kingdoms
Of mortals!
He gives it
To whom he will.’”
While the prideful words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice from heaven told the king that he had lost his kingdom. His punishment was coming. He was going to be driven out from human society. He would live among the wild animals and eat grass like oxen. However, it would pass over him 7 times, until he realized that the Most High God ruled all the human kingdoms. Thus, God was able to give his kingdoms to whomever he wanted.
“Then Simon came down.
He raised his hands
Over the whole congregation
Of Israelites.
He pronounced
The blessing of the Lord
With his lips.
He gave glory in his name.
They bowed down
In worship
A second time.
They received
The blessing
From the Most High.”
The high priest Simon then came down and raised his hands over the whole congregation of Israelites. He then pronounced the blessings of the Lord with his lips, as he gave glory to the name of the Lord, Yahweh. This Day of Atonement was one of the few times that the high priest was able to say the name of the Lord, Yahweh, although it is not explicitly stated here. They all bowed down in worship a second time in order to receive the blessing of the Most High God.
“The blessing of all people
Came to rest
On the head of Jacob.
The covenant
Came to rest
On the head of Jacob.
The Most High acknowledged him
With his blessings.
He gave him his inheritance.
He divided his portions.
He distributed them
Among the twelve tribes.”
The stories about Isaac and Jacob can be found in Genesis, chapters 25-36. Thus the blessings and covenant of Abraham and Isaac came to Jacob, the son of Isaac. The Most High God acknowledged and blessed Jacob as he received his inheritance that was divided among the 12 tribes. Sirach has no indication about his 12 sons and their activities.
“To Isaac also,
The Most High gave
The same assurance
For the sake of his father,
Abraham,”
There is very little about Isaac here, except to say that he was the son of Abraham, as in Genesis, chapters 21-26. He had the same assurances and blessings from the Most High God as his father.
“The pride of the higher realms
Is the clear vault of the sky.
As glorious to behold
As the sight of the heavens.
The sun,
When it appears,
Proclaims as it rises.
What a marvelous instrument!
It is the work of the Most High.
At noon,
It parches the land.
Who can withstand its burning heat?
A man tending a furnace
Works in burning heat.
But the sun scorches the mountains
Three times as hot.
It breathes out fiery vapors.
Its bright rays
Blind the eyes.
Great is the Lord
Who made it!
At his orders
It hurries on its course.”
Sirach points out the beauty and utility of the sun in the sky. The rising sun proclaims what a marvelous instrument it is of the Most High God. We have all seen the beauty of the rising morning sun as it proclaims the glory of God. At noon, the sun parches the land, scorching the mountains with its burning heat. Sirach says that the sun is 3 times as hot as a blast furnace. That may be true for somewhere along the line as sun rays head to earth, but here on earth, it is not quite as hot as a burning fire. However, it is true that its bright rays can blind you if you look right into the sun. Certainly the Lord, who made the sun, is to be glorified, as we see the sun move around the earth until sunset. Oh, oh, it is the earth moving around the sun, and not the other way around. However, it still is a lovely poetic thought of sunrise and sunset.
“The Lord searches out the abyss.
He searches out the human heart.
He understands their innermost secrets.
The Most High knows
All that may be known.
He sees from old
The things that are to come.
He sees the signs of the age.
He discloses what has been.
He discloses what is to be.
He reveals the traces of hidden things.
No thought escapes him.
Nothing is hidden from him.”
The Lord knows the depths of everything. He knows the secrets of the human heart. The Most High God knows all that can be known since he knows about the past and the things to come. He understands the signs of the ages. He can tell you about the past and the future. He knows all about the hidden things, since nothing escapes him. Nothing is hidden from him because the Lord is all-knowing.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 