The Majesty and Government of God
J. Benson. Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven… I. THE MAJESTY OF THE ONE LIVING AND TRUE GOD. He is here styled "Most High," is said' to "live for ever," and "all the inhabitants of the earth" are declared to be a reputed as nothing" before Him. He is the Most High; that is, He is exalted, not only in authority and power, of which I shall speak afterwards, but in the perfections of his nature, above every other being in the universe. I need not say, no man, but no angel, no archangel, no being whatever, can vie with Him in any perfection (Isaiah 40:25). In Him they are absolute. In them they are a mere stream, derived, and that from Him. In Him they exist as in their fountain, underived. In them they are dependent, and that on Him; in Him independent. In them they are mutable; in Him immutable. In them they are finite; in Him infinite. In them they are temporal; in Him eternal. For, to pass from the consideration of these perfections to His existence; He "liveth for ever." This implies — His strict and proper Eternity. His existence is from everlasting, as well as to everlasting. He is without beginning, as well as without end. How mysterious! Therefore, "all the inhabitants of the earth," nay, and the highest creatures, "are reputed as nothing." 1. They are as nothing compared to Him. Dead and unorganised matter is as nothing compared with the vegetable creation, the herbs, plants, flowers, fruits. One vegetable is as nothing compared to another; suppose the moss on a building to a cedar in Lebanon. All vegetables are as nothing compared with animals which are endued with sensation, voluntary motion, perception, instinct, or discretion. One animal, suppose a worm, or mite, is as nothing compared to another, suppose to an eagle, a lion, an elephant, a whale. One man far exceeds another; Sir Isaac Newton far exceeded an uninstructed peasant, or the Apostle Paul a wicked profligate. Men in their present state are as nothing compared to angels, or to what they themselves shall be in a future state. But all are as nothing to God. For, what is a shadow to the substance? What is a candle to the sun; a drop to the ocean; a grain of sand to the globe of earth? What is a finite being, however exalted, to an Infinite? especially a being so limited as man, a worm, a blast, a shade, a clod of clay, a speck of dust? What is a created and dependent being to one uncreated and independent? What is the work to the workman? the creature to the Creator? the clay to the potter? 2. They are as nothing without Him. They are as nothing to help. Favoured, befriended, and surrounded by the omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God, we need not fear the ignorance or weakness of man. 3. They are nothing in themselves. They are nothing in duration. "As for man his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth" (Psalm 39:5; Psalm 90:4; Psalm 103:15). II. HIS GOVERNMENT. 1. It is everlasting. As He liveth for ever, so His dominion is, if not from eternity (for a king supposes subjects) yet to eternity. As He is the Most High above every other being in the excellencies of His nature, so His authority and empire are unlimited over every other. 2. HIS SOVEREIGNTY is absolute and unconfined, and His power irresistible. His will is His law. None can resist His purpose. 3. His government is wise, just, and good, yea, infinitely so. III. THE USE WE SHOULD MAKE OF THIS DOCTRINE. We should make the same use of it which Nebuchadnezzar did. We should "bless the Most High, and praise, and honour him that liveth for ever," etc. To be more particular — we should learn to admire and adore His infinite condescension and love in so peculiarly noticing and regarding us (Psalm 8:4; Job 7:17, 18). We should observe the ground afforded us for trusting in Him at all times, and in all situations and circumstances. (J. Benson.) Parallel Verses KJV: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? WEB: All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or ask him, What are you doing?