The Government of the World
Homilist
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. GOD'S GOVERNMENT IS HIMSELF. "He doeth." Human governments are not men, but systems. Men govern by institutes or laws. Not so with God. He is the essence of all forms, the spring of all movements, the force of all forces.

1. The science that comes between us and God is a false science. That is the truest science that brings God nearest to our reason, our consciousness, our soul.

2. The science that comes between us and God is a baneful science. A constant conscious contact with God is essential to our spiritual life, development, perfection, and blessedness.

II. GOD'S GOVERNMENT IS IRRESPONSIBLE. "He doeth according to His will." He has no one to counsel, to persuade, to restrain, or to stimulate Him. He is absolutely free..

1. The righteousness of His procedure. Men are often bound to do the right, not for the fight's sake, but because they are answerable to higher authorities. But God does the right because it is agreeable to His nature. The fact of His irresponsibility reveals in the strongest light —

2. The benevolence of His heart. Were He a malevolent Being, being absolutely irresponsible as He is, He would make the universe one great hell; but the whole universe overflows with happiness. How glorious is God!

III. GOD'S GOVERNMENT IS UNIVERSAL. "In the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth."

1. He controls all the ordinary as well as the extraordinary. Men are more disposed to see Him in the unusual and the strange, than in what is common and uniform. Men see Him in the manna, but not in .the corn-fields; they hear Him in the booming thunder, but not in the whispering breeze; they feel His touch in the forked lightning, but not in the solar floods. Albeit He is in all common objects and events.

2. He controls the spiritual as well as the material. "The army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth."

3. He controls the evil as well as the good.

(Homilist.)



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?




Principles of Moral Government
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