Contemplative Bible Reading

Daniel 4:27 (New Living Translation)

King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.

This is what Daniel told the man who was practically king of the world. The advice is:

1. stop sinning
2. do right
3. change from a wicked past
4. be merciful to the poor

How did #4 get in that list? The first three make sense. Change your life because you are going int he wrong direction.

#4? Mercy to the poor? How about reforming the government? How about improving commerce throughout the land?

Oh, and, how about letting the Jews who were captured, enslaved, and hauled into Babylon for 2 1/2 generations go free and go home. That would be a pretty good #4, huh?

No. Be merciful to the poor.

Me. Today. All four are pretty good advice to me every day. Well, I’m not an evil king who… No. I’m me, and all four are pretty good advice to me every day.