June 19: A WARNING MINGLED WITH MERCY

“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches.’ Daniel 4:13-14

Thus, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream continues. The great tree, seen to the ends of all the earth (v.11), symbolizes the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, with countless needs across the empire abundantly supplied. The lengthy conquests of the king, along with the establishment of a well-developed infrastructure, have drawn him to the height of vanity and self-confidence. Now we read of a watcher…from heaven bringing a command to chop down the tree.

At the very time when the king feels the most self-complacent, Almighty God is sending this dream that troubles him with fear and forebodings. The external splendor and glory that seemed to afford security and prosperity to the far-reaches of the empire—with abundant fruit and food for all—was not the true security that it appeared to be. The command continues:

‘Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, Bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth.’ (v.15)

Here we find the description of a partial judgment, mingled with mercy and clearly redemptive in purpose. To leave the stump and roots and protect it with a metal band is a far cry from the final punishment of the stubbornly unrepentant described by the prophet Malachi as he begins the closing chapter of the Old Testament: “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the LORD of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.” (Malachi 4:1)

Notice in verse 15 above that the stump is referred to as it, but then moves directly to him, at the mention of the actual sentence of judgment to fall upon the king. The protective band on the stump designates God’s preservation of Nebuchadnezzar’s position as Babylon’s king during the time of his humiliation:

‘Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him.’ (v.16)

In the Bible, the heart and mind are mentioned interchangeably. God can see ahead of time the deadly snare of trusting in one’s own abilities over and above trusting in God. It is an insidious form of that age-old abomination: idolatry. As we progress through the king’s dream, may we each be open and receptive to the words and warnings of the all-knowing, compassionate One.

It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:8-9