November 25, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Dream of a Chopped-Down Tree

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Holy God, I place in Your hands all my unresolved problems and unfinished tasks. Thank You for what You will do in my life today.

Read Daniel 4:1-18

[1] King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! [2] It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. [3] How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. [4] I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. [5] I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. [6] So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. [7] When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. [8] Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) [9] I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. [10] These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. [11] The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. [12] Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. [13] “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. [14] He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. [15] But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. “‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. [16] Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him. [17] “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’ [18] “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“His miracles are staggering, his wonders are surprising. His kingdom lasts and lasts, his sovereign rule goes on forever” (Daniel 4:3, The Message). Praise God.

 

“Never show your weakness” is an unwritten rule among those who aspire to have control over others. This chapter is extraordinarily self-revealing. It begins with a confession of faith, different in tone from the responses previously dragged out of the king in earlier chapters. For here Nebuchadnezzar places himself below God and not alongside. What has caused this huge shift in attitude, when everything in the king’s background would fight against it? To acknowledge God as the Lord is to make himself, for the first time, accountable to someone else and that means that all of his life is now under scrutiny.
So Nebuchadnezzar tells his story. At first in the verses that follow we feel that we are on familiar ground. Dreams and visions seem to be the normal currency of this king’s life. However, they are never taken for granted and they exercise a powerful hold on his emotions; for once again control has been taken from him and he is at their mercy, not they at his. After the usual blank response from his paid advisers, he turns to Daniel. He knows he doesn’t have to test Daniel, for his integrity is well-established. So the dream can be safely retold and the interpretation can be trusted.
A tree has replaced the statue of chapter 2, but again it overshadows the landscape, rich in fruit. Instead of a rock comes a messenger, but the theme of destruction is similar. The hewn-down stump will testify of better days and a sad outcome. Suddenly the stump has bound to it a human mind in an animal form, a living witness that God is not to be mocked. The fear is palpable for the warning is clear, but the interpretation remains beyond the king’s understanding!

“Never show your weakness” is an unwritten rule among those who aspire to have control over others. This chapter is extraordinarily self-revealing. It begins with a confession of faith, different in tone from the responses previously dragged out of the king in earlier chapters. For here Nebuchadnezzar places himself below God and not alongside. What has caused this huge shift in attitude, when everything in the king’s background would fight against it? To acknowledge God as the Lord is to make himself, for the first time, accountable to someone else and that means that all of his life is now under scrutiny.

So Nebuchadnezzar tells his story. At first in the verses that follow we feel that we are on familiar ground. Dreams and visions seem to be the normal currency of this king’s life. However, they are never taken for granted and they exercise a powerful hold on his emotions; for once again control has been taken from him and he is at their mercy, not they at his. After the usual blank response from his paid advisers, he turns to Daniel. He knows he doesn’t have to test Daniel, for his integrity is well-established. So the dream can be safely retold and the interpretation can be trusted.

A tree has replaced the statue of chapter 2, but again it overshadows the landscape, rich in fruit. Instead of a rock comes a messenger, but the theme of destruction is similar. The hewn-down stump will testify of better days and a sad outcome. Suddenly the stump has bound to it a human mind in an animal form, a living witness that God is not to be mocked. The fear is palpable for the warning is clear, but the interpretation remains beyond the king’s understanding!

 

Apply

When life is worrying and confusing, God has promised to give wisdom to those who ask for it (see James 1:5). Don’t miss out on this wonderful offer.

Closing prayer

Father, I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit and with wisdom for daily living.

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