Daniel 4:15, commentary and pictures

The order from heaven cuts down the lofty tree but leaves its stump bound with iron and brass in the grass, wet with dew and sharing the portion of the beasts. The tree is Nebuchadnezzar in his God-given greatness and prosperity as head of the nations gathered under him. The sentence left unfulfilled in the stump means he would lose throne and reason, be driven to live as a beast eating grass for seven years, yet not be utterly destroyed but preserved until he learned that the Most High rules over human kingdoms. It stands as God's warning against pride and self-exaltation, to bring down human strength that the Lord alone may be exalted. The command by the watcher shows that heaven sees every work, word, motive and secret thought, and will bring pride into judgment in order to correct and reform.

Tree, Stump and Sentence

This was another dream God gave to Nebuchadnezzar after he had acknowledged the God of the three Hebrews as the living God when he saw the form of the Fourth in the fiery furnace, but he did not continue to walk in the light and lost the holy impression made on his mind. The lofty tree planted in the earth and reaching to heaven represented his greatness and prosperity. That prosperity had been given him by God for the glory of God, in the kingdom designated as the head of gold. Its shelter for flocks and herds from the mountains and hills and for the birds of the air building their nests in its branches meant nations were gathered under his sovereignty, and his kingdom was firmly established in the hearts of his loyal subjects.

By order of a watcher and holy one come down from heaven the tree reaching to heaven would be hewn down. But the stump of its roots would be left in the earth, bound with a band of iron and brass in the tender grass of the field, wet with the dew of heaven, with its portion with the beasts and sharing their dwelling and food. The retained stump and roots indicated the tree was not wholly destroyed. Although the great tree was cut down, its root stump was preserved in the earth, secured with iron and bronze.

The stump represented Nebuchadnezzar: his kingdom and human reason would be taken from him, yet he would not be utterly destroyed but preserved while reduced to a beast-like condition. The sentence of the dream was that he would lose his throne and reason, be driven from men to dwell with the beasts of the field, eat grass like oxen and be wet with dew. He would live like a beast and remain in that condition for seven years, seven times passing over him, until he knew that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men and gives it to whomsoever He will. His reason was misused in self-glorification, and he was humbled because he did not honor God.

The dream was very striking and explicit, given to the greatest ruler and most powerful king of his time. Nebuchadnezzar himself related it and called for its interpretation, and its significance troubled Daniel. The magicians, astrologers, soothsayers and Chaldeans could not make it known or tell its interpretation, because those who do not love and fear God cannot understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and cannot approach the throne of Him who dwells in unapproachable light, while the servants of God understand the things of God. Daniel told the dream and its interpretation before the king because he was esteemed for unswerving integrity, faithfulness in honoring God at all times and in all places, unexcelled wisdom, and refusal to compromise to secure court position or even to preserve life when God's honor was involved, and the king remembered him as the only one who had given relief in earlier perplexity when this later perplexing vision came.

Daniel explained the warning with a call to break off sins by righteousness and iniquities by showing mercy to the poor to lengthen tranquility. But the light from heaven was not accepted and exerted no saving influence upon his character. After twelve months of testing in which his actions were weighed in the balances of the heavenly sanctuary, his boast that he had built great Babylon by the might of his own power for the honor of his own majesty brought the instant voice from heaven that the kingdom was departed from him. That fulfilled the divinely decreed banishment from human society, whose account also includes his conversion and miraculous restoration. The verse belongs to the prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar's seven times, a predicted time period whose events were fulfilled in accordance with the prophecy.

Pride, Judgment and Restoration

The dream laid out Nebuchadnezzar's future history as God's warning against self-exaltation and pride. It called him to trace out the end of all earthly things and the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom instead of following the imaginations of his proud heart in thinking his kingdom should become more extensive and powerful. Elevated and deceived by prosperity, he placed a high estimate on himself and did not consider God his source of strength. The moment he spoke his boast over what he had built, the sentence felled the tree, leaving the stump to mean the blessings God had bestowed were removed and his reason taken away.

The stump left in the field means God surely punishes pride in many ways. He brings down anyone lifted up by a sense of his own ability who trusts in human strength. He does so to teach utter weakness that the proud may feel need of divine aid, for the Lord alone is to be exalted and glory belongs in nothing but Christ and Him crucified. Nebuchadnezzar's life therefore stands as a warning not to cherish his proud, self-exalting thoughts and feelings. It warns not to set God aside and trust in one's own wisdom, nor to make human strength one's support, lest the same trying experience come upon those who entertain them.

The same judgment will surely fall on those with great light who through unholy confederacy sustain one another to do what God warned them not to do to carry out ambitious projects. For God as Lord over all will uproot them and bring their plans to confusion. His case also warns against acting with supremacy and exercising authority over God's people. God's lessons are meant to lead people to reform, and neglecting the light and refusing to receive and practice them brings judgment and costs benefits that obedience would have received. Yet if they repent and humble themselves and trust God to do justice and judgment they will find pardon, peace, acceptance, and another trial and proving.

Watcher Who Sees All

The felling of the tree was ordered and announced by an unseen heavenly watcher, and the leaving of its stump shows that the heavenly universe is acquainted with all the works of men. A Watcher guards the interests of all men and sees all that is done. He is present in all assemblies, including councils and committees, taking cognizance of what is done, and He is present in secret councils as well as open councils.

Every individual is before Him, and not a thought of the heart is unnoted. He sees every plan and imagination, nothing can be hid from Him, and His ear hears the secret whispering of self-gratulation. His eye reads men and measures men, and God observes and weighs people's words, motives, decisions and every deed.

Turning from God's word to human ideas and plans leaves responsible men without excuse, for He that sitteth in the heavens requires a different spirit to control proceedings. Selfishness, self-exaltation and pomposity are abominated by God, are detrimental to all within their sphere, and develop a character so objectionable that its possessor cannot find a place among the redeemed. Every secret thing is to be brought into judgment, and the Watcher will not long bear the perversity of men who have had great light and great opportunities. His chastisement reveals pride that places self where God should be, in order to correct the sin that would otherwise ruin the soul. Those who take a measuring line to measure character and climb upon the judgment seat to pass sentence upon others must humble their hearts before Him or they will make grievous mistakes.