The Great Tree and the Bound Stump in the FieldBible World
4:16Daniel 4:16
Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
The sentence declares that Nebuchadnezzar's human reason and understanding would be taken from him and a beast's degraded nature given to him for seven years of chastisement before his reason was restored. In fulfillment he was driven from men to dwell and eat like the beasts of the field, wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men. His downfall came because prosperity elevated and deceived him, and the instant he gloried in great Babylon built by the might of his power and for the honor of his majesty, the tree was felled and the blessings God had bestowed were removed. The judgment proves that the Most High rules human kingdoms and gives them to whomever He wills, dealing even with heathen kings according to their ways to expose the sin that led them from God. It stands as a present warning that a holy Watcher is present in every assembly, sees and weighs every motive, word, and secret action, and will surely punish indulged pride to teach the self-exalted his utter weakness and need of divine aid.
Dream Context and Sentence
The sentence belongs to Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a lofty tree planted in the earth, whose shelter was enjoyed by flocks and herds from the mountains and hills and whose branches housed the birds of the air. The tree represented his greatness and prosperity, with nations gathered under his sovereignty and his kingdom firmly established in the hearts of loyal subjects.
The dream was another dream given after he failed to continue walking in light already received. God had honored him by revealing the future in the dream of the great image where Babylon was the head of gold, which flattered the king and his counselors because each later kingdom was a baser metal, and Daniel had been sent to explain it. He then exalted himself and set up a costly golden image in the plains of Dura to magnify Babylon and himself, and the three Hebrew captives who refused to worship it were cast into the burning fiery furnace and preserved when the Lord Jesus was with them. Though the king saw the form of the Fourth and acknowledged the living God, he lost the holy impression, and so this further dream recorded in the fourth chapter was given.
It was a very striking, explicit warning given to the greatest and most powerful ruler of his time, whose prosperity and kingdom had been given by God for God's glory and designated as the head of gold. He turned it against himself by following the imaginations of his proud heart and imagining his kingdom becoming still more extensive and powerful instead of tracing the end of all earthly things and the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom. The setting is his reign and the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms, which would ultimately be replaced by God's everlasting kingdom. The magicians, astrologers, soothsayers and Chaldeans could not make it known or interpret it because those who do not love and fear God cannot understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven or approach Him who dwells in light unapproachable, while the servants of God understand the things of God. Daniel told it before the king because he was esteemed for unswerving integrity, faithfully honoring God at all times and places, unexcelled wisdom, and refusing compromise to gain court position or even to preserve life when God's honor was involved, for God honors those He places in important positions just as long as they honor Him.
The change from man's heart to a beast's heart meant his human reason and understanding would be taken from him and he would be given the nature and degraded condition of a beast. The sentence foretold his downfall and the condition he would endure after failing to heed warning. The seven times to pass over him are seven years of chastisement before his reason was restored.
In fulfillment he was humbled, driven from men to dwell with the beasts of the field, made to live and eat like a beast and like an ox on grass and to be wet with the dew of heaven, becoming an astonishment to his subjects. Daniel was troubled when he saw its significance but declared that this would last until Nebuchadnezzar knew that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men and gives it to whomsoever He will. The account is one of banishment from human society by God's decree, and conversion and miraculous restoration followed this humiliation. Though warned, his prosperity elevated and deceived him, and the instant he gloried in great Babylon built by the might of his power and for the honor of his majesty, the sentence was issued, the tree was felled, and the blessings God had bestowed were removed.
Divine Rule and Fulfillment
The sentence that the king's human heart would be changed and a beast's heart given to him, with seven times to pass over him, was a judgment showing that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomever He wills. It shows that God rules over even heathen kings and deals with them according to their evil ways and deeds. His human reason and understanding were taken from him and he was given the nature and degraded condition of a beast, humbled to live and eat like a beast, driven from men to dwell with the beasts of the field, made to eat grass like oxen and to be wet with the dew of heaven, becoming an astonishment to his subjects until he knew that the Most High rules. Daniel was troubled when he saw its significance, yet he declared its meaning and exhorted the king to break off his sins by righteousness and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, but the light from heaven was not accepted and did not exert a saving influence upon his character. The chastisement exposed the sin that had led him away from God and was meant to lead him to recognize and correct it.
His pride and refusal to honor God led to his downfall. Though warned, his prosperity elevated and deceived him, and the instant he gloried in great Babylon built by the might of his power and for the honor of his majesty, the sentence was issued, the tree was felled, the blessings God had bestowed were removed, and his reason was taken away. The seven times are a definite chronological period foretold in prophecy and later fulfilled, illustrating that events limited by prophetic periods occurred according to their predictions. God foretells events within appointed times and fulfills them accordingly. Because the predicted event occurred within the given time, the fulfillment gives ground to trust chronological periods extending to the second coming of Christ as times before appointed and revealed by God. The account is one of banishment from human society by God's decree, and conversion and miraculous restoration followed this humiliation and adversity.
Watchful Warning for Today
The decree that changed a man's heart to a beast's heart stands as proof that the heavenly universe knows all the works of men. A holy Watcher is present in every assembly, present when men speak and act, seeing the scene as it happens and making it known. He weighs every motive and method, every plan and word and secret action. That watching and weighing falls upon those whose conduct and opposition to truth and righteousness reveal their character.
The Watcher takes special notice of those entrusted with great light and great opportunities and responsible work, and will not long bear their perversity. Turning from God's word to human ideas and plans leaves responsible men without excuse. God requires a different spirit to control councils and committees, a change from selfishness and self-exaltation and pomposity. Selfish principles injure all within their reach and form a character so objectionable that its possessor can find no place among the redeemed. Harsh words spoken to a brother, and what wife and daughter hear in the home, are all witnessed and reported by this heavenly observer.
God has many ways to punish, and punishment will surely follow where pride is indulged. Any man lifted up by his own ability and trusting in human strength will be brought down to learn his utter weakness and need of divine aid. No one is to glory in wisdom or talents or anything but Christ and Him crucified, for the Lord alone is to be exalted. The whole life recorded in the chapter warns against trusting in human wisdom and strength or making flesh one's arm, and against being unfaithful to God's truth by adapting it for personal plans or popularity.
The sentence shows what happens when a man exalts and magnifies himself and exercises authority and supremacy God has not given him. To act like Nebuchadnezzar is to carry on God's work according to human wisdom instead of as God requires, to stand over God's heritage and require everyone to understand and carry out one man's mind. It is to investigate and criticize and condemn and discourage workers who do not meet his ideas, revealing a spirit of supremacy in making laws and pledges for others, and such principles will not be sustained or favored by the Lord. Daniel exhorted the king to break off his sins by righteousness and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, but the light from heaven was not accepted and did not exert a saving influence on his character. Those who receive light must change their course of action, or the work of the Lord will become less and less palatable until finally set aside, and cherishing proud, self-trusting thoughts and setting God aside brings danger of passing through the trying experience announced in the fourth chapter of Daniel. The light given through that experience was later disregarded by Belshazzar, who lost the benefits obedience could have brought, showing that neglecting lessons God gives to instruct and reform brings judgment.
The sentence declares that Nebuchadnezzar's human reason and understanding would be taken from him and a beast's degraded nature given to him for seven years of chastisement before his reason was restored. In fulfillment he was driven from men to dwell and eat like the beasts of the field, wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men. His downfall came because prosperity elevated and deceived him, and the instant he gloried in great Babylon built by the might of his power and for the honor of his majesty, the tree was felled and the blessings God had bestowed were removed. The judgment proves that the Most High rules human kingdoms and gives them to whomever He wills, dealing even with heathen kings according to their ways to expose the sin that led them from God. It stands as a present warning that a holy Watcher is present in every assembly, sees and weighs every motive, word, and secret action, and will surely punish indulged pride to teach the self-exalted his utter weakness and need of divine aid.
Dream Context and Sentence
The sentence belongs to Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a lofty tree planted in the earth, whose shelter was enjoyed by flocks and herds from the mountains and hills and whose branches housed the birds of the air. The tree represented his greatness and prosperity, with nations gathered under his sovereignty and his kingdom firmly established in the hearts of loyal subjects.
The dream was another dream given after he failed to continue walking in light already received. God had honored him by revealing the future in the dream of the great image where Babylon was the head of gold, which flattered the king and his counselors because each later kingdom was a baser metal, and Daniel had been sent to explain it. He then exalted himself and set up a costly golden image in the plains of Dura to magnify Babylon and himself, and the three Hebrew captives who refused to worship it were cast into the burning fiery furnace and preserved when the Lord Jesus was with them. Though the king saw the form of the Fourth and acknowledged the living God, he lost the holy impression, and so this further dream recorded in the fourth chapter was given.
It was a very striking, explicit warning given to the greatest and most powerful ruler of his time, whose prosperity and kingdom had been given by God for God's glory and designated as the head of gold. He turned it against himself by following the imaginations of his proud heart and imagining his kingdom becoming still more extensive and powerful instead of tracing the end of all earthly things and the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom. The setting is his reign and the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms, which would ultimately be replaced by God's everlasting kingdom. The magicians, astrologers, soothsayers and Chaldeans could not make it known or interpret it because those who do not love and fear God cannot understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven or approach Him who dwells in light unapproachable, while the servants of God understand the things of God. Daniel told it before the king because he was esteemed for unswerving integrity, faithfully honoring God at all times and places, unexcelled wisdom, and refusing compromise to gain court position or even to preserve life when God's honor was involved, for God honors those He places in important positions just as long as they honor Him.
The change from man's heart to a beast's heart meant his human reason and understanding would be taken from him and he would be given the nature and degraded condition of a beast. The sentence foretold his downfall and the condition he would endure after failing to heed warning. The seven times to pass over him are seven years of chastisement before his reason was restored.
In fulfillment he was humbled, driven from men to dwell with the beasts of the field, made to live and eat like a beast and like an ox on grass and to be wet with the dew of heaven, becoming an astonishment to his subjects. Daniel was troubled when he saw its significance but declared that this would last until Nebuchadnezzar knew that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men and gives it to whomsoever He will. The account is one of banishment from human society by God's decree, and conversion and miraculous restoration followed this humiliation. Though warned, his prosperity elevated and deceived him, and the instant he gloried in great Babylon built by the might of his power and for the honor of his majesty, the sentence was issued, the tree was felled, and the blessings God had bestowed were removed.
Divine Rule and Fulfillment
The sentence that the king's human heart would be changed and a beast's heart given to him, with seven times to pass over him, was a judgment showing that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomever He wills. It shows that God rules over even heathen kings and deals with them according to their evil ways and deeds. His human reason and understanding were taken from him and he was given the nature and degraded condition of a beast, humbled to live and eat like a beast, driven from men to dwell with the beasts of the field, made to eat grass like oxen and to be wet with the dew of heaven, becoming an astonishment to his subjects until he knew that the Most High rules. Daniel was troubled when he saw its significance, yet he declared its meaning and exhorted the king to break off his sins by righteousness and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, but the light from heaven was not accepted and did not exert a saving influence upon his character. The chastisement exposed the sin that had led him away from God and was meant to lead him to recognize and correct it.
His pride and refusal to honor God led to his downfall. Though warned, his prosperity elevated and deceived him, and the instant he gloried in great Babylon built by the might of his power and for the honor of his majesty, the sentence was issued, the tree was felled, the blessings God had bestowed were removed, and his reason was taken away. The seven times are a definite chronological period foretold in prophecy and later fulfilled, illustrating that events limited by prophetic periods occurred according to their predictions. God foretells events within appointed times and fulfills them accordingly. Because the predicted event occurred within the given time, the fulfillment gives ground to trust chronological periods extending to the second coming of Christ as times before appointed and revealed by God. The account is one of banishment from human society by God's decree, and conversion and miraculous restoration followed this humiliation and adversity.
Watchful Warning for Today
The decree that changed a man's heart to a beast's heart stands as proof that the heavenly universe knows all the works of men. A holy Watcher is present in every assembly, present when men speak and act, seeing the scene as it happens and making it known. He weighs every motive and method, every plan and word and secret action. That watching and weighing falls upon those whose conduct and opposition to truth and righteousness reveal their character.
The Watcher takes special notice of those entrusted with great light and great opportunities and responsible work, and will not long bear their perversity. Turning from God's word to human ideas and plans leaves responsible men without excuse. God requires a different spirit to control councils and committees, a change from selfishness and self-exaltation and pomposity. Selfish principles injure all within their reach and form a character so objectionable that its possessor can find no place among the redeemed. Harsh words spoken to a brother, and what wife and daughter hear in the home, are all witnessed and reported by this heavenly observer.
God has many ways to punish, and punishment will surely follow where pride is indulged. Any man lifted up by his own ability and trusting in human strength will be brought down to learn his utter weakness and need of divine aid. No one is to glory in wisdom or talents or anything but Christ and Him crucified, for the Lord alone is to be exalted. The whole life recorded in the chapter warns against trusting in human wisdom and strength or making flesh one's arm, and against being unfaithful to God's truth by adapting it for personal plans or popularity.
The sentence shows what happens when a man exalts and magnifies himself and exercises authority and supremacy God has not given him. To act like Nebuchadnezzar is to carry on God's work according to human wisdom instead of as God requires, to stand over God's heritage and require everyone to understand and carry out one man's mind. It is to investigate and criticize and condemn and discourage workers who do not meet his ideas, revealing a spirit of supremacy in making laws and pledges for others, and such principles will not be sustained or favored by the Lord. Daniel exhorted the king to break off his sins by righteousness and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, but the light from heaven was not accepted and did not exert a saving influence on his character. Those who receive light must change their course of action, or the work of the Lord will become less and less palatable until finally set aside, and cherishing proud, self-trusting thoughts and setting God aside brings danger of passing through the trying experience announced in the fourth chapter of Daniel. The light given through that experience was later disregarded by Belshazzar, who lost the benefits obedience could have brought, showing that neglecting lessons God gives to instruct and reform brings judgment.