AN IMMENSE TREE

What was the content of the Babylonian king's frightening dream? "Now the visions of my head upon my bed I happened to be beholding," said Nebuchadnezzar, "and look! a tree in the midst of the earth, the height of which was immense.  The tree grew up and became strong, and its very height finally reached the heavens, and it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. Its foliage was fair, and its fruit was abundant, and there was food for all on it.  Under it the beast  of the field would seek shade, and on its boughs the birds of the heavens would dwell, and from it all flesh would feed itself." (Daniel 4:10-12)  Reportedly, Nebuchadnezzar was fond of the great cedars of Lebanon, went to see them, and had some brought to Babylon as lumber.  But he had never beheld anything like the tree in his dream.  It occupied a prominent position "in the midst of the earth," was visible earth wide, and was so fruitful that it provided food for all flesh.

There was much more to the dream, for Nebuchadnezzar added: "I continued beholding  in the visions of my head upon my bed, and look! A watcher, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens themselves. He was calling out loudly, and this is what he was saying: 'Chop the tree down, and cut off its boughs.  Shake off its foliage, and scatter its fruitage.  Let the beast flee from under it, and birds from its boughs.  However, leave its rootstock itself in the earth, even with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field; and with the dew of the heavens let it be wet, and with the beast let is portion be among the vegetation of the earth.'  " -Daniel 4:13-15. 

The Babylonians had their won religious concept of good and evil spirit creatures.  But who was this "watcher," or sentinel, from heaven?  Called "a holy one,"  he was a righteous angel representing God.  (Compare Psalm 103:20, 21) Imagine the questions that must have plagued Nebuchadnezzar!  Why chop this tree down?  What good is the rootstock restrained from growth by bands of iron and of copper?  Indeed, what purpose is served by a mere stump? 

Nebuchadnezzer must have been completely mystified as he heard the watcher's further words:  "Let its heart be changed  from that of mankind, and let the heart of the bast be given to it, and let seven times seven times pass over it.  By the decree of the watchers the thing is, and by the saying of the holy ones the request is, to the intent that people living my know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind."  (Daniel 4:16, 17)  The rootstock of a tree does not have a human heart beating inside it.  For that matter, how can the heart of the beast be given to a tree's rootstock?  What are  the "seven times?" And how does all of this relate to rulership in "the kingdom of mankind?"  Surely Nebuchadnezzar wanted to know. 

Next time: BAD NEWS FOR KING

From the book: PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999