The Great Tree
Nebuchadnezzar had been given a dream of a great strong tree which bore fruit and had great spreading branches and reached into the sky that provided for many and birds made their nest in the branches.
"Now these were the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed: I was looking, and behold, there was a was great.
tree in the midst of the earth and its height ‘The tree grew large and became strong
And its height reached to the sky,
And it was visible to the end of the whole earth.
‘Its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
The beasts of the field found shade under it,
And the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches,
And all living creatures fed themselves from it."Dan:4:10-12
In the vision the tree stood until an angle of God ordered the great tree to be chopped down yet it's roots were to be left in the earth and a band of iron was to be placed about the stump.
"‘I was looking in the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.
‘He shouted out and spoke as follows:“Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit;
Let the beasts flee from under it
And the birds from its branches.
“Yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground,
But with a band of iron and bronze around it
In the new grass of the field;"(13-15)
After the proclamation of the angel to chop the tree down and to affix the iron band upon the stump the angel then makes a cryptic proclamation.
"And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
And let him share with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
“Let his mind be changed from that of a manAnd let him share with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
And let a beast’s mind be given to him,
And let seven periods of time pass over him."(15b-16)
Daniel Interprets
The Prophet Daniel who served as an adviser to King Nebuchadnezzar , after hearing the dream is alarmed by what he hears, the Prophet recognizes that it is a warning from God for Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel then interprets it for the King telling him that the King has sins which threatens to undo his position, but if the King repents God will be merciful but if he will not, he will be cut down as the tree and driven out from before men and live in the wild as an animal, but if he repents God will not bring this upon Nebuchadnezzar. (19-27)
Looks Out at His Kingdom
One year after the vision of the great tree being cut down and the warning from the Prophet Daniel King Nebuchadnezzar was walking upon the roof of his royal palace,he looked at his kingdom and saw all of it's greatness. He ruled much of the known world and his kingdom's influence was felt from north to south and east to west.
His heart was lifted up and he was filled with pride over all that he had and did, and ascribed to himself the greatness of his kingdom and all of it's glory.
At that very moment as he looks out at his kingdom even as he gloried in his self, and praised himself ; a voice from Heaven speaks declaring that the power and and rule which he held would now be taken and he would be driven into the wild and would be there until he recognizes that it is the Lord God who rules in the kingdoms of men and has power to raise up or to bring down kings and nations.
God is God not Nebuchadnezzar and God rules.
God is God not Nebuchadnezzar and God rules.
“All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king. “Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. “The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ “While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’ (28-32)
As an Animal
The King loses his ability to reason as the warning vision spoke "Let his mind be changed from that of a man And let a beast’s mind be given to him" (16a), he acts as an animal, lives as an animal and is among the animals. He can no longer reason as a man his life is simply the life of an animal driven by the pulls of the nature of an animal.
"Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was
driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his
body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like
eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws".(33)
Lifted His Eyes to Heaven
This was the life of a King whom God had made great. Pride brought the loss of reason upon him as he admired his own self perceived accomplishments and greatness. Here he remained in the state of lost reason and animal behavior all due to his pride.
For seven years King Nebuchadnezzar lived with out reason until he lifted his eyes to Heaven and it is then hat his reason returned to him, and he gave glory to God and worshiped the Creator of Heaven and Earth and all was restored to him.
“At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were
restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my
nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty,
and surpassing greatness was added to me. “Now
I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all
His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who
walk in pride.”(36-37)
Looking at Our Own Kingdoms
What is the lesson for us today so many centuries removed ? We all can be like King Nebuchadnezzar, we can look out at the kingdoms of our lives and see great things, we may look at our potions in life, or good works which we have done , education, possessions or any other self erected standards of greatness what ever they might be , and if we do this we can be filled with pride of our flesh.
When Nebuchadnezzar looked out at his kingdom, he took his eyes off the Great God , his view was to the things of the Earth, he lost the ability to reason and he acted as an animal concerned with only self preservation and keeping the life of the flesh alive.
This tells us that when we look out at the kingdom of our life, no matter how good they might be without acknowledging the God of Heaven we lose the ability to reason, that is to acknowledge the God of Heaven and to worship him alone. We become carnal and are concerned with the things of Earth rather than the things of Heaven.
As Nebuchadnezzar's great tree was cut down and bound with a a band of iron so might the great tree of our own lives kingdom be hewed to the grown and bound with a band of iron , cut down no matter how many people benefit from us.
As Nebuchadnezzar's great tree was cut down and bound with a a band of iron so might the great tree of our own lives kingdom be hewed to the grown and bound with a band of iron , cut down no matter how many people benefit from us.
The Things of Heaven
The Apostle Paul speaks to Christians in all ages to rather set out minds on the things of God, the things above rather upon the things of the Earth.
"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth".Col:3:2
These very Heavenly things are what our Lord Jesus tells us to set our hearts upon, they are eternal and and our by grace.
"Seek first the Kingdom of God" Matt:6:33
When we keep our minds upon the Heavenly things of God and our relationship with the great God , the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in clear focus , in, and upon the Person of Jesus Christ and acknowledge that it is by his gracious hand that all which we have received is from him alone than can there can not be found room in our hearts for pride; we will attend the spiritual things rather than to keep the life of the flesh alive.
What ever we have in this life , all good no matter how great our personal kingdoms might be all good which we have receive is from the Great God and not ours accomplished by our own means.
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights"Jam:1:17a
Reason Restored
When we lift our eyes to Heaven and acknowledge the Great God, we like Nebuchadnezzar will have our minds restored, we see God as God and we , we like the King , no longer behave as an animal concerned only for preservation of the flesh, we then worship him as did Nebuchadnezzar did when he finally saw the truth that "God rules in the Kingdoms of men" the King then issued a proclamation giving glory to God the King of Heaven.
If we our looking to the things of this life and have become occupied with our flesh, we need to "lift our eyes to Heaven" and worship the Great God and give all glory to him alone we will be fully restored and our reason will return to us....Amen
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor,
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.
2101 Old National Pike.
Washington,
Pennsylvania. www.gcfountainoflife.org
The
Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in
Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area
of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela,
Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
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