Proud Tree

Nebuchadnezzar had another dream that frightened him. Again he was frightened enough to call all his counselors to interpret. This time he remembered the dream. He called for Daniel when his "wise men" could not tell him the meaning. Daniel knew that the meaning could bring the king to cut off his head. He decided to be faithful to God and describe what God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to know.

Small tree grew until it was very large. The large tree seen in the kings dream was so large that it was a nice place for birds to rest. Under it's shade, animals found relief from the sun. The tree grew enough fruit for everyone to have some.

Someone came along and cut the tree down. There was no longer any refuge for anyone.

Daniel explained that the king was this tree. God was the One watching all the king did. He made it so many looked to the king for protection. Babylon was the center of knowledge of the world.

Because of the king's pride, he would be driven from men and eat grass for seven years.

At first the king took the dream seriously. For several months he turned to the Lord. He thought about being just a stump with no abilities.

Then he listened to his "wise men" who had other explanations. Finally one day he was even laughing at the idea that God had given him the vision. A voice from heaven announced his time had come. At that point he became crazy. There were not hospitals for mental sickness back then. He was chased away from people. He was a wild man and ate and lived in the field like a wild animal.

The stump showed there were still roots. The old tree had some possibilities yet never the same strength as when it had its leaves. It left a promise that it would not be completely destroyed. The promise also stated that Nebuchadnezzar would again be respected and rule the world after he had been humbled.

Daniel 4:26 "And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. "

All the people in the kingdom of Babylon were amazed at how crazy he was. For seven years he crawled around in the field growling and grunting and not making any sense. His fingernails were long and curled like bird claws. His hair became matted and long. Spit dripped out of his mouth and pasted his beard together. He hat grass like an animal. Dew covered his body like on animals in the field. For seven years he was humbled before the world. (Daniel 4:33)

At the end of the seven years, Nebuchadnezzar lifted his eyes to heaven and his understanding came back to him from heaven. He honored God and blessed Him.

If we have a problem of pride, God knows just what to do to humble us. If we think we know everything and can't learn anything maybe we need a proud tree lesson. I hope it does not take something that drastic. Maybe we could learn from Nebuchadnezzar. We may need to go through losses of home, wealth, family members, or positions of honor in the world. Whatever it takes to keep us out of the traps of Satan and keep us teachable are the best things. We need to honor the God of heaven and not ourselves.

The king was sorry for how he had acted. He told everyone about how God humbled him. No longer did he brag about his own works. He made a full surrender of his life to God.

It is amazing when you look at who told this story for the Bible. Look at the way it is written! This is the personal testimony, the story from the king himself. This is what God wanted. The king was to tell the world that God was good, had mercy and all authority.

Poor Daniel was so upset about the 7 year punishment that he could not talk about it for an hour.

Daniel 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
4:2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
4:3 How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation.
4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
4:6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
4:7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
4:8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying],
4:9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
4:10 Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof [was] great.
4:11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 4:12 The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
4:13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
4:15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
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.
4:17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
4:18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou [art] able; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee.
4:19 Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
4:20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

1. How many years did the king crawl, eat grass and act crazy?

2. What was mentioned as enjoying the shade of the tree with it was large?

3. How did the tree start out?

4. What happened to the big tree?

5. What character trait was God working on for king Nebuchadnezzar?

6. Did Nebuchadnezzar have to wait for someone to tell him what he had dreamed?

7. Why do you think the stump and roots were left of the tree?

8. Why do you think there was a band on the tree?

9. Describe the hair of the wild king and his nails.

10. Before the tree was cut down, what did the tree grow on it?

11. Who told this the story in the Bible record?

12. How long was Daniel too upset to explain the dream to the king?

For the next lesson click on : God's Graffiti (Daniel chapter 5)