Daniel 4.14-The Holy Watcher Pronounces Judgment Against The Tree
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday September 13, 2012
Daniel: Daniel 4:14-The Holy Watcher Pronounces Judgment Against The Tree
Lesson # 120
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 4:13.
This evening we will study Daniel 4:14, which records the Holy Watcher who descended from the heavens proclaiming with authority that the tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream be chopped down, and its branches lopped off, its foliage stripped off and its fruit scattered so that the animals and birds flee from it.
Daniel 4:1 “King Nebuchadnezzar, to each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities and language groups, who are living throughout the entire earth: May your prosperity increase! 2 It is pleasing to me to make known the miraculous signs, yes, and wondrous signs at that, which the Most High God performed on my behalf. 3 How great are His miraculous signs! Indeed, how great are His wondrous signs! His kingdom is eternal. In other words, His governmental dominion is from generation to generation. 4 I myself, Nebuchadnezzar was content in my house, specifically prosperous in my palace. 5 I saw a dream, which caused me to be frightened, specifically revelations on my bed. Indeed, visions in my mind caused me to be terrified. 6 Therefore, from me a command was issued for the purpose of causing each and every one of the city of Babylon’s wise men to be brought into my presence in order that they could make known to me the dream’s interpretation. 7 So when the occult priests, necromancers, astrologers as well as diviners entered, I communicated the content of the dream before them but they could not make its interpretation known to me. 8 Then Daniel entered my presence whose name was Belteshazzar according to my god’s name and in addition one who possesses God’s Holy Spirit in him. Next, I communicated the content of the dream before him. 9 ‘O Belteshazzar, chief over the wise men, because I myself know personally that God’s Holy Spirit is in you so that any mystery is by no means too difficult for you, please consider the content of my dream, which I saw. Also, please communicate its interpretation. 10 Now, concerning the visions in my mind on my bed, I was in a trance like state staring as behold a tree was in the midst of the earth. In fact, its height was enormous. 11 The tree became enormous so that it was strong. Indeed, its height reached to the heavens so that it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. 12 Its foliage was beautiful. Also, its fruit was abundant so that food was in it for the benefit of all. The beasts of the field found shade under it. Also, the birds of the sky lived in its branches. Indeed, each and every living creature was fed from it. 13 I was in a trance like state staring because of the visions in my mind on my bed as behold a watchman, yes a holy one descended out from the heavens.’ (My translation)
Daniel 4:14 ‘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.”’ (NASB95)
“He shouted out” is the masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active participle form of the verb qerā(ʾ) (קְרָא) (ker-aw´), which means “to publicly proclaim” referring to the act of vocal proclamation to instruct or draw attention.
Here the word refers to the act performed by the holy watchman of publicly proclaiming judgment against the tree.
The noun ḥǎ∙yil means “authority” in the sense of possessing the power to command the behavior of others and compel obedience and is the object of the preposition b-, which is a marker of manner.
Thus, this prepositional phrase describes the manner in which the holy watchman issued the proclamation of judgment against the enormous tree, which appeared to Nebuchadnezzar in a vision in a dream.
The manner in which the holy watchman issued this proclamation was “with authority” in the sense that He, the preincarnate Christ spoke in a manner which compelled obedience by those who would execute the judgment against the tree.
This verb implies authority meaning that this holy watchman who was the preincarnate Christ possessed sovereign authority to issue this proclamation in the manner in which He did.
“Chop down the tree” symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar being deposed from power by God according to Daniel’s interpretation in Daniel 4:19-26.
“Cut off” is the second person masculine plural paʿʿel (Hebrew: piel) active imperative form of the verb qeṣǎṣ (קְצַץ) (kets-ats´), which means “to lop off” and its object is the branches of this enormous tree, which appeared to Nebuchadnezzar in a vision.
The branches provided shelter and protection for the animals and birds who symbolized unregenerate humanity under Nebuchadnezzar’s authority.
Therefore, the cutting off of these branches symbolized that Nebuchadnezzar would no longer be able to provide shelter and protection for those under his rule since he would be deposed from power by God.
“Strip off its foliage” symbolized that Nebuchadnezzar would no longer be able to provide food for those under his rule since he would be deposed from power by God.
“Scatter its fruit” symbolized that those under Nebuchadnezzar’s dominion would no longer be able to go to a centralized location to receive sustenance to live since he would be deposed for seven years.
The holy watcher does not command that the fruit be destroyed but simply scattered which symbolizes that those under Nebuchadnezzar’s dominion would no longer be able to go to a centralized location to receive sustenance to live since he would be deposed for seven years.
“Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches” symbolized unregenerate humanity under Nebuchadnezzar’s dominion fleeing from him as a result of God punishing him and giving him the mind of animal for seven years until he humbles himself before God.
Daniel 4:14 ‘He publicly proclaimed with authority and said “Cut down the tree! Also, lop off its branches! Strip off its foliage! Furthermore, scatter its fruit! Let the beasts flee out from under it as well as the birds from its branches!’ (My translation)
Daniel 4:14 continues the second act of the drama.
In Daniel 4:10-12, we have the first act which presents to the reader the subject of the vision of an enormous tree, which symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:13-17 presents the second act of this dream, which records the destruction of the tree which is not total and complete.
This describes symbolically the downfall of Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:14 records that after the holy watcher, which we noted is the preincarnate Christ, descended from the heavens, He publicly proclaimed with authority five commands, which are directed towards the enormous tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision.
This verse is describing symbolically God deposing Nebuchadnezzar from power.
This vision is thus to teach Nebuchadnezzar that the God of Israel is sovereign over him and has raised him up and will now depose him from power.
The term “sovereignty” connotes a situation in which a person, from his innate dignity, exercises supreme power, with no areas of his province outside his jurisdiction.
As applied to God, the term “sovereignty” indicates His complete power over all of creation, so that He exercises His will absolutely, without any necessary conditioning by a finite will or wills.
Daniel 2:19 Next in a vision during the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel. Then Daniel showered the God of the heavens with adoring praise, honor, recognition and worshipful thanksgiving. 20 Daniel responded and said: “God has had His name showered with adoring praise, honor, recognition and worshipful thanksgiving from eternity past and in addition this will continue throughout eternity future because He inherently is wisdom as well as power. 21 Namely, He determines the appointed times as well as the durations of time. He deposes kings as well as elevates kings. He gives wisdom to wise men as well as knowledge to those who possess the capacity to receive understanding. 22 God reveals unfathomable events, yes events which are hidden. He alone knows what is in the darkness. Specifically, the light resides in Him. 23 For the benefit of You, O God of my fathers, I myself give thanks, yes and praise too because You gave to me wisdom, yes and power too. Indeed, now You have made known to me what we requested from You because You made known to us the king’s secret.” (My translation)
Isaiah 40:15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. (NASB95)
Isaiah 40:17 All the nations are as nothing before Him, they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless. (NASB95)
Psalm 66:7 He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah. (NASB95)
The Lord Jesus is the supreme ruler of history as a result of His victory over Satan at the Cross.
Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority. (NASB95)
Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NASB95)
1 Timothy 6:13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate 14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 15 which He will bring about at the proper time -- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords 16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. (NASB95)
This vision in chapter four of the book of Daniel is teaching Nebuchadnezzar that God is in charge and not him.