Triplets of Christ-Mind: Pride Demands God’s Judgment, Bringing Wisdom

Photo by Reinhardhauke 2012

As we began to explore last week, God gave Daniel the wisdom to interpret three visions for Babylonian kings, all of which were divine prophetic warnings. The first warning was Nebuchadnezzar’s dream symbolizing three future kingdoms that would replace his kingdom (Daniel 2:1-45). The second warning was Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a great tree, foretelling how God would humble him (Daniel 4:4-27).The third warning was God’s handwriting on the wall, declaring judgment on the Chaldean king Belshazzar, who was Nebuchadnezzar’s son (Daniel 5:5-28).

The narrative of Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream begins with his proclaiming to all people, nations, and languages about God’s great signs and mighty wonders He had shown the king, and His everlasting kingdom (Daniel 4:1-4). This suggests head knowledge of who God is, but his subsequent words and actions reveal that he lacked wisdom to love and fear God and understanding to obey Him. Sadly, that is the situation with many who claim to follow God (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 7:15; Mark 7:6). Even the demons believe in God, yet will spend eternity in hell because they despise Him (James 2:19).

Although Nebuchadnezzar had been at leisure in his house, and thriving in his palace, he became frightened by a dream, subsequent thoughts, and visions in his head ((Daniel 4:5). The king himself could not understand the dream, nor could all the wise men of Babylon, except for Daniel.

Although Nebuchadnezzar praised Daniel, calling him master of the magicians, who was not troubled by any secret, he misunderstood the source of his wisdom, believing he possessed the spirit of the holy gods rather than the understanding that comes only from a heart relationship with the One True and Living God (v. 7-9).

We therefore can assume that Nebuchadnezzar was still unsaved, for he continued to believe in multiple gods rather than in Jehovah, and he repeated that he had given Daniel the name Belteshazzar, “according to the name of my god” (v. 8). Our One true God is a jealous God, commanding that we have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3-5), and telling us that the Name of His Son is the only Name by which we may be saved (Romans 10:9-13; Acts 4:12). Only the Lord Jesus Christ could be the perfect sacrifice reconciling sinful man to Holy God (2 Corinthians 5:18), so that all who trust in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) will have eternal life (John 3:16).

Nebuchadnezzar recounted his dream of a tree growing strong, high enough to reach heaven, and broad enough to be visible throughout the earth, with beautiful leaves, plentiful fruit, and roomy branches. It provided food for all, shade for the beasts of the field, and shelter for the birds. But this lovely vision was disturbed by a “watcher” and a “holy one” Who “came down from heaven” (Daniel 4:10-13).

This Holy Messenger cried for the tree to be cut down, for the branches to be cut off, and for the leaves and fruit to be scattered. He commanded the beasts to get away from under it, and the birds to leave its branches, but the stump of the tree’s roots to be left in the earth. Curiously, the stump was to be bound with iron and brass, yet left in the tender grass of the field, wet with the dew of heaven (Daniel 4:14-15).

At this point the language of the dream report shifts so that the tree more clearly represents a person, later interpreted by Daniel to be Nebuchadnezzar himself. The judgment was to let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth; to let his heart be changed from man's; and to let a beast's heart be given unto him, until seven years had passed (v. 16). He would be insane, roaming the earth like a wild animal. When men refuse to acknowledge their Creator, He turns them over to their own depravity (Romans 1:18-32).

Even Nebuchadnezzar, who was most concerned about the specific interpretation of the dream as it applied to himself, had the knowledge to realize it also was of general significance to all men. It was by the decree of the watchers, and the word of the holy ones, for instruction of all the living. Although Nebuchadnezzar then lacked the wisdom for a heart relationship with God, and the understanding to obey God, he at least had knowledge of God’s power. He knew that the most High rules over the kingdom of men, gives power to whomever He chooses, and appoints a wicked ruler, if that is what the people deserve (Daniel 4:17).

When Daniel heard Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he was stunned by the warning it contained, troubled by his thoughts concerning the interpretation, and diplomatic as began presenting it to the king, voicing hope that the dream would not apply to Nebuchadnezzar, but to those who hated him, and to his enemies (v. 19).

But there was no denying the interpretation God had given Daniel. The tree represented Nebuchadnezzar, who had become great, strong and powerful throughout the earth. Yet he lacked the wisdom to understand in his heart that all this came from God (James 1:17), even though he had acknowledged that with his words. God’s judgment was that the king would therefore lose the company of men, live with the animals, and feed like the oxen, eating grass and drinking dew (Daniel 4: 20-25).

He would be humbled in that debased state for seven years until he knew in his soul that God rules over all and apportions power as He chooses. But Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would remain, so that when he came into his right mind he could reclaim it. Daniel advised the king to turn away from his sins, to seek the righteousness of God, and to show mercy to the poor, so that God might be merciful and delay His judgment on the king’s pride (v. 25-27).

Evidently God did give Nebuchadnezzar a full year to repent, but he still failed to acknowledge God’s power, mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16). Instead, he bragged about having built the kingdom of Babylon by his own power and for his own glory. As he boasted, a voice from heaven announced that the kingdom had departed from him, that he would live with beasts instead of men, and that he would eat grass as cattle do (Daniel 4:28-32).

All this came to pass within the hour and lasted for seven years. Nebuchadnezzar’s body was wet with the dew of heaven, his hair grew out like eagles' feathers, and his nails became like birds' claws (v. 33). When man’s heart is filled with self-righteousness, pride, and rebellion, God may allow trials into his life to allow him to come to the end of himself and to seek God (Acts 17:27), as in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Only when we realize we are sinners doomed to hell and need the Savior Who redeemed us (Romans 5:16-18) can we be saved by faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8-9).

At the end of seven years of abasement, Nebuchadnezzar finally sought God, Who gave Him understanding (Daniel 4:34), for He always answers a sinner’s prayer to find Him. Nebuchadnezzar blessed, praised and honored God Who lives eternally, rules forever, and whose kingdom is continuous, lasting from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:34-35)

As Nebuchadnezzar finally knew God in his heart, God restored his reason, honor and brightness. His former cabinet once again supported him, he was established in his kingdom, and God gave him greater majesty than he had before (v. 36). The king ends his narrative with:

Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (v. 37)

May we daily seek God, recognize His strength and our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and praise Him so that He does not need to humble us for our pride (Luke 14:11). May we not only know about God, but seek wisdom to love Him in our heart and understanding to obey His Word!

© 2016 Laurie Collett

Triplets of Christ-Mind Personified: Daniel Obeys God

As we saw last week, the mind of Christ has three essential components: knowledge, wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 3:19-20; Isaiah 11:1-3). Knowledge utilizes the mind to learn the historical facts, truths and verses recorded in Scripture, particularly that Jesus, Son of God, died to pay for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day so that all who trust Him have eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 3:16).

Wisdom employs the emotions to fear Holy God (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10), to receive peace (Philippians 4:7) as we invite Jesus into our heart, and to know joy in Him as our Lord and Savior (Nehemiah 8:10). And understanding allows the saved person to apply knowledge and wisdom to their lives so that they will be fruitful in service to Him (Joshua 24:15).

Practically speaking, we can read and even study God’s Word to know it better. If we allow it to convict us, we can repent and gain wisdom. But unless we obey it, we lack true understanding.

God created mankind in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27), so we can look to His Word for examples of those who portrayed all three qualities of Christ-mind. But due to our sin nature since the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3), no one can measure up to that perfect ideal, Who of course is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

Although Jesus walked the earth in human flesh (John 1:14) He is the Creator Who founded the earth by wisdom, established the heavens by understanding, and established the water cycle from oceans to rain by knowledge (Proverbs 3: 19).

The prophet Isaiah spoke of Him as the rod, stem and Branch of Jesse with three manifestations of the spirit of the Lord: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, and the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. The basis of His understanding is not what He sees or hears, but the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:1-3), which comes from faith rather than physical evidence (Hebrews 11:1).

Despite mankind’s earthly limitations, frailties and sin (Romans 3:23), the Holy Spirit Who indwells believers saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) empowers them to emulate the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). The first such Old Testament example is Bezaleel, whose lineage is described as the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. To enable Bezaleel to make the furniture for His holy tabernacle through excellent workmanship, God filled Bezaleel with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge (Exodus 31:3; 35:1).

The next example of triplets of Christ-mind is Daniel and his three companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, in Babylonian captivity (Daniel 1: 3-6). These were the cream of the crop among the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes. They were without blemish, attractive and skillful in their wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of science, social skills, and language ability. Blessed with these God-given talents, they were able to conduct themselves with diplomacy in a strange land, learn about their culture, and speak in their foreign tongue.

Even though Daniel was renamed Belteshazzar, and his companions Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel’s faith, leadership, and boldness allowed them to remain true to God’s Word. Daniel  “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” by disobeying God’s dietary laws, persuaded the prince of the eunuchs to allow them to follow their customary diet, and proved the wisdom of Cod’s commandments (Daniel 1:7-16).

Daniel not only knew God’s Word concerning food, but he desired in his heart to follow it, and he obeyed it, even though he risked not fitting in with the other youth, loss of privilege with those in authority over him, and even physical punishment for disobeying the king’s customs. In the first clinical trial ever recorded in human history, Daniel and his companions were in better health after ten days on pulse (beans, peas and other seeds) and water than were the youth who ate the king’s food and drank his wine!

So they were permitted to follow God’s dietary laws, and the king gave them three years in his country before wanting to see what they could contribute. Daniel and his three companions had God-given knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, but Daniel also had understanding in all visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17).

When King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream, he demanded that his wise men tell him what he had dreamt and interpret it, promising them gifts and rewards and great honor to fulfill his request. But they replied that it was impossible, and that no king, lord, or ruler could ask such things of any magician, astrologer, or any Chaldean. In his fury, the king demanded that the magicians, astrologers, and Daniel and his fellows all be put to death (Daniel 2:1-13).

But Daniel asked the king for time to know and interpret the troubling vision, and when the king granted it, Daniel and his companions prayed to God for wisdom. When God revealed the secret to Daniel in a night vision, Daniel thanked God, blessing His Name, His wisdom, and His power (Daniel 2:14-19).

Daniel knew that only God can control the times and seasons; restore or remove earthly thrones; and give to men His wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Only God can reveal the deep and secret things and know what is in the darkness, for He is the source of light. Daniel praised God for giving him wisdom, power and knowledge (Daniel 2: 20-23).

God’s wisdom shone through Daniel – not only did he correctly describe and interpret the dream for the king, but God used this incident to reveal His great power to Nebuchadnezzar. The king proclaimed that Daniel’s God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets (Daniel 2:47).

This was only the beginning of how God used Daniel to honor, glorify and serve Him. May we be like Daniel, not only knowing God’s Word, but allowing it to work in our heart so that we will obey it in every aspect of our life! 

© 2016 Laurie Collett