God Made a Tree

Most people would not recognize his name, yet his most famous poem may elicit a previously forgotten memory. Many middle school students memorize its 12 simple lines. The poem is titled “Trees” (1913) and was composed by Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918). The author produced a large volume of work, and had his life not ended tragically early, Kilmer may have emerged as one of America’s great poets. However, he traded his pen for a rifle and was, unfortunately killed on a French battlefield (in the woods).

Kilmer was once an atheist, but converted to Christianity when he lost his daughter to polio. His newfound faith prevented him from despair. Kilmer’s poem was influenced by his faith and appreciation of the natural beauty of God’s world. He expressed the truth that human art invariably fails in comparison to the beauty and majesty of God’s creation. God is the grand Designer, and the intricate balance, harmony, and wonder of the natural world is testimony to His omnipotence (cf. Rom 1:20). Poetry can only confess its own shortcomings while praising the magnificence of God’s creation:

I think that I shall never see a poem 
lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
against the earth’s sweet flowing breast.
A tree that looks at God all day, and lifts 
her leafy arms to pray.
A tree that may in Summer wear a nest 
of robins in her hair.
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me, but 
only God can make a tree.

Daniel 4 is the account of a great tree made by God. Nebuchadnezzar had used countless trees for the beautification and construction of Babylon, but would become like a tree himself: living in a field and being “drenched with the dew of heaven” (v. 23). God alone can make a tree, and He alone grants authority to kings (and all in positions of authority). Nebuchadnezzar did not yet know the sovereignty of God, yet in seven years he would.

C. S. Lewis referred to pride (or self-conceit) as “the great sin.” He referred to it as “one vice of which no [person] … in the world is free.” Pride is most hideous because through it “the devil became the devil. Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind” (Mere Christianity [New York: Macmillan, 1943; rev. ed., 1952] 108-09).

Jesus told a parable regarding “a [proud] rich man” and “a poor [humble] man named Lazarus” (Luke 16:19-31). When the wealthy man died, he found himself tormented in hadēs. Lazarus, however, trusted in Christ alone for salvation and was in comfort. Lazarus was experiencing the joy of everlasting life as a result of his faith, while the pride and prosperity that caused the wealthy man to persist in unbelief, did not protect him from suffering eternal torment. He understood too late the eternal consequences of his unbelief; nonetheless, he was desperate in his appeal to warn his family, so they would not experience the same torment (vv. 27-28).

Nebuchadnezzar was humbled while there was still time for faith and repentance. Consequently, he developed a passion and urgency to communicate the sovereignty of God to those whose pride and/or prosperity may hinder trust in the Lord. The worst experience of his life (yet which he would certainly treasure from the perspective of eternity) taught Nebuchadnezzar that God “is able to humble those who walk in pride” (Dan 4:37).

THE VISION
(Dan 4:1-18) Daniel 4 is a unique chapter in the Bible, for it tells how God changed the heart of a Gentile king (cf. Prov 21:1). Nebuchadnezzar thought it would be good to declare what God did. Although he was a great king, Nebuchadnezzar recognized that God’s kingdom is infinitely superior, for it is everlasting (Dan 4:1-3). How was the king able to confess such wonderful truths? The true God revealed it to him.

Nebuchadnezzar had subdued the majority of his enemies, so he “was at ease in [his] house and flourishing [resting] in [his] palace” (v. 4). His was a false peace, however, for God would soon arouse the king from his presumptuous security (cf. Jer 6:14; 1 Thess 5:3). One night, he had a troubling dream (v. 5) and, as in chapter 2, he “gave orders … [for] all the wise men” to provide explanation. This time he related the vision to them, yet they were unable to convey the  meaning (vv. 6-7) (which could be based upon apprehension even to offer any suggestion, considering the divinely endowed ability of Daniel). “But finally Daniel” arrived. The king knew the prophet would be able to interpret the dream, because he had “a spirit of the holy gods” (vv. 8-9)—which could be understood in light of the effect that Daniel’s life had upon the king and others.

The king described his dream in poetic language, which seems to indicate it was a prophetic oracle (vv. 10-18). Nebuchadnezzar saw a tree grow “large and [become] strong and its height reached to the sky, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth” (v. 11). The tree became drenched with the dew of heaven and was given the mind of a beast for “seven periods of time” (vv. 14-17). The “watcher” (v. 13), who explained the fate of the tree, seems to have been an angel.

The reason the man would be changed and given the heart of a beast was “in order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men” (v. 17). The dream involved the humbling of a great king. Nebuchadnezzar was God’s servant (2 Kgs 24:1; Jer 27:6; Dan 1:1-2), and thus the Lord was his ultimate authority (Ps 24:1; Isa 40:15; Acts 17:24, 26; Rom 13:1). God uses both the willing and the unwilling; no one is exempt. Nebuchadnezzar abused his authority, and now was the time for reprimand. Practicing true humility is always better than having God enforce that virtue through discipline.

THE FULFILLMENT
(Dan 4:19-37) Daniel explained the ascendency of the king and why he would now be humbled (vv. 19-26). The doctrinal message of Daniel 4 is “that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes” (v. 25; cf. vv. 35, 37). The practical message, therefore is to “break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor…” (v. 27).

The prophetic revelations of God are always fulfilled literally, some sooner than later. Everything prophesied regarding Nebuchadnezzar occurred precisely as stated (vv. 28, 33). One year after his dream (v. 29), Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the rooftop of his palace in Babylon. According to verse 30, the king reflected upon the magnificence of the city, and boasted regarding all he had accomplished. While reflecting upon his supposed greatness, the kingdom was taken from him and he lost the ability to think clearly. God gave the king a disease (perhaps boanthropy) that caused him to behave like an animal (vv. 31-33). During the time of his illness, loyal servants (perhaps even Daniel) likely cared for the king; he was probably kept in the palace gardens, so the common people could not abuse him.

The condition, however, was not intended to be permanent. When the seven periods of time had passed, Nebuchadnezzar’s “reason returned” to him (vv. 34, 36). However, what was most important was that he understood the sovereign authority of the Most High, who disciplined him for his pride. He now learned that the Most High, the one  true God, “does according to His will” (v. 35). The abiding truth is unmistakable: “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE” (Jas 4:6).

Many have emerged successfully from humble beginnings, only to plummet. Perhaps it is better never to rise than to do so and fall. Pride is the reason the majority, if not all, experience failure. “Haughty eyes” is listed first on the list of “things which the LORD hates” (Prov 6:17). Divine discipline is never pleasant, yet it does make the end result better than the beginning of that reproof, since God always does so with gracious intent.

How does a person make sense of recent events in America, particularly the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump? The murder of the young father who died trying to protect his family during that attempt is certainly tragic, as is the fact that two more victims were in critical condition. Certainly, prayers for divine grace and mercy should be given on behalf of those families.

The last time there was an assassination attempt on a presidential figure was 30 March 1981, when John Hinckley Jr. shot then President Ronald Reagan. Reagan documented his response to that senseless act in his diary. He wrote: “Getting shot hurts. Still my fear was growing because no matter how hard I tried to breathe it seemed I was getting less & less air. I focused on that tiled ceiling and prayed. But I realized I couldn’t ask for God’s help while at the same time [feeling] hatred for the mixed up young man who had shot me. Isn’t that the meaning of the lost sheep…? I began to pray for his soul and that he would find his way back to the fold.”

He closed the entry for that date affirming, “Whatever happens now I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can.” Whether or not one agrees or disagrees with Reagan’s policies is not the point; rather, it is to recognize how appropriate it was for him to demonstrate gratitude and humility to God for sparing his life. Reagan was humbled by the fact that God spared his life, and believed he was responsible to conduct himself worthy of that second chance, according to the Lord’s approval.

Trump has said he is “supposed to be dead; I’m not supposed to be here,” and felt he had been saved “by luck or by God.” Prayers for Trump to demonstrate the same gratitude and humility that Reagan did would certainly be appropriate. Furthermore, none should take for granted the fact that every life is on lease from God, and each day is an expression of divine grace. On 30 March 1981, President Reagan was reminded just how true that is, and it altered the remainder of his life. Everyone should praise God for the gift of life and family, and conduct oneself with ever-increasing gratitude and humility.

Midnight Call - 09/2024