A Warning in Love

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’
Daniel 4:19-23
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A Warning in Love
Daniel was dismayed. The dream’s meaning was clear, judgment was coming for King Nebuchadnezzar. Yet Daniel didn’t gloat or remain silent. He cared for the king, even though Nebuchadnezzar had once threatened his life. Speaking hard truth in love, Daniel became the Lord’s instrument of warning and mercy. God still sends warnings today, not to destroy, but to call us to repentance. Pride, like the great tree in the dream, may seem strong, but it will fall apart without God. The Law humbles us, like the king driven from his throne, until we see that all things come from God’s gracious hand. But the Lord does not leave us there. In Christ, the tree of the cross, we see God’s mercy. Jesus bore our judgment so that, like Nebuchadnezzar, we might be restored.