Here, in a series of posts, are some observations I've made of 'buts' appearing in the book of Daniel. If you’re looking for a text to read through a little at a time, I invite you to grab your copy of the Scriptures and follow along.
Chapter four contains a public decree of Nebuchadnezzar. Think of it like a press briefing. The king shares that he has had another dream and that he once again summoned his soothsayers to interpret it. Am I the only one that finds it strange that he has any soothsayers left after what he pulled with them back in chapter two? I suppose I figured those guys would have had an urge for vocation change and any file of applicants would have dried up.
The first but in the text tells us how it went down:
"When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came I told them the dream but they could not interpret it for me."
Well, at least this time the king told the poor guys about the dream. No matter. They couldn't deliver an answer for him. The king put out a call for Daniel. I find myself wondering why the king consulted these other guys in the first place. I wonder if he was uneasy about what the interpretation would be.
Notice that when the king spells out the dream for Daniel it includes a pretty significant but:
"Cut down the tree and trim off its branches... but let the stump and its roots remain."
This big but sets up a most critical part of the message. If you look ahead a couple of verses you see that this dream was intended "so that the living may know the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men." The fact that God says take the tree down, but let the stump remain is demonstrative of the fact that God--not Nebuchadnezzar or any other king or kingdom--holds these things within His hand.
The king tells Daniel, 'those other knaves I called upon couldn't help me.' Confidently then, "But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you." Nebi's not sure who or what this deity is, but he knows Daniel's got it.
As Daniel interprets the dream, he restates it, careful to include that big but--leave the stump. He tells the king that this is a decree against him. But acknowledges that God, in His mercy, offers a new start. "When you acknowledge that heaven rules," Daniel assures the king, then his prosperity will be continued.
The rest of the chapter is Nebuchadnezzar's testimony of having repented and God having restored him. The chapter ends with the beautiful profession: "Now I, King Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of Heaven."
I come away learning again that God is sovereign over kings and kingdoms. But also that God's judgment is extended with an offer of mercy and grace. That shows me that it is indeed God's kindness that leads us to repentance--and repentance that honors God. Food for thought as we head to chapter five.
Your thoughts?
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