| Subject: Daniel 4 vss 23-27 Post #22 |
Author:
Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 21:19:20 07/11/09 Sat
Daniel 4:23-27 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
One of the main things we need to focus on in this passage is the deliverer(s) of the decree. A "watcher and an holy one". It is possible there is only one being appearing but the wording suggests two different beings in two different classes. However going back to Daniel 4:13-14 we have this wording: "I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:" Here it appears we are dealing with one being but going on down in the chapter we see in verse 17 "This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones:" Verse 17 seems to bring us back to two different beings or the same being with two different tasks.
The word for "watcher" comes from from an Aramaic word which carries the meaning of being awake and watchful while the title "holy one", which is from the Aramaic also, can be applied to angels or saints. Neither is identified specifically as being an angel but the direction of their coming shows they are heavenly beings.
Coming down to verse 24 we find the origin of the decree to be from God as the term "most High" is used. The interpretation of the decree in verse 25 is given as being "That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will." Here we see the plural used in identifying the being(s) in question and I would venture to say we are dealing with two individuals. Whether both are angels we aren't told but it is a sure thing that not all the created beings in heaven are angels.
One thing that makes this quite interesting to me is the word "they". If we go back to chapter two we find the pronoun they without an antecedent to identify who the word is aimed at. If you will remember back in Daniel 2:43 we read the curious wording: "And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay." The wording states two classes of being. One being "they" and the other "the seed of men". The seed of men is self explanatory but "they" leaves us wondering. If it is pointing to the same class of being as we see in the above passage then we have identified the beings called "they" as being otherworldly as opposed to earthly or of the seed of Adam. It is interesting also in that one is called "holy one" and the other simply "watcher". Is it possible the watcher is not considered holy? This would definitely fit with the "they" of Daniel 2 and the iron mixed with clay.
The "seven times" is probably seven years. By looking at Daniel 7:25 we find similar usage of time(s): "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." (time =1 times = 2 dividing of time = 1/2 or 3 1/2 total) This passage is a tribulation passage and deals with the coming anti-Christ. We can conclude the word time means a year by laying the verses above with Revelation 11:3 and 12:6 where the number "a thousand two hundred and threescore days" (1,260 days = 3 1/2 years) is given. In Revelation 13:5 in speaking of the time for the anti-Christ it is given in months; And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. Forty two months is 3 1/2 years. Also in Revelation 11:2 forty two months is the length of time for the city of Jerusalem to be trodden by the Gentiles.
Nebuchadnezzar is assured that although he will be driven from men and eat grass with the oxen for seven times he will be restored to his throne and kingdom. The preservation will be with a band of iron and band of brass which I believe represents preservation by the agents God has decreed i.e. watchers and holy ones. The restoration will come when he realizes that it is God that places men on thrones and over kingdoms and not just man himself. This in itself is a very interesting passage and thought. When we have evil men in power and over kingdoms and nations it is by the will of God for His purpose. Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh were raised up to bring Israel to humility and to show God's power over the power of nations. Our present leadership is not without the hand of God. We may not understand it and God can change it through our prayers and repentance but just as Israel suffered for her sins we will suffer as a nations for our sins as a nation.
In verse 27 Daniel let's Nebuchadnezzar know that the time of this prophecy to come to pass is in his own hands. God had not set a certain time to bring this to pass but it would be dependent on Nebuchadnezzar's actions. It was not set in stone.
Our hope as a nation is found in Jeremiah 18:7-10 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
Just as Nebuchadnezzar could alter the prophecy we also can do the same. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
There has always been a promise of blessing or cursing Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. This is the way it has always been and this is the way it will be as long as time stands. The choice was Nebuchadnezzar's and the choice is ours.
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