Cut down to size

Daniel 4 tells of another dream that Nebuchadnezzar experiences -this time of a tall, strong, beautiful, abundant tree that is cut down to the stump.

He wants everyone to know what happened, everyone to learn from this dream and its outworking.

King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.  Daniel 4:1-2

As before, no one can interpret this dream apart from Daniel. And he is reluctant to do so – perplexed and terrified of the King’s response. But the king needs to know and reassures Daniel. And so Daniel has to tell Nebuchadnezzar that the dream applies to him. That whilst he is great now, he is to be cut down and live among the animals for a season –

until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.  Daniel 4:25

That’s the point of all this – that God will again be given His rightful place.

We have this expression ‘cut down to size’. It means to show someone that they are not as clever or important as they think. It totally applies here. Maybe this story is how the phrase originated.

The whole reason for cutting the king down to size is to remind the people that there is one far greater than the king –

so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.  Daniel 4:17

And to also remind the king.

It’s simple.

your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.  Daniel 4:26

And what does ‘Heaven rules’ mean in practice? What does it look like in the real world?

Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.  Daniel 4:27

Do what is right. Be kind to the oppressed.

That’s it. Heaven rules when we are doing what is right and being kind to the oppressed.

We pray every week in the Lord’s Prayer ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.’ This is what we are praying right there – that we would do what is right and be kind to the oppressed. That’s what it means for the kingdom to come. Right here, right now.

Maybe we too need to be cut down to size. We need to remember who’s boss in our lives. We need to be reminded that heaven rules. We might have become too self-important. Power or success may have gone to our heads and made us feel superior in some way. Entitled.

At the end of the day, all that really matters is doing the right thing and being kind to the oppressed.

Through this experience, Nebuchadnezzar comes to know his place –

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: “What have you done?”  Daniel 4:34-35

He remembers who God is and where that leaves him in comparison. There is none like God. Not even a powerful earthly king like himself.

Lesson learnt.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.  Daniel 4:37

This story has been of comfort to those over the years who have been oppressed. It puts their oppressors in perspective and helps them to see that those lording it over them will be brought to account by the one true God.

God will humble those who walk in pride.

Depending where we stand today, that will be a comfort or a challenge.

Whatever we do, heaven rules. It’s up to us where we choose to stand in that story.