Beware the Ax

Daniel 4:14-15a “He (the watcher) called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.’”
 
THE bountiful tree’s destruction terrified Nebuchadnezzar. He saw this as a real threat to his wealth and power. When people have great wealth, they spend much time holding on to it. They live in fear something or someone will quickly snatch it away from them. And, indeed, history lists wars upon wars because one country or ruler wants what another has. This is one reason Jesus says in Luke 18:25 “Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” A man of wealth and power thinks too much of what he has and too little of the Provider, who has given him his wealth.
    Yet, in the tree’s destruction, you can see God’s grace. The stump remains. We might think there is no hope for the tree. But as God often does, he keeps hope alive within the destruction. The stump’s roots remained rooted in the grass. The iron and bronze hoops around the stump were a common practice then to keep the stump intact. This would help the tree to sprout new shoots and grow again.
    This message is also for Daniel and the Jews. God had created Israel. He had taken them into his personal care in a Promised Land of plenty. God had further blessed them with an abundant way of life in his law. But Israel disregarded his compassionate heart to rule itself with sinful desires. In response, God came with his judgment ax and sent them into exile.
    In essence, the LORD God is saying, “I blessed you. I gave you a home, protection, the law and all you needed. But I have watched your sin. You did not repent, and I have cut you down. But know this. You will grow again.” The Lord God is telling all, “The Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. (Psalms 146:8-9)
    If you think some sin in your life is too big for God to forgive, then please consider his magnificent love. Repent. Turn to him. He has put a shield around you, so you will grow abundantly in him.
 
Luke 3:9 “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”