Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Sep 16 2019 - Daniel 4:1-23 – The dream of the tree

Imagine for a moment that you served a tyrannical ruler who could order your instant execution or throw you into a fiery furnace if he did not like something you said or did – or even if he was just a little out of sorts that morning. Now imagine that you had an unpleasant message to deliver to him. How would you feel?

This is the situation facing Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar has had another dream and its meaning is similar to the first but is now focussed entirely on Nebuchadnezzar himself. This time he dreams of an immense tree that seemed to tower up to the sky so that it was visible from the ends of the earth. Its fruit provided food for all people, and animals sheltered under its branches. An angel then called for the tree to be cut down and destroyed, leaving only its stump and roots in the ground.

Nebuchadnezzar called together his wise men but this time recounted his dream to them. None of them could tell him what it meant. The king then called Daniel forward, confident that he could interpret the dream because he knew that "the spirit of the holy gods" was in him. God does indeed reveal the meaning of the dream to Daniel, but its meaning terrifies him (v. 19). How is the king going to respond when Daniel tells him what it means?

Daniel reluctantly tells the king, "Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth" (v. 22). But God has determined to cut Nebuchadnezzar down to size. He will be reduced to living like a wild animal, "drenched with the dew of heaven … until seven times pass by for him" (v. 23).

The opening verses of this chapter in which Nebuchadnezzar tells his story anticipate its conclusion as he will learn that the kingdom of God alone "is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation" (v. 3).

God calls his people in every generation to "speak truth to power"; to tell those who believe that they have absolute power in this world that they are but mortal creatures, given life and breath for a moment before they are swept away and forgotten. Those who exalt themselves need to remember that their lives are in the hands of God to whom they will be called to give account for every word spoken and every action taken. How do we feel about this responsibility God has given us as those who possess the Holy Spirit of the living God?

One thing we should remember is that no matter how powerful human authorities may be – or suppose themselves to be – they, like Nebuchadnezzar, are often troubled by fears and terrors that plague their minds (see v. 5). They are not immune from fears of what tomorrow may bring.

We are, of course, called to speak always with grace, though sometimes, like the Lord Jesus whom we follow and serve, we may need to speak with controlled anger. Above all, we need to examine first our own lives, to be more critical of our own failings than we are of the failings of others. We need humility and wisdom to know when and what to say and when to be silent. We need to be careful to keep ourselves in close communion with God if we are to speak in his name. If we are to fight the battles of God's kingdom, we need to put on the full armour of God and to give ourselves to prayer, guided and empowered by the Spirit of God so that we can discern the battles he wants us to engage in (see Ephesians 6:10-20), and how best to fight them.

Father God, help us, like the disciples on and after the Day of Pentecost, to be filled with your Spirit and equipped with your word and your wisdom that we may be able to speak with authority and grace to those who are in positions of power in contemporary society. We pray particularly for Christians in positions of influence in government and parliament that they will have the courage to speak up for what is right and good and for what will lead to blessing for the many rather than privilege for the few. Help them to serve the purposes of your kingdom.

Sep 16 2020 - Matthew 18:1-20 – Little ones

Jesus had spoken to Peter rather cryptically about the status of the sons of the kingdom and the freedom they enjoy (Matthew 17:24-27). Maybe the disciples had begun to talk together about what Jesus had said and to ask each other what it could mean. Maybe they had begun to weave together grand views of their rights as sons. Something like this seems to have prompted them to come to Jesus with the question that appears so often to have been in the forefront of their minds, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (18:1). The very question indicates that they had not understood the nature of the kingdom that Jesus has come to establish. They are concerned to secure the chief places in his kingdom even as Jesus, their king, is on his way to the cross.

In response to their question, Jesus finds a little child whom he makes the centre of attention. Then Jesus answers their question, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" (18:3-5). In the culture of first century Palestine, children had the lowest place in society. The little child is a picture of one utterly devoid of power and status; one who is entirely dependent upon others. This, says Jesus, is what his kingdom is like. The kingdom that he is establishing is not like the kingdoms of this world. It is not built upon achievement and self-centred status; it is the creation of grace – grace that embraces the little ones of this world.

And this is to be the spirit that marks those who belong to the kingdom and shapes their attitudes to others. They are not to despise the little ones – those whom the world counts insignificant. They are to cherish and encourage such folk and never cause them to stumble. We are to reflect the character of our Master, the Good Shepherd, who came to seek and to save those who were lost – read 18:10-14 in context. We are to welcome and embrace the stranger and the outcast.

We need to ask ourselves whether our church life embodies and reflects the words of Jesus. Do we reflect the genuinely humble and gracious character of the one whom we serve? Might it be that we are sometimes guilty of the faults which James exposes and criticises in James 2:1-7? Could it be that we sometimes favour the great ones of this world more that the little ones because we aspire to similar worldly status?

And the same spirit is to mark the way in which we live with one another as children of the kingdom. When others upset us or do us harm we are to go out of our way to try to mend the situation and be reconciled. The activity described by Jesus in verses 15-19 is not to be viewed in legalistic terms, as if it were canon law or procedures for church courts. Rather, Jesus encourages us to do all we can, individually and corporately, to win back someone who is disaffected towards the fellowship. Again, like the Good Shepherd whom we follow, we are to go out of our way to bring the wanderer back home. Forgiveness and reconciliation are to be key characteristics of the children of the King.

Lord Jesus, teach me what it means to follow you and to reflect the character of the Father who "is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." Help me by your Spirit, as far as it is in my power, to live at peace with others and so to reveal your character to the world.

Peter Misselbrook