| Christian Life and Doctrine | April 1969 |
PART II
Hidden Gems of Truth
THERE are many hidden treasures of truth in the Scriptures not apparent to the casual reader. The Lord has placed them there for the benefit of his consecrated people who search the Scriptures faithfully and joyfully, seeking divine wisdom. It is of these that Proverbs 2:4,5 speaks: “If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Written in brief and cryptic language, these hidden gems of truth cannot be understood or appreciated by any except those whose minds have been enlightened to know the plan of God. Finding them confirms our understanding of the plan and strengthens our faith in the truth.
Consider the hidden gem found in Job 14:7-15: “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; yet, through the scent of water, it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up; so man lieth down, and riseth not. Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake nor be raised out of their sleep. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave! That thou wouldest keep me secret until thy wrath be past! That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee. Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.”
This text contains the entire divine plan for man in a capsule. It is complete and beautiful in itself—almost poetic—and as we consider it let us see how its beauty unfolds and expands, and reveals God’s greatness and goodness to his human family.
The first verse of our gem texts reads: “There is hope of a tree, if it be cut down.” How well it fits an episode related in Daniel 4:4-17. The account is given in the words of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, the then emperor of the world:
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed, and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them. But they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
“But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar … and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and before him I told the dream, saying: O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the vision of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
“Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed: I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth. The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all. The beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
“I saw in the vision of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven. 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.
“Nevertheless, leave the stump of his roots 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 in the grass of the earth. Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
“This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will; and setteth up over it the basest of men.”
As the dream was told to him, apparently two interpretations appeared before Daniel’s mental vision—one local and contemporary, and the other of really staggering proportions and scope. He debated which one he should relate to Nebuchadnezzar. He hesitated. We read in the 19th verse: “Then Daniel …was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him.” The Moffatt Translation says: “For a moment Daniel was staggered. He was alarmed by what he foresaw.” Then he decided to relate the lesser interpretation, which involved Nebuchadnezzar personally, and it was this:
As ruler of the universal empire of Babylon, which completely dominated the world, the tree represented Nebuchadnezzar himself. It was to be cut down, but the stump and roots were to remain in the earth until seven times had passed. This meant that he was to lose his dominion, but it would be preserved for him and restored after seven years. This was to teach Nebuchadnezzar a lesson, that he was not as important as he thought himself. In Daniel’s words (Dan. 4:25): “Till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”
In one year the prophecy was fulfilled. We read from the Moffatt Translation (Dan. 4:28-32):
“All this befell King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon. The king was saying, ‘There lies Babylon the great, which I have built for a royal residence by my vast power and to my noble majesty!’
“The words had not left his lips when a voice fell from heaven: ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, here is your sentence: Your kingdom is taken from you! You shall be driven away from human beings, to dwell with the wild animals. You shall be forced to eat grass like cattle; and seven years shall pass over you, till you learn that the Most High reigns over the realm of men, and gives it to anyone whom he chooses.’”
The sentence was immediately carried out. The king lost his sanity and lived like an animal, shunning human association for seven years. Then we read (Dan. 4:34):
“When the time was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven; my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, praising and honoring him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom lasts from age to age.”
Now let us consider the other and vastly greater meaning of this dream, which ties in with our gem text and which encompasses the entire history of the human race, from the beginning to the ages of eternity.
“I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all. The beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.”
This remarkable tree, in its glory and beauty, represented the first dominion of earth given to the human race in its representative and head, Adam. God said to Adam (Gen. 1:28), “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” The original glory of man, and the power and dominion vested in him, were indeed sublime. He was set over the whole earth; to bless, and feed, and protect, and shelter every living thing. Then the dream continued (Dan. 4:13,14):
“Behold, a watcher and an holy one [which Moffatt translates ‘angel-guard,’] came down from heaven. 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.”
This is what happened when sin entered the world. Adam failed the test of obedience. Then came the command to hew down the tree. The glory, and beauty, and power of mankind were taken away. The lower creation no more found shelter, protection, and blessing under man’s influence. The sentence of death upon man hewed down the great tree, scattered his fruit and foliage, and left the lower creation without its lord and benefactor. Adam lost his Eden. We read in Genesis 3:24: “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the Garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” Might not these cherubims be called “angel-guards?”
The dream continues (verse 15): “Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass.” So far as man was concerned, all power to recover the lost dominion was hopelessly gone. But it was not so from God’s standpoint. The original dominion was his gracious gift, and was his unalterable plan for man. Although he commanded it to be hewn down, yet the root—God’s purpose and a plan for restitution—continued. The hope of it continued in the earth, although bound with strong fetters so that it should not sprout until the divinely appointed time.
As the dream progresses, the figure changes from the stump of a tree to that of a man. It says (verse 16): “Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him.” It shows a man debased and degraded, and brought down to the companionship and likeness of beasts; his higher reasoning dethroned, and all his beauty gone. How well this describes fallen and depraved man—no longer the lord of earth, his glory and dominion departed. Progressively since the fall, the race has been having its portion with the beasts. Although quite recently knowledge has been greatly increased, still the human heart has become increasingly beastly and degraded.
The dream goes on to say (verses 16 and 17): “And let seven times pass over him. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”
Sin and death have already reigned for more than six thousand years. It will take a thousand years to bring about a restoration of man to his original dominion. When the millennial kingdom under Christ has done its work, man’s madness and degradation will be completely cured, and he will again be king of earth. He will then be able to say, in the words of Nebuchadnezzar:
“At the same time my reason returned unto me … and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment.”—Dan. 4:36-37
Thus, from this fascinating account in Daniel, we are able to understand what is meant by the first three verses of our gem text, Job 14:7-15: “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.”
It is getting close to the time when the scent of water will be detected. This will be when Revelation 22, verses 1 and 17 are fulfilled: “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. … And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” The “bride” will soon be complete, and the marriage of the “Lamb” will take place. Then the water of life will commence to flow, and human hopes will revive. The “tree” will sprout again.
Then, by way of contrast with what shall be, our gem text describes present conditions (Job 14:10-12): “But man dieth, and wasteth away. Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: so man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.”
The last phrase is an indication of the time the resurrection will take place. It will happen when “the heavens be no more.” The “heavens” mentioned here are the spiritual ruling powers of this present evil world.
The present “heavens” are dominated by Satan and are to be destroyed. We read in II Peter 3:7,12,13: “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. … Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
Whereas the present heavens are dominated by Satan, the new heavens will be ruled by Christ. Then will be fulfilled the words of Jesus, in John 5:25,28,29, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming … when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. … Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.”
The rest of our gem text echoes the yearnings of a groaning creation, tired and sick of sin and death. Like Job who uttered the words, they feel abandoned by God and long for peace and rest, wishing and hoping for something better after this life which has proven so disappointing; casting themselves upon God: “O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee. Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thy hands.”—Job 14:13-15
That last sentence, “Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thy hands,” gives us a wonderful insight into the character and intent of our God. The human family is the “work of his hands,” his supreme earthly creation. As he said to the Logos: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Gen. 1:26) He loves every human being who has ever lived. It was he who provided a Redeemer. He “is not willing that any should perish.” (II Pet. 3:9) When they go down into death, he misses them. He holds them lovingly in his memory. He wants to see them again. He wants them to come back. He wants to enjoy a perfect human creation—a family that will return his love for them. So this last verse, “Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thy hands,” is tremendously significant. This means that the great Jehovah God himself eagerly anticipates the resurrection of each one of the dead!
There are many other such hidden gems of truth in the Scriptures, each one giving the divine plan in a capsule. These are not accidental nor coincidental. They are planted there for us, whose eyes the Lord has opened. And being able to find them and see their lessons corroborating our understanding of the divine plan of the ages is the strongest possible evidence that we are in the truth!