Bible Hermeneutics (vii)

In this chapter we will continue to look at examples where figures and symbols were used to prophesy about what is to literally happen in the future. As we have said previously, many prophecies use no figurative language, while others (the ones we are examining) do make use of them. In chapter four we listed many of these prophecies. Notice this oracle from the prophet Hosea:

"I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes ('symbols' nkjv), by the ministry of the prophets." (Hosea 12: 10 kjv)

Barnes in his commentary on this passage wrote:

"The "similitude," which God says that He repeatedly, continually, used, seems to have been the parable, as when God compared His people to a vine, Himself to the Lord of the vineyard, or when He directed His prophets to do acts which should shadow forth some truth, as in the marriage of Hosea himself. God had said to Aaron, that He would thus make Himself known by the prophets. "If there be a prophet among you, I, the Lord, will make Myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all My house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches" Numbers 12:6-8. "The dark speech" in Moses answers to the "similitude" of Hosea; the "vision" and "dream" in Moses are comprehended in "visions," as used by Hosea. The prophet Joel also says, "your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" Joel 2:28." 

God speaks to us often by use of "analogies." An analogy is defined in this manner:

"a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. "an analogy between the workings of nature and those of human societies" a correspondence or partial similarity...a thing which is comparable to something else in significant respects."

God uses analogies to describe himself in the Bible and in theology. Think of the analogy between a potter and God (Romans chapter nine, etc.) The parables of Christ were often analogies. 

The use of analogies, metaphors, similes, and likenesses do not mean that the literal event or thing is non existent. Rather, the use of such linguistic devices is to better describe a literal event. In the past couple chapters we have given several examples where a prophecy made use of such. Let us notice another.

Prophecy of the Downfall of Nebuchadnezzar

"4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. 8 But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: 9 "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. 10 "These were the visions of my head while on my bed: "I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. 12 Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it. 13 "I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches. 15 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, Bound with a band of iron and bronze, In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth. 16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him. 17 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.' 18 "This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you." 19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies! 20 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, 21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home-- 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. 23 And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze 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 has come upon my lord the king: 25 They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. 26 And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity." (Dan. 4: 4-27 nkjv)

This is another prophecy given by God to the king of Babylon and relative to him and his empire through a dream and/or vision upon his bed. It is similar to the preceding prophecies we have thus far examined. It made use of a figure or symbol of a great tree and its being cut down and banded with a bronze and iron ring was significant of what would happen to both Nebuchadnezzar and to his empire. Further, though figures were used to convey the events foretold, the events were literal happenings. This prophecy is thus similar to the dreams of Joseph in that it made use of figures and symbols to foretell future events. This symbolic prophecy was also like the previous prophecies we have cited from the Book of Daniel. 

First, symbols were used in the prophecy. It was in some ways parabolic. Second, the meaning of the symbols was explained (i.e. the "interpretation" is given along with the symbology just as in many of the parables of Christ). This is a common practice when the Lord uses figures and symbols to foretell future events. This becomes a general rule. When figurative language is used the prophet gives the interpretation, informing all of the meaning of the symbols. Third, the symbols were used to describe a literal thing or event. As we have pointed out, Christ did this when interpreting the figures and analogies in the parables. Also, as we will see, John does this in the Book of Revelation. When a figure or symbol is used, he tells us so, and thus we may say that a rule is to take the prophecy literally unless either it is obvious that a symbol is being used (as in the case of the prophetic dreams of Joseph) or the prophet (John) says it is a sign.

The great tree was a "fitting image" of the greatness of Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian kingdom, two literal things. The cutting down of the tree and putting the bronze and iron band around the stump, and the leaving of the roots intact, was symbolic of a literal event. So, in the same chapter the fulfillment of the prophecy is described.

"28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" 31 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses." 33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws. 34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?" 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down." (vs. 28-37 nkjv)

This was a prophecy of a literal event though it was given by the use of symbols. The symbolic language said that the great tree would be chopped down; "Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit." The fulfillment of that was when Nebuchadnezzar was brought down from his "high horse" and humbled in the manner described. The prophecy stated -  "In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth." That was literally fulfilled. The text says - "That very hour the word was fulfilled" when "he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws." 

The other part of the prophecy dealt with the fact that the kingdom of Babylon itself would not suffer harm or be destroyed even though its king was dethroned. So the text records these words when the king was brought low - "the kingdom has departed from you!" The kingdom was not ended, but it no longer was under the sovereign rule of Nebuchadnezzar. This is what was signified by the words "leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field." The record says that "the kingdom" was "restored" to him. 

In this prophecy we have another instance where a time period is given. The kingdom would be taken from Nebuchadnezzar till "seven times shall pass over you." As we have previously stated, when God gives a time period in a prophecy it is always to be taken literally. If the literal number represents a different number, then no one can know the real number. That is totally out of place. Perhaps I will end this series with a chapter on this point or make a short chapter or two outside of this series on that point.

In other places in scripture we see where the "tree" is used as a figure of something else. Wrote the Psalmist:

"He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper." (Ps. 1: 3 nkjv)

"I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree." (Ps. 37: 35 nkjv)

But again, in these examples we see once again how the bible often tells us what the symbols represent. Sometimes, as in the case of Joseph's dream prophecies, the meaning of the figures used is so apparent that there is no need for the prophet or God to tell what they mean for they are obvious. But, often, we are told what the figures and symbols represent. Notice these words of our Lord:

"Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.” (Luke 13: 18-19 njv)

Notice how the kingdom of God, like the kingdom of Babylon, is likened to a great prosperous tree. Notice also how we are told that the "large tree" represents, i.e. "the kingdom of God."