Did you know that the Bible has much to say about God’s discipline? This is the topic we will explore in this post.

Our Bible Quotation of Focus

“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.” Job 14:7.

For those who are new to Bible notation, “Job 14:7” is a reference to the Bible, which is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “Job 14:7” is taken from the book of Job in the Bible, the 14^th chapter, and the 7^th verse.

The Literal Meaning

Let us now consider the literal meaning of Job 14:7.

God says, “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.” Job 14:7.

“Though the root thereof wax [grow] 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.” Job 14:8, 9.

So, through the application of water, typically by rainfall, a tree that was cut down may sprout again.

Symbolic Meaning

Symbolically, our Bible verse of focus, Job 14:7, refers to God’s disciplining, His chastening, of sinners (evildoers) in an effort to save them from eternal death (annihilation) because of their sins (evil and wrongdoing).

God’s Love for the Sinner

“Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening [disciplining] of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.” Hebrews 12:5.

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth [disciplines], and scourgeth [flogs] every son whom he receiveth.” Hebrews 12:6.

God as a Parent

“If ye endure chastening [disciplining], God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth [disciplines] not?” Hebrews 12:7.

“But if ye be without chastisement [disciplining], whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Hebrews 12:8.

“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits [persons], and live?” Hebrews 12:9.

“For they verily [truly] for a few days chastened [disciplined] us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” Hebrews 12:10.

Effect of God’s Discipline

“Now no chastening [disciplining] for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised [trained] thereby.” Hebrews 12:11.

The Best Response to God’s Discipline

“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” Hebrews 12:12, 13.

So, God bids us who have received correction God ourselves, to help those erring from God’s ways of love. For the erring are often discouraged with their hands hanging down instead of being lifted up in praise and thanksgiving to God, and they are often fearful so that they have feeble knees.

We need to be pitiful, careful, and gentle in our dealings with the erring, who as one who is lame, may be turned out of God’s ways by us. But rather we should be instruments in healing their relationship with God. We can do so by turning their gaze to Christ who died for all humanity to save them from eternal death (annihilation) and to instead cause mankind to receive eternal life.

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord [God]: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace [unmerited favour] of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Hebrews 12:14, 15.

Especially should we always follow the ways of peace and guard ourselves against any bitterness at God for His disciplining of us.

The Work of God’s Grace

Because “God is love” (1 John 4:8), God has extended mercy to the human race through the atonement which is Christ’s death “for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2), and also through His grace.

God’s grace is His unmerited favour whereby God gives to humanity the gift of love in their hearts as well as moral strength to cease from doing evil. These blessings are made effective in our lives when “we…receive the promise of the [Holy] Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:14.

Now “Jesus [Christ] answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13, 14.

That is, the Holy Spirit is often represented by the symbol of water in the Bible. Thus, Christ meant that when we receive the Holy Spirit, genuine love becomes the spring of all our actions and causes us to draw others to Christ so that they might be saved.

Therefore, “through the scent of water” (Job 14:9), the Holy Spirit, and because they have been disciplined, the person “striving according to his [the Holy Spirit’s] working, which worketh in…[them] mightily” (Colossians 1:29) will respond with love to God and to others.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:11, 12.

Note that in the Bible, God often uses trees to refer to people.

How Not to Respond to God’s Discipline

“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:16.

“For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Hebrews 12:17.

Esau did not repent, that is, did not have godly sorrow for his sin, and was impenitent to the end of his life. So, God rejected him even though he shed tears in seeking God’s blessing.

The Example of King Nebuchadnezzar

“Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.” Daniel 4:1.

“I thought it good to shew [show] the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought [done] toward me.” Daniel 4:2.

“How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:3.

“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.” Daniel 4:4, 5.

The King’s Seeks an Interpretation of His Dream

“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.” Daniel 4:6.

“Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers [fortunetellers]: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.” Daniel 4:7.

“But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, O Belteshazzar, master [chief] of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.” Daniel 4:8, 9.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

“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.” Daniel 4:10.

“The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.” Daniel 4:11.

“The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat [food] for all: the beasts of the field had shadow [shade] under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.” Daniel 4:12.

“I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one [God] came down from heaven; he cried aloud, and said thus, Hew [cut] 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.” Daniel 4:13, 14.

“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 [years] pass over him.” Daniel 4:15, 16.

“This matter is by the decree of the watchers [the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit], and the demand [decision] by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High [God] ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest [lowliest] of men.” Daniel 4:17.

The King Asks Daniel to Interpret the Dream

“This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.” Daniel 4:18.

“Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied [astonished] for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, [let] the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.” Daniel 4:19.

The Interpretation of the Dream

“It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.” Daniel 4:22.

“This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High [God], which is come upon my lord the king.” Daniel 4:24.

“That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times [years] shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High [God] ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” Daniel 4:25.

“And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure [secure] unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.” Daniel 4:26.

Daniel Counsels the King

“Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities [wickedness] by shewing [showing] mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity [safety].” Daniel 4:27.

The Dream is Fulfilled

“All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.  At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake [spoke], and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” Daniel 4:28-30.

“While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.” Daniel 4:31.

“And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times [years] shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High [God] ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” Daniel 4:32.

“The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.” Daniel 4:33.

The Outcome of God’s Disciplining of the King

“And at the end of the days [the seven years] I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High God], and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:34.

“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed [regarded] as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay [restrain] his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” Daniel 4:35.

“At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent [exceeding] majesty was added unto me.” Daniel 4:36.

“Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven [God], all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” Daniel 4:37.

So, the outcome of God’s disciplining of king Nebuchadnezzar was that the king’s pride was broken and he was converted from his evil ways to God’s ways of love. The king, therefore, praised God because he had come into “the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:5.

Conclusion

We have looked at our Bible verse of focus, Job 14:7. Literally, it refers to the cutting down of a tree and, symbolically, to God’s discipline.

The symbolism applies to king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream which was fulfilled in his life as an example of God’s discipline.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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