Throughout the Scriptures God uses the metaphor of describing men as trees. One of the most famous examples occurs in Daniel 4 where in a vision God compares King Nebuchadnezzar to a great tree, a tree the king describes like this,

¹⁰ The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. ¹¹ The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. ¹² Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.  (Daniel 4:10-12, ESV)

This metaphor described the greatness and glory of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom according to the prophet Daniel’s interpretation,

²⁰ The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, ²¹ whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— ²² it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. (Daniel 4:20-22)

Nebuchadnezzar, however, lived in pride, luxury, and sin. The rest of his vision concerned how God planned to deal with this. Continuing to interpret his dream, Daniel said,

²³ And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’ ²⁴ this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, ²⁵ that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, tillyou know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. ²⁶ And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. ²⁷ Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.” (Daniel 4:23-27)

Nebuchadnezzar did not immediately repent, though, and twelve months later God fulfilled his vision. He stripped him of his kingdom and cast him into the fields of beasts (the outer darkness) until he learned to acknowledge God and to repent of his sins. Finally, at the end of “seven periods of time” (the fullness of time needed to accomplish God’s work in him), he did repent. Then God restored his kingdom to him. When this restoration occurred Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed,

³⁴ At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

³⁶ At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (Daniel 4:34-37)

Like every story in Scripture this one too tells us a parable, a prophetic truth that relates to all men. The most basic meaning of the parable is this. All men are as trees before God and each tree has its own particular dominion given to it by him. At the very least each one of us must be responsible for ourselves. Beyond that most people usually become responsible for others, like a spouse and children. Others then go on to build businesses and become responsible for employees of that business. And yet still others come into authority over whole populations as leaders in government, like Nebuchadnezzar himself. Ultimately each one of us must acknowledge God as the true source and master of our dominions and, according to that acknowledgment, treat those who come under our dominion. If we do not, then God will discipline us (cut down our tree, leaving us a mere stump in the land) until we do acknowledge it and treat others as we should. This is that particular truth which John taught as he came baptizing just before Jesus revealed himself.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.¹⁰ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:7-10)

Daniel’s parable and John’s preaching thus show that God compares men to trees in the Scripture. And, like all good trees, men should produce good fruit. Both stories also reveal that the first fruit that every true follower of God and of Jesus Christ will produce is the fruit of repentance.