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’…”

4:20

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,

Daniel confirms the greatness and extent of the tree of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.  His kingdom was the greatest of his time.  Nebuchadnezzar was brilliant in the fields of war, architecture, and statesmanship. 

4:21

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—

Nebuchadnezzar was a world ruler who governed most of the civilized world.  He brought great nations under his auspices.  Great prosperity grew out of his leadership. 

4:22

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.

Daniel clearly asserts that the tree represents Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. 

4:23

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’;

Now the bad news: God will remove Nebuchadnezzar from his authority in the Babylonian kingdom.  The king would lose his power and glory, but God would preserve his life.  However, God provided for Nebuchadnezzar in grace – He left a “stump.” 

PRINCIPLE: 

God has a purpose for our lives as long as we live. 

APPLICATION: 

The principle of the stump is that God has a purpose for us as long as we are alive.  As long as we live, God always puts a band of His grace provision around our lives.  This opens greater opportunities to serve him even after a serious fall.