O’ To Be Like
“Tree!”
Spring is just around
the corner, and it won’t be long until plants return to life. Our yards will begin to green and the
trees around the countryside will soon bud and sprout leaves. Throughout the Bible, trees of one sort
or another are frequently mentioned.
Most such as the olive, oak, acacia, palm, date, fig, and cedar are
well known. The Old Testament
contains laws concerning trees in Leviticus
19:23, Leviticus 27:30, Deuteronomy 16:21, and Deuteronomy 20:19. However, Bible students can gain many
insights by studying trees, whether symbolic or literal objects.
In many places, the
Bible speaks of trees in a general sense. Psalms 1:3, And he shall
be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth
forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and
whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
In the preceding verse, there is no mention of the actual type of
tree. Those of us who have grown up
around rivers know that there are two distinct “water” trees, sycamore and
cypress. Both of these trees stand
out from the rest of the landscape. It is difficult to mistake a cypress tree
for a cedar tree. From Psalms 1:1, we are told that this
tree is a comparison with the man (person) who walks in God’s
pathways. The Psalmist’s record is
clear, to walk with God is to prosper.
Let us notice that, as God’s children, we are to stand-out and be
just as distinct in the world, Romans
12:1-2.
The Bible does speak of
specific trees. Perhaps, the most
well-know tree
in the Bible is the
Tree of Knowledge. As you already
know, this tree contained the fruit that possessed the knowledge of good
and evil. In Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of
it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
The previous verse talks about a specific tree. Another one is mentioned in Genesis 2:9, the Tree of Life. Just as with literal trees of today,
these specific trees have purpose and were made by God. But the lesson of obedience goes along
with these trees. Adam and Eve
disobeyed God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge; their punishment is
spelled out in Chapter 3 of
Genesis. But the Tree of Life also
contains the element of obedience.
In Revelation 22:14, John
records, Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter
in through the gates into the city. To
have the purpose that God wishes us to, we must be obedient, obedient until
death, Revelation 2:10.
However, the most
important “tree” of the Bible is the tree of the cross. This is the tree from which our Lord and
Savior was hanged. Acts 5:30 reads The God of our fathers raised up Jesus,
whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
1 Peter 2:24, Who his own self bare our sins in his
own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness. Just as the cross
raised Jesus above the ground to where attention focused on His suffering,
Christians should raise up Christ to let the world focus on His sacrifice,
commandments, and examples.
Christians must be immoveable uncompromising “trees” that are
“rooted” in God’s word and willing to stand tall and strong, in the world,
producing Godly fruits that lead men to eternal salvation. After all, the Bible tells us the other
alternative- Matthew 3:10. O’ to be like a Tree!
- Ryan Thornsberry
