Over and over again, Scripture likens men to trees. Is this a simple illustrative coincidence? Of course not. No portion of Scripture is useless to the spiritual eye. There is a much greater truth that is communicated here. Simply put, the natural characteristics of a tree depict the spiritual character of Godly men and women, i.e. strength, deep foundations, endurance through storms, the ability to store water, the ability to provide shade and shelter, and the ability to bring forth fruit in season. Here is some Scriptural evidence:
1. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 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” (Ps 1:1-3).
2. “And they [Israel] shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses” (Isa 44:4).
3. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (Jer 17:7-8).
4. “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him” (Ps 92:12-15).
5. Actually, Jesus was likened to a tree Himself (Song 2:3; 8:5; Rev 2:7; Gen 2:9; Isa 4:2; Jn 15:1-8).
What is the result of such likeness? Where do we go from here? Reader, such godly characteristics that are born in you are not even for you. Rather, they are for those to whom you are sent! God is building a great vastness in you, so that you can minister to an aching earth! Never forget: Jesus took the bread, he blessed it, then broke it, only to finally GIVE IT OUT to hungry souls! You and I are that bread, patterned after the precious Son of God!
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God" (Rom 8:18-19).
What does such a thing look like?
Isa 41:17-20 “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it”
How wonderfully faithful is the Lord Jesus! He REALLY cares about the earth! Notice this with me:
First, the problem is presented:
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst…”
Then, God gives the solution:
“I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together…”
The result:
“That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”
Isaiah was speaking and prophesying to the exiled Jews in Babylon. Their country, city and temple had been laid waste. He was admonishing them to put their confidence in God, to bring them out. The prophet represents himself as bringing consolation to them in this situation; particularly by the assurance that their long captivity was about to end; that they were about to be restored to their own land, and that their trials were to be succeeded by triumphs.
Even so, millions of God's people are in spiritual Babylon today (Rev 17), committing spiritual adultery, their personal temples laid waste, waiting to be somehow awakened and quickened by the presence of the true and living God. The pacifier of mere religion has wounded and bound them. The unsaved are no different. A simple, yet powerful, move of God would turn the earth towards Him. The Bible says, “Draw me and we will run after thee” (Song 1:4).
What a precious God we serve. He hasn't given up on the backslidden and the lost. In fact, He had made a deposit into our lives, and soon He will require it of us.
Let's be as trees walking! Let's give our all to His beautiful purpose. Are you willing to be planted, watered, pruned, and given out?
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