You are the planting of the Lord.
Judges 9:8-16 (KJV) “The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;”
Trees are sometimes used as metaphors for man in the bible. Each tree has a purpose.
There are different kinds of trees (Judges 9: 8 – 16)
- the olive tree
- the fig tree
- the vine
- the bramble
Each tree has a purpose
- But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man.
- But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit,
- And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man
Do not leave your place of purpose for something else no matter how enticing it is
You are not just another tree you are a tree of righteousness
Isaiah 61:3 (KJV) “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord , that he might be glorified.”
Ezekiel 17:22-24 (KJV) “Thus saith the Lord God ; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it.”
- You will not be like the high tree that was brought down
- You will not be like the green that dried up
- You are the planting of The Lord. (Isaiah 61:3)
- Your are planted by the rivers of water (Psalm 1:3)
- Your leaves will not wither (Psalm 1:3)
- You will bring forth fruit in your season (Psalm 1:3)
- Whatever you do shall prosper (Psalm 1:3)
- You are fruitful. You are flourishing!
Continue to do this and you will not be like the high tree that was brought down or the green tree that dried up –
Psalm 1:1 – 2
- walk not in the counsel of the ungodly
- stand not in the paths of sinners
- sit not in the seat of the scornful
- let your delight be in the law of the Lord
- meditate in His law day and night
Consider this …
- He knows which tree you are
- he knows where you should be planted
- What you need to bring forth seed
- Pruning and cutting are necessary
- He will prune you to maximize growth and yield
- He might cut off some branches you thought were glorious but he knows they are not good to be kept by you – these are branches are unnecessary weights and burdens
and one more thing ...
A tree does not choose where it is planted. It is the one that plants who
- Sets the location
- has the expectation
- knows your capacity and your potential
- knows the season of expectation or yield
You are planted so that He (our God) might be glorified
