Did any of you grow up learning that poem about a tree, that speaks to a poem as lovely as a tree? I don’t recall much of the poem now, but I’ve always felt that is author was a nature lover, or more specifically adored trees. That said, trees are vital to life, and they also get their glory moment in the Bible. In some instance, it’s us humans who are compared to trees. Isn’t that something? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat
Psalms 1:3 NIV
[3] That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
They are like Fruitful Trees 1
Many of us have read this psalm before. Some of us can even recite it in our sleep. In such instances, it is possible that we have to make an extra effort to ensure that we do not miss the message in the text. Of course, this doesn’t only apply to this psalm, but it’s noteworthy for any scripture passage with which we’re very familiar.
To guard against that challenge, I sometimes ask myself some obvious questions (that is, the ones related to Who, What, Where, Why, and How). I have found that such questions invite me to dig deeper, thus allowing God’s Spirit to offer new insights I might previously have missed.
Self-Check
How about you, have you applied that approach to delving into God’s Word? Did it offer new insights?
Deeper Dive
Before I had even completed my reading of the Nougat, I was struck that if never actually tried to find out what kind of fruit trees thrive near rivers. Prior to this, I presumed that the psalm was referring to palms, as the Holy Land is supposed to be desert lands and palms seem to thrive at oases. That’s a good starting point, but I also discovered that while all trees need water to thrive, most trees do not cope well when planted near rivers. That so much water rots some roots.
This led to the realisation that trees ‘planted’ by rivers of water are selected intentionally because they are resilient. Google AI suggests that those trees have adapted to either have extensive, water-seeking root systems or specialized roots that survive in low-oxygen conditions.
What they have in common are root systems and adaptability. And above both, they bear fruit at the right time. This suggests to me, siblings, that humans who demonstrate features of this comparison have learned how to adapt to the environment in which we have been planted. And having adapted, our roots allow us to find soil and adjust to water levels we’re situated in. We extract the necessary amount of water when the river seems dry, and get oxygen for nourishment in the most waterlogged contexts.
Interestingly, the fruit produced by such trees are not necessarily similar in form. Palms and date palms are relatively small fruits, while papayas and coconut are a bit larger. What they do have in common are the quantity of the yield, the buoyancy of the fruit and seeds/nuts, their rapid development, high nutritional value, and … the attractiveness to various wildlife. (How attractive are we to the wildlife around us?)
Siblings, this tells me that we are called to offer quality nutrition to those hungry for the Word and an experience of God’s grace. Our adaptability must allow us to rise above the mundane in calamities, as we use every opportunity for spiritual growth. I suspect that this calls for even more analysis of ourselves, and us being intentional in spending time with the One Who confidently planted us.
Point to Ponder
What’s our root and fruit system like, are we thriving where we’ve been intentionally planted?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
