Prayer of Habakkuk
Let us become like Habakkuk, an “Embracer of Burdens” – for right in the very middle of the most testing time when it seemed totally lost – in faith, Habakkuk sang his amazing sacrifice of praise: although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls... Hab.3:17-19
Heavenly Sovereignty
When Adam forfeited his God-given dominion, God set a guard over the tree of life.
God set a guard over the tree of life until man could resume his role as king – until His Man, (the Man Christ Jesus) would govern the earth through God’s heavenly sovereignty.
A Fervent Love
Stripped of all and in poverty of spirit, one would think that He’d no more to give. He had already bequeathed to all who hung Him on the Tree, the Precious Pardon of God Almighty - to a dying world. He had graciously bestowed on His companion in punishment... The Promise of Paradise, Today… to a dying man. But there before Him, in dumb disbelief and paralysed in their agony, were two of those, beloved of Him. Standing in that little group of mourners were two who had been His beloved companions:- When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, 'Woman, behold thy son!' Then saith He to the disciple, 'Behold thy mother' – and from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree (Gal. 3:13).
Universally there is religion; depraved and very low in many places, but universally there is the consciousness of standing in relationship to some supreme object of worship, demanding worship; and then men's minds or imaginations get to work to give some kind of expression to that consciousness, of that supreme object of worship, and the imagination produces that sometimes out of a tree, a stone, or in the heavenly bodies; somehow it is expressed, but it is the thing that is there, behind all the forms of expression which is universal.
Cautionary Tale
A story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning, and found everything withering and dying. He asked the oak that stood near the gate what the trouble was. He found it was sick of life and determined to die – because it wasn’t tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all out of heart because it couldn’t bear grapes, like the vine. The vine was going to throw its life away because it couldn’t stand erect and have as fine fruit as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it wasn’t tall and fragrant like the lilac; and so on through all the garden.
No, I am not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one; but I knew you wanted a heart’s-ease, and I am determined to be the best little heart’s-ease that I can be.
The very simplest bridge, a plank thrown across a stream, was once part of a tree standing erect, sapping life from the earth, and beautifying all the area around it.
terrified creatures. The eyes of both were opened, but what a ghastly sight they discovered, for they found they were naked: wretched; miserable; poor; blind and naked. Yes, they knew they were naked – sad fruit of the tree of knowledge.
But Christ has been made a curse for us'; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.' Hence, crucified with Christ, we have been accursed in Him.
Embracer of Burdens
Let us embrace in the Spirit, the burden of our Lord for His despairing people, and become like Habakkuk, an “Embracer of Burdens” For you see, right in the very middle of the most testing time when all seemed totally lost, in faith, Habakkuk sang his amazing sacrifice of praise: although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines – the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat.
Everything that God had made to support His son was good – so very, very, good. Every seed-bearing plant on the face of the earth – every fruiting tree, every seed and berry were to be his food….
Luke’s Genealogy
Luke’s family tree, was for Gentile readers, starting with Adam as federal head of the human race and tracing Christ’s parentage to Heli, father of Mary – not of Joseph.
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and was identified as the chosen Lamb of God. He hung on a tree with His hands and feet pierced, and He cried, “It is finished”. His garments were divided among the soldiers and they cast lots for His clothes.
Love of God
What manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that He should shower on sinful man the grace and favour that we do not deserve and cannot earn- but in His perfect life the Incarnate Word of God, in His sinless body on the tree, met all the righteous requirements of the Law – to free us from condemnation so that we might have LIFE. The law indeed was given to Israel through Moses, but the unfailing love of God and His everlasting and faithfulness - is only seen in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Last Testimony
And Habakkuk last words in His revolutionary, faith-focussed book were: Even though the fig tree does not blossom, and there are no grapes on the vines; even if the olive harvest fails, and the fields produce nothing edible; even if the flock is snatched from the sheepfold, and there is no herd in the stall – as for me, I will rejoice in the Lord.
Death Penalty
Christ patiently started to open the eyes of this blind leader of the blind, who himself must come to terms with the truth that the penalty of the Law for ALL – is death. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness – Jesus too must be nailed to the tree so that all who look to Him in faith, will be saved.
A Grain of Wheat
Everything needed for a mighty oak tree to grow is embodied within a tiny acorn. All a full ear of corn needs to mature – is contained within one tiny grain of wheat.
Blessings of God
The blessed one is the one that faithfully remains in the place where God has placed him, “for he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.” Jeremiah 17:7 That man shall be a fruitful vine; a strong cedar; a blessed man indeed, for blessings of God are not the sort of baubles sought after by the world – fame and fortune; power and prestige; wealth and worldly wisdom.
Though the tree may only appear to have leaves, buds, blossoms..
in time - in God’s time, that tree will bring forth 20-fold, 50-fold, 100-fold: “if you remain in Me and I in you” John 15:7
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,That brings forth fruit in its season,Whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall prosper.
Cloak of Pretence
Is your ‘old man’ crucified on the cross? Is your ‘old sin nature’ nailed to the tree? Are you allowing the ‘new man in Christ‘ to be daily conformed into His image?
The eyes of both were indeed opened – but what a ghastly sight they discovered, for they found they were: wretched and miserable – poor and blind and naked. Yes, they knew they were naked – sad fruit of the tree of knowledge.
The Lord does not put us in glass houses to grow us, to be His trees; the Lord does not protect us from the storms, the adversities; He exposes us to the bitter winds and the scorching suns of adversity and trial.
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.Proverbs 3:12
To he that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.Revelation 2:7
Even though there seemed to be no glimmer of precious hope, Habakkuk summed up deferred hope in his astonishing prayer: Though the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be on the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat..
This is the place where the greatest patience and trusting hope must be exhibited… where Love and Faith support the weary arms of Hope.. just as Joshua and Hur held up the weary arms of Moses, until the precious desire blossoms forth as a Tree of Life..
for Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes it IS a Tree of Life.
Rewards of Hope
For hope deferred maketh the heart sick – but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. How glorious that little word BUT.
endured the cross, despising the shame – so that we may eat of that Tree of Life: for to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life. Revelation 2:7
when the desired hope at long last appears, remember it is a Tree of Life.
Blessed are they that do His commandments, for they have the right to eat of the Tree of Life.
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Unique Codes of Conduct
Those living in Eden also had laws for living specific to that era:- be fruitful, multiply, subdue the earth, tend the garden and don’t eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil – but man failed.
Die to Self
Turn away from your foolish boasting and dismount your elevated self-image, and put on Christ and Christ alone – nailing Self to the blood-stained tree. For no man has known God at any time, save the Lord Jesus.
Illustration of Forgiveness
There are some fragrant trees that bathe a sweet perfume… on the very axe that strikes them, and we too should show only sweet tender, forgiving love, to those that hurt or harm us; to those that grieve or pain us.
for the fruit of the Spirit takes time to grow and to ripen in the life of a believer – just as the fruit on the tree requires sunshine and storm to yield its produce.
In Eden they were to be fruitful, multiply, subdue the earth, tend the garden and not eat of a certain tree, while the fathers and patriarchs like Job, Noah and Abraham showed evidence of obeying God and trusting His word.
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
“This Blessed Hope” is in a Person – the One upon Whom all hope rests… “…the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour – Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13 “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when He comes.” Luke 24:43 “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” Rev.19:9 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.” Rev 22:14
But Christ also offered up His body on the Tree, as a free-will offering - a burnt offering - a voluntary sacrifice for His people, so that through Him the Church, which is His body, might be sanctified and made holy - just as Christ is holy.
And now as the path to the cross drew ever closer, Christ's ride into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the Temple and the cursing of the fig tree, which was to shortly take place..
and His actions in the Temple, together with the cursing of the fig tree the following day..
God gave man one simple instruction, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely.
But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die. Adam and Eve failed to obey God's instructions.
The eternal separation we all deserve was paid for by Christ in His body on the tree so that we might be eternally united with the Father, clothed in Christ's righteousness, living spiritually, walking in spirit and truth as we abide in Christ.
And so, in a chapter that pronounces the destruction of Israel's wealth, the loss of their inheritance, enslavement to their enemies, and a curse on the man who places his trust in the flesh, Jeremiah also gives wonderful reassurance to the faithful remnant who place their trust in the Lord: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, is Jeremiah's declaration from the Almighty God, For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream, and doesn't fear when the heat comes.
They liked the idea of a time of peace and prosperity when the wolf would lie down with the lamb and each of them would sit under their own fig tree in the kingdom of God.
And even in those times when our enemies surround us, we will be like a flourishing tree planted by the river of life, whom the Lord will lead along a good and level pathway.
Once again, in Zechariah, we hear about the Angel of the Lord standing among the myrtle trees, announcing judgement on Israel for their apostate ways, before interceding for His people and pleading for God to show mercy upon them, with comforting and comfortable words.
The One Who fashioned furniture in the humble carpenter's shop, was the eternally existent One Who flung stars into space, and Who formed, fashioned, and filled the empty void with a carpet of living plants, fruit, flowers, and trees.
Verse 2 explains that, the tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly, while verse 4 suggests that, a soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perverse speech, crushes the spirit. Verse 7 is an important reminder that, the lips of the wise spread knowledge, but this is not so from the hearts of fools.
He spoke of the wise and foolish builders for He is the Rock on which to build, and He warned of wise and foolish servants, the unfruitful fig tree, and the unforgiving servant.
But we discover within these terrible proclamations, a little oasis of hope with a fountain of refreshment: For the one who trusts in God, will be like a tree planted by rivers of water.
And although the gifts and calling are without repentance and the lost sheep of the house of Israel will one day be settled in the earthly Jerusalem enjoying the fruit of the land, His heavenly flock will reside in the heavenly kingdom, eating the fruit of the tree of life.
The imputing of Christ's righteousness on sinful man is the result of the incomparable mission of the Redeemer, Who, through His saving blood, which was shed on a wooden tree, has lifted all who believe on His name out of the miry clay and into the heights of God's holy presence.
It was David that was caused to pen these prophetic words which were uttered by our Saviour on the Cross, when He bore the sin of the world in His body on the Tree.
Paradise, with the tree of life and its healing river, was lost when Adam sinned, but God's amazing plan of redemption was gradually unfolded throughout Scripture, and the tree of life reappears in the book of Revelation - which concludes with words of blessing that comfort and strengthen the hearts of all believers.
But it was also on this third day that God started His creative act of filling the earth with all kinds of plants and grasses, vegetation and foliage, seed-producing herbs, and fruit-bearing trees.
Each plant, shrub, tree, and flower was given the inner seed of life to reproduce after its own kind, in preparation for that day when God would give every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth, and every tree that has fruit with seed in it as food for mankind.
James reminds us that an uncurbed tongue can do tremendous damage to ourselves and to others and likens it to an unchecked fire that can burn down an entire forest of trees.
And in that day, Israel will greatly rejoice in the Lord – proclaiming, He has cleansed us of our sin, covered us in a robe of righteousness for His name's sake, and turned our desert into a garden - where every man will sit under His fig tree and the earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.
Who could have guessed this newborn babe had a world mission and a universal message that would cause Him to be despised and rejected of men, and that His sinless blood would be shed on Calvary's tree, so that every stained sinner that believes on Him would not perish, but have the power to become sons of God, even to them that believed on His name.
Christ paid the incredible price for sin, in His body on the tree, so that all who believe on Him might not perish but be united with Him through time and into eternity.
Philip, who had been called by Jesus, went to look for his friend, Nathanael, and found him sitting under the fig tree and told him excitedly about Jesus: We have found the One about Whom Moses and the prophets wrote - Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!
Nathanael asked Him, and Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.
Christ's reply amazed Nathanael because he must have recalled that Philip had, indeed, found him sitting under a fig tree.
It was not any old fig tree but THE Fig Tree.
Maybe this fig tree had a special significance to honest men of god character or those that are pure in heart... or maybe it was one of many fig trees in Israel under which this servant of God was seated that day.
Everything God created was very good, and I am sure that the tree of knowledge produced delicious food and was a delight to behold.
However, God placed one restriction on the man created in His own image - to test him: You are free to eat from ANY tree of the garden, Adam was told, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die. Adam was made with a 'mind' to think and a 'free-will' with which to make choices - but he was also given one command to follow, to test his fidelity: Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge.
Eve did nothing sinful by looking at the tree with its delicious fruit hanging on its branches.
The garden of Eden contained numerous trees dripping with tasty fruit for both her and her husband to eat, but the cunning enemy came and cast doubt on the veracity of God's Word and the goodness of His character, by asking a loaded and suggestive question, Did God really say, 'You can't eat from ANY tree in the garden?'
God only told us we are free to eat of any tree except this one tree, and because I love Him I will obey His Word.
However, she was beguiled by Satan's twisted teaching that the tree was desirable to make her wise. She doubted God's Word by believing the satanic lie - that she would not die. The woman was seduced by the enemy.
It was only after she had eaten of the tree of knowledge that she found herself spiritually separated from God and dead in trespasses and sin.
Looking at the tree and even touching it was not a sin, but disobeying God's command not to eat was the sin.
To those who believed in Him, the picture of the fruitless fig tree is obvious but to the unbelieving heart it appears obscure and puzzling.
The fig tree is easily identified as Israel who was planted in their land by God - the vineyard owner. Jesus is characterised as the vine-dresser who sought in vain for fruit, during the three years of His earthly ministry, but found none.
Although God ordered Him to cut down the unproductive tree, Jesus interceded on Israel's behalf, and one more year was granted for Him to try to get the tree to bear fruit - to get the nation to bring forth the fruit of righteousness.
The parable of the fruitless fig tree was a vivid picture of apostate Israel, who refused to repent of their sin.
It was about six months before His crucifixion, that Jesus told the parable of the fig tree, which should not be confused with the real fig tree He cursed in Jerusalem, only days before His death - although one can see some connection.
Was the parable no more than another call for Israel to repent of their sin, rather than an indication that the fig tree would be cut down in twelve month's time and the day of God's judgement be poured out on His sinful nation?
Adam was told: of every tree of the garden you may truly eat but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for the day on which you eat of it you will surly DIE.
From the disappearance of the Tree of Life in Eden when Adam fell, to its glorious restoration in the book of Revelation, we trace the intertwining events and intriguing happenings in God's story of redemption and the restoration of mankind into fellowship with His Creator and Saviour.
And while the whole of Scripture is God's Word which can never be broken, this final book of the Bible is special, for it not only promises its readers a blessing in chapter 1, but in this final section it also gives some serious warnings: I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
If a believer subverts God's Word, he will not lose his eternal salvation but will lose some or all of his heavenly reward, forfeiting his benefits found in the Tree of Life and the Holy City.
He reinforces his argument with additional examples from nature: These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.
Clouds without water suggests these ungodly infiltrators do not feed and refresh the flock of God, but withhold the life-giving teaching of the whole counsel of God, while describing them as autumn trees without fruit, is a big marker of their arrogant apostasy.
May we drink deeply of the living water of life so that we will become like a healthy tree that is firmly planted by streams of water and produces the fruit of righteousness.
He has promised that all who die in the Lord shall never die but have the light of life, when we shall ever be with the Lord.The first-fruit of a tree is the precursor that more fruit will follow.
They forgot His promise to protect them from their enemies, send rains in its season, provide plenteous crops, cover the trees with fruit, and grant peace in the land - IF they kept His sabbaths - IF they reverenced His Sanctuary. Because of their neglect they reaped scarcity, drought, and hunger.
A shadow of a tree is not the actual tree, but simply a flat, colourless representation of the real thing which has a textured trunk, inner sap, and exterior bark.
A tree is so much more than its shadow.
A tree has twiggy branches, deep roots, and colourful leaves - and it produces buds, blossom, fruit, and seeds, in multiple colours and various hues... often producing sweet-smelling perfumes, life-saving medicines, and a vast array of tastes and tints, all of which are formed in their due season.
Jotham courageously challenged the leaders of Shechem to examine their actions and motives in supporting Abimelech's grab for power by telling them 'a parable of the trees'.
All the trees of the forest set out to anoint a king over them.
Different trees like the Olive tree, the Fig tree, and the Grapevine, were asked to become 'king of the Trees' - but these worthy trees declined the request.
Finally, the trees asked the thorny Bramble bush to reign over them: If you really are anointing me as king over you, the Bramble bush said, come and find refuge in my shade.
Just as a scrubby bramble bush provides no shelter for tall cedar trees, so Abimelech was no protection for the citizens of Shechem, but they crowned him king, nonetheless.
We are also encouraged to think about the provision God has made for animals, and all wildlife - for birds of the air and the trees and flowers on the hillside.
It is faith in the Person, the Work, and the Word of the Saviour that secures for us the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.It was by the sin of the first Adam that paradise was lost, the way to the Tree of Life barred and guarded by mighty angels with flashing swords, and it was by the sacrifice of the second Adam that paradise was regained, and the way to the Tree of Life was once again flung wide open, to whosoever will believe.The door to paradise was unbarred and the gates of heaven were thrown wide open to this repentant sinner who hung next to our Lord, for he gained the right to eat from the Tree of Life, which is in the paradise of God, simply because he trusted on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin.
Never were words more pregnant with meaning or more powerfully poignant than this utterance from Israel's chief Priest.Oh yes, Christ's heart of forgiveness not only embraced all who were present and participated in this historic miscarriage of justice, but His gracious forgiveness stretched right back to the first fallen couple who disobeyed God by eating of the tree of knowledge, and reached forward into the far-distant future, for His gracious forgiveness includes you and it includes me.
Indeed, the trees of the field, the birds of the air, the stars and the storms, the ice and the seasons all give irrefutable witness to His existence, His nature, His character, His goodness, and His glory.
The coming Tribulation will be on a global scale and in chapter 7, we discover four angels standing at the four corners of the earth restraining the four winds and preventing the prophesied wrath of God from harming anyone until a special group of Jewish believers is sealed by the Holy Spirit of God. The angels are commanded not to harm anything on the earth, or in the sea, or on the trees until they had sealed this particular group of 144,000 young Jewish men: And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Let us honour the One Who was despised of men, rejected by His people and nailed to a cruel tree, so that whosoever would believe on His name would be forever set free from the wages of death, which we all so justly deserve.
The Tree of Life stands like two majestic book-ends in the Word of God.
In Genesis we find this life-giving Tree growing in the midst of the garden of Eden, offering eternal life to Adam who was made in God's image and likeness.
All he had to do was to simply chose to take and eat of the fruit that hung from its branches, for he could freely eat of every tree in the garden with one exception.
Adam had the opportunity to eat of this life-preserving Tree or to disobey God's one, simple command, do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. The moment he sinned against the Lord, Adam died spiritually and began the slow process of physical death, which has been passed to all his offspring, for all are imputed with sin and all must face death because of his one sin.
As an act of divine grace, God immediately banished Adam and his wife from the garden of delight... preventing them from tasting the Tree of Life's life-giving properties.
He installed two angelic sentries to guard the way to the Tree of Life, lest he put forth his hand and eat of its energising fruit, and live forever. Had Adam eaten of the life-giving Tree in his fallen state, they would have become forever ensnared in a fallen body - eternally trapped in a sinful state.
In Revelation we discover the return of the Tree of life standing in the midst of the paradise of God.
Paradise lost, in the beginning, becomes Paradise restored at the end and whoever 'overcomes' will be able to eat from 'the Tree of Life' - whoever's faith is credited with righteousness will be able to eat of its life-giving fruit... for, whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world - even our faith.
Four times in Proverbs are we given additional information about this wonderful Tree of Life.
We have all been taught that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and a knowledge of God gives understanding, and in Chapter 3 we discover that, wisdom is a Tree of Life, to them that lay hold upon her: and everyone that retains wisdom is blessed.
In Chapter 11 we read that, the fruit of the righteous is a Tree of Life and he that wins souls is wise.
The spiritual fruit of the believer who shares the truth of the gospel with others and points souls to Christ, brings life and truth and hope and salvation to the lost, while in Chapter 15 we find that, a wholesome tongue is a Tree of Life, while perversity is a breach in the spirit. Both verses point to Christ as Word of truth, the Nourisher and Sustainer of the soul, for in Him is Life... and He is the wisdom of God and the power of God, for all who believe.
Wherever the Tree of Life is mentioned, we see an important link with faith in Christ, Who is the personification of all-wisdom, in Whom dwell the words of eternal life, and through Whom comes the fruit of perfect righteousness.
And here in Chapter 13, we read that, hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a Tree of Life.
However, when the longings of the heart are fulfilled it becomes a Tree of Life.
but when the desire is fulfilled it is a Tree of Life. When aspirations are achieved and plans come to fruition what rejoicing fills the heart.
As with all other biblical references to the Tree of Life, we can see a clear link with Christ and salvation.
For He is the true Vine in Whom is life eternal, He is the Bread of life, and He is the living water... the Rock of our salvation, the Hope of all the ends of the earth, and ALL who feed on Him in their hearts by faith, with thanksgiving... will eat of the Tree of Life and find Him to be their Source and Sustainer through time and into eternity.
Only humanity is the recipient of God's redemptive grace, whereby Christ become one of us and took upon Himself the role of man's Kinsman-Redeemer when He died for our sin, on Calvary's tree.
The host of earth would compose of plants and trees, herbs and flowers, birds and fish, creeping things and all the great creatures that filled the earth.
However, the welcome He received from the majority was superficial, selfish, puffed-up, and proud, and so He used the parable of an unfruitful fig tree to illustrate the serious sickness that had consumed the nation and produced barrenness in their soul: A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard.
The fig tree represented Israel and identified God as the man who planted the tree.
Jesus was identified as the hard-working husbandman Who tended the fig tree for the three years of His earthly ministry, giving it sufficient time to produce good fruit.
The barren fig tree represented the generation of Jews who rejected their Messiah and refused to produce the fruit of righteousness, which is grown from a repentant heart that mourns over their sin.
Grass and fruit trees, green foliage, and different herbs sprang forth, before the Lord placed all the starry lights in the heavens, together with the sun and the moon.
And so Moses cried out to the LORD. Moses did what the people refused to do - he called out to God for help, and the LORD showed him a tree.
And Moses threw the tree into the waters, and the waters became sweet.
How interesting that the Lord showed Moses a tree which his servant threw into the water to cause it to be healed of its bitter taste and become sweet.
It was not a magic tree that Moses tore up by the roots and tossed into the bitter water.
The tree that turned bitterness into sweetness was a picture of the wooden Cross of Calvary, which takes what is bitter and heals it.
We rejoice that Satan, sin, death, hell, and all that is evil is thrown into the Lake of Fire, and we stand in awe of the coming of the King of kings with His armies of heaven, the unimaginable beauty of the New Jerusalem, the sparkling River of the water of Life as clear as crystal, and the return to earth of the Tree of Life with its 12 luscious fruit (which has been guarded by cherubim since sin entered the world, lest fallen man should eat of its fruit and live eternally in a fallen body).
We hear the final invitation of the Spirit and the Bride (which is the Church) calling whosoever will to come and drink, and THEN we read that final, sombre warning: If anyone adds to Words of this Book, God will add to him the terrible plagues which are written in God’s Word, and that God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
It is not only the subject matter within the book of Revelation that must not be 'added-to' or 'taken-away from' but within the entire Scriptures, for the content of Revelation is intertwined in the many prophetic writings throughout the entire Word of God: If anyone adds to the words of this prophecy, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book… and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
Like King David, we were all brought forth in iniquity and each one of us was conceived by fallen parents, but praise God that we have been redeemed through the blood of Christ that was shed for us on Calvary's tree.
But in the midst of his mourning and great grief, John received the glorious words that must have ignited his soul (and ours) with hope and joy, for as we read in Proverbs, hope deferred makes the heart sick, BUT when the promised desire comes, it is a Tree of Life.
One such law related to the harvesting of olives, When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow.
Whether it was a field of corn or fruit on the trees, God's people were to leave some of their crops for the foreigner, the widow, the fatherless, and those that were less fortunate, or unable to fend for themselves.
so that the blood He shed on Calvary's tree, would pay the price for our sin.
He was slaughtered on a cursed tree... and yet His final words pleaded, Father forgive, and all that fallen man has to do to receive His forgiveness is to say, I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ - I believe that He died for ME.
In the midst of this weeping prophet's sharp accusations and strong condemnation of the idolatry of Israel, who had turned from their faithful God to idols, we discover a refreshing oasis: Blessed is the man that puts his trust in the Lord, for he will be like a well-watered tree, who is refreshed and rejuvenated in the streams of living water.
Only the one that rests in the Lord and trusts their lives into His hands, gaining their hope and strength from Him and placing their trust in God alone, is able to be like a well-watered tree that receives hope and strength from their Father in heaven.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of living water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, and whatever they do prospers.
Blessed is the one whose confident hope is in the Lord, for he will be like a tree planted by the rivers of living water that extends its roots into His life-giving streams.
Those that search the Scriptures daily are not only wise, but truly blessed of the Lord: For blessed is the man who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates therein day and night. He will be like a tree securely planted by streams of life-giving water, which yields much fruit in its season, to the glory of God.
Moses wanted to know if there were cities or open camps; if their towns were fortified or not, whether the land was fat or lean; whether or not there were trees and good produce.
Jesus is looking forward to the time when they will hear their Messiah's call, respond to His words, proclaim the gospel of the kingdom throughout the world, and become a fruitful fig tree - that brings forth the fruit of righteousness.
It paints a pitiful picture of these exiles from Israel, who sadly hung up their harps on the willow trees and simply sat down by the rivers of Babylon and wept, when they remembered the glory of the holy city of Zion and bewailed the complete destruction of the beautiful Temple of God, by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
We should always remember and honour the supreme sacrifice that was made on our account, when Jesus willingly went to the Cross for us and died in our place on Calvary's tree.
After the Lord Jesus corrects them, He does not leave them comfortless and goes on to promise, to the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.
What a great privilege for us to know that the Tree of Life, from which man was barred due to sin, is once again freely accessible to those that have trusted in Christ Jesus for salvation.
What a privileged certainty - to know that we have been given all we need for life and godliness in Christ and to know that we have a citizenship in heaven, an eternal inheritance that will not fade away, and the right to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God - all because we trusted Christ for salvation.
The first parable was of a tiny mustard seed which grew into an abnormally large tree.
Despite the mustard seed of early Christianity morphing into the worldwide tree of Compromises and Corruption - let us not be discouraged, for Jesus said, I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not prevail.
Each one will sit under his own fig tree and eat grapes from his own laden vine... and Christ will sit on the throne of David and rule the nations with a rod of iron.
When Adam disobeyed the Lord and ate of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, he was endowed with an understanding of what was good - without the ability to do good.
The man who is identified as truly blessed is the one who delights in the Scriptures and meditates, day and night, on God's Word. He is described in this verse in a fourfold way. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water.
May we be like the tree in Psalm 1 that is planted, grows, prospers, and produces the precious fruit of righteousness... receiving God's never-failing supply of nourishment and limitless refreshment from His streams of living water.
It is fed by a covetous heart that lusts after the thing we see and desire and reminds us of the tree in the garden of paradise.
For it was as Eve looked and saw that the tree was good for food that sin was conceived in her heart and her flesh began to lust after the forbidden fruit and she disobeyed the Lord's command - and reached out, took and ATE.
She lusted after the tree because it was 'able to make her wise'.
We read that the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom.
But herbs and grass, fruit and trees, birds of the air, fish of the sea, and every living creature soon filled the earth and were instructed to be fruitful and multiply.
It is also described as a time when every man will sit under his own fig tree and gather grapes from his laden vines - and no one will make them afraid.
However, Jesus rejected their supposition and used the parable of the fig tree to explain... that although sin IS the root of all tragedies, it is not necessarily because of a man's PERSONAL sin that bad things happen, for ALL men are guilty of sin, not only those who have difficulties.
The parable of the fig tree was to show that ALL have sinned and ALL need to repent.
Although ALL men, Jew and Gentile alike, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God... and all need salvation through faith in Christ, the parable of the fig tree in the vineyard indicates that Christ's teaching was targeting Israel, His covenant nation - who for centuries had refused to obey God's Word, turn from their sin, and return to the Lord their God.
The reference to a fig tree in a vineyard would immediately cause Jewish people to recall Isaiah's reference to the Lord chopping down a worthless fig tree and making the vineyard a wasteland.
The fig tree was a type of Israel and God the Father represented the Owner of the vineyard.
Jesus was pictured as the Vine-dresser and the lack of fruit on the branches of the tree indicated an absence of the fruit of righteousness from the nation of Israel.
Death is the bitter fruit for all humanity, and there is no possible way for man to reach out and eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the paradise of God.
Satan sowed seeds of distrust in their hearts, by telling them For God knows that in the day you eat from it (the tree of knowledge of good and evil) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
Adam was given free rein to eat of every single shrub and tree in that beautiful garden, including the fruit of the glorious tree of life, but there was one exception: Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
He would die a cruel death, be buried in a rich man's tomb, sold for thirty pieces of silver, pierced in His hands and feet, and hung as a curse on a tree saying: I thirst.
He alone was qualified to become our Kinsman-Redeemer and bear the sin of the whole world in His body on the tree.But as members of His Spiritual Body, we can share in His earthly sufferings and be partners of His bitter rejection.
On that day, the Lord will ratify His covenant with His earthly people, Israel - when He will finally write His Law upon their hearts and every man will sit under his own fig tree - and Jesus will be King over all the earth.
The cursing of the barren fig tree which was to follow, and the cleansing of the Temple from the corrupt money changers, set the stage for Christ's crucifixion... as the scribes and Pharisees plotted how they might destroy the Lord Jesus.
In Proverbs we are told that: the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise. Paul outlines the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 and reminds us in Ephesians that the fruit of the spirit is, in all goodness, righteousness, and truth - and we are called to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain.
He likened the invisible, unpredictable movement of the wind which can only be observed by the swishing of grass, the swaying of trees, or the eerie howl from the rafters of a house with the indiscernible, unfathomable Spirit of God.
His work is sovereign and just as the wind blows where it wishes and we sometimes hear its sound or perceive its movement in the swishing of grass or the swaying of trees, we do not know where it comes from, nor do we know where it is going.
He will re-establish the nation in Jerusalem and settle each one under his own fig tree and olive grove, and none shall make them afraid - for the mouth of Lord of hosts has spoken it.
Both the man and woman had disobeyed God's command - not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and rebellion was already rooted deep within their hearts - for both had become the possessors of a fallen nature - a sin nature: the old man, as the Bible calls it - and from the birth of their first child onwards, every member of the human race would be born with a sin nature and a predisposition to evil - for we read that Adam begot sons and daughters..
A gracious correction or a gentle answer is more likely to divert an angry response: Gentle words are a tree of life, but words that are spoken in haste or harshly delivered stir up anger and strife: A deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
This means that our fallen sin nature was nailed to the Cross with Jesus, as He hung on that wooden tree, 2000 years ago, and paid the enormous price for our sin.
Angels shout their praises to God while the heavens rejoice, the earth is joyful, trees clap their hands, and the very stones proclaim of the glory to God; for He is full of grace and truth.
No surprise that we are exhorted to worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness, for even the trees of the forest sing for joy and clap their hands together because the Lord is coming to judge the world in His righteousness and His people in His faithfulness.The Church is His Body, and we are now the holy temple of our faithful Lord, for we were created in Christ as a new creation, sanctified as His peculiar people, set apart as His representatives on earth, and we have been given a glorious song of grace to sing of the One that shows forth the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness towards us, in Christ Jesus.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Surely the life of the centurion who witnessed his Saviour dying on that Tree of crucifixion, and who uttered those earth-shattering words by divine revelation, was never, ever the same again.
And all who have trusted in Christ as Saviour can say with certainty and eternally, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.'
Only God, Himself, in the Person of Jesus Christ is able to redeem us (by faith), and He did this by dying on a tree and becoming a curse in our place.
It was Moses who wrote that the penalty for condemned criminals was to hang upon a tree as a sign that they were cursed of God, and by being lifted up and hung on Calvary's Tree, Christ was made a curse for us, redeeming us from the curse of the Law.
The ground was well-watered by four shimmering rivers, and the Lord made sure that every tree that produced luscious fruit was growing in this idyllic place, for the man to enjoy.
God even placed the tree of eternal life within easy reach of Adam's fingers..
for all who eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God, will never die.
And so, the Lord also placed the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the centre of the garden, to test the man.
with one simple call to obedience - you shall not eat of that tree.
All who are saved by grace through faith in Him, receive His life and are given rest for their soul - for Christ is our Tree of Life, and that life is eternal.
It also introduces God's amazing plan of redemption, which begins to be unfolded, from the time when Adam and his wife disobeyed the word of the Lord and hid from Him for, they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
From the time that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, the wages of sin for every man and woman is death, and their siritual death occurred the moment they ate of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
He is the Light of the world, and in Him is Life, for He is the Fountain of Life, the Water of Life, the Tree of Life, the Bread of Life - the Resurrection and the Life.
Habakkuk was able to pray with surety, though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines..
And as the Body of Christ we should humble ourselves and pray, and seek God's face, turn from our wicked ways, and cry out for His mercy, though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines..
because Jesus took our sins upon Himself, giving His body to be nailed on the tree - so that we, being dead to sin in Christ, might be raised to newness of life in Him.
Jesus explained in the previous verse that the way to differentiate between a false prophet and a godly preacher is by their fruit, and explained that a good tree bears good fruit, while a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Christ was appointed by the Father to fulfil His plan of salvation and to secure it by the sacrifice of His righteous life - through the spilling of His holy blood on Calvary's Tree.
He saw the Tree of Life, which speaks of restoration, with its leaves for the healing of the nations, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, and growing on both sides of the crystal river.
The Bible begins with the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, but due to sin, Adam was denied further access to its luscious, life-giving properties and he and his wife were banished from the glorious garden.
But the same Tree of Life has reappeared in this final chapter of God's Word, with a promise from the Lord Jesus that He is returning soon to finish the good work He started at Calvary - and to establish in His kingdom of peace and prosperity.
We hear God instructing to Adam to freely eat from all the trees in the garden, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.
the knowledge of good and evil which was obtained by eating of the forbidden tree.
To Adam God said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you.
Bitterness is also like a tree which can branch into every area of our life and cause devastation, distress, and destruction, to ourselves and to others.