A tree is a blessing from God for his creation, even in those wild places where no human being has set foot.
A tree is for war—to make tools to beseige a city, but never beyond the strictest limits.
A tree is a blessing from God for people and a sign of peace, giving shade and shelter to those under his protection.
A tree is a gallows for a man cursed by God.
A tree is for houses for kings and people.
A tree is for the praise of God’s glory.
There is a tree that brings life.
There is a tree that brings death—a curse from God himself: death to man and death to his world.
There is a tree where a man absorbed and suffered the curse.
There is, on that tree, healing and life.
There is a tree in a garden city where there is no curse—a tree whose fruit gives life and whose leaves bring healing to the nations.
Wonderful! Wonderful! Thank you.
Let all the trees sing.
Psalm 96
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
A great post Lionel.
For some strange reason the sheer simplicity of it warmed my heart.
You had the perfect number of references and they pointed strongly to our Lord. The following is not a critique – more of a complement – I limited myself to Isaiah and I only just scratched the surface…
What is a tree for?
1. Keeping ourselves warm (Isaiah 44:14-16).
2. Making idols (Isaiah 44:17)
3. Places where we can chase other gods (Isaiah 2:29)
4. Representing arrogant people (Isaiah 2:12-13)
5. Representing arrogant nations (Isaiah 10:33)
6. Contrasting with the eunuch who holds fast to God (Isaiah 56:3)
7. Representing the new Davidic King, the hope of Israel (Isaiah 6:13; 11:1)
8. Clapping their hands in joy when it all comes to pass (Isaiah 55:12)
Lionel, in my talk at Cumberland Evangelical Christian Union today, I got your post up on the lecture theatre screen and went through it.
Very useful way of reviewing some of the things we had looked at in Genesis so far, and showing how the Bible developed those things through to the new creation, via Christ.
Loved it!!!
And we are to be a trees
For His glory
Isa 61:3b… that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
By His word
Psalm 1;2-3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.