Fredrick spoke from Judges 9 this morning. God uses many metaphors to describe His people (we are sheep; people are also described as fish, for example) and in this chapter, God gives us the analogy of trees talking! The context is of Israel seeking a king, but the trees are personified here as being asked to be the king: the olive tree, fig tree, vine and thornbush are all mentioned.
The olive tree is content to stay in its God-given role, providing oil for God and people alike. An olive tree can live for over 2000 years and is stable and fruitful, even when there is little rain. Ps 52:8 says ‘I am an olive tree, flourishing in the house of God.’ God wants us to remain where He has planted us and He wants us to bear fruit for others, not only thinking about ourselves.
The fig tree too produces good, sweet fruit and is content to be itself. Sometimes, we look for solutions everywhere, forgetting that Christ lives within us and that He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world. (1 Jn 4:4) We need to learn to depend on Christ and not to seek for solutions in the world. Those whose confidence is in God, Jeremiah tells us, are ‘like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’ (Jer 17:7-8)
The vine brings forth fruit in season. Jesus described HImself as the true vine and us as branches. (John 15:1) When Jesus healed the blind man, he said he saw men ‘like trees walking around.’ (Mk 8:24) God anoints each one of us with no favouritism, enabling us to fulfil His purposes for our lives. Unlike the arrogant thornbush which wanted others to take shelter in its shade, we are urged to bear fruit that will last (see John 15:1-17), serving others through the power of God’s love and learning to abide in Christ.
Vineyards in the north of Madeira