“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.”
Psalm 92:12-13
When I was a boy, every Sunday morning my dad would read Psalm 92 aloud to us. Noted in Bibles as a psalm for the Sabbath day, it compares the righteous to a flourishing tree. I have always loved its lines about us bearing fruit in old age and staying fresh and green (v. 14).
You’ll also find other places in Scripture where various prophets (e.g. Jeremiah, Isaiah, Hosea, Nahum) refer to the deep roots and vibrant growth of trees to describe God’s people. David wrote, “I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever” (Psalm 52:8).
But how does being like a healthy tree thriving near water relate to us when life’s challenges make us feel like a scrub brush in the desert? Author and biblical counselor David Powlison (1949-2019) gave a great answer: “Do you feel like your suffering has brought you into a spiritual desert? As you deepen your trust in God, your desert will become the place where you find God’s living water of hope, mercy, and blessing” (2012).
You’ll also find other places in Scripture where various prophets (e.g. Jeremiah, Isaiah, Hosea, Nahum) refer to the deep roots and vibrant growth of trees to describe God’s people. David wrote, “I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever” (Psalm 52:8).
But how does being like a healthy tree thriving near water relate to us when life’s challenges make us feel like a scrub brush in the desert? Author and biblical counselor David Powlison (1949-2019) gave a great answer: “Do you feel like your suffering has brought you into a spiritual desert? As you deepen your trust in God, your desert will become the place where you find God’s living water of hope, mercy, and blessing” (2012).
Scripture Focus
Psalm 92
Insight
Lord, help our trust in you grow like a mighty tree so that we can not just survive, but rather thrive during difficult times. Amen
Bible In A Year
- 2 Samuel 11-12
- Psalm 141
- Colossians 3-4
