Do you ever see yourself like an olive tree?
An olive tree is a very important and highly valued tree in Israel. It provides oil for lots of purposes. They are widely planted there.
We are like these olive trees. Here’s why: Scripture tells us, “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)
As a believer, you are filled with the Holy Spirit, and the oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, which causes us to flourish. Another picture of flourishing would be taken from another Psalm: “You are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1: 3) That’s an extended explanation about flourishing.
An interesting fact about the Olive Tree is that it requires years of patient labor to reach full fruitfulness.
- Jesus Christ, our Messiah, the root of Jesse is the root of a cultivated olive tree. From Him, Israel and the church draw life. (Shared from Psalm 52, Paraphrased)
After the shipwreck, Paul arrives safely and the entire ship was shown much kindness. The islanders built a fire because it was rainy and cold, and they welcomed one another. Paul is helping out, grabs some wood, and “A viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.” (Acts 28: 3) Paul shakes the snake off into the fire and suffers no ill effects. The people were expecting him to either get sick or even die, but nothing unusual happened to him.
- Expect good things from God, even if it looks bad.
Paul and his companions were shown great hospitality and the sick were brought to him. He laid his hands on them and they were healed.
The islanders on Malta honored Paul in many ways, and they sent them on their way to Rome, supplying all that they needed.
- Our God supplies our needs, often through the hands of others. (Shared from Acts 28: 1-16, Paraphrased)
Samuel is growing in the Lord. The Lord was with Samuel as he grew and “He let none of his words fall to the ground.” (1 Samuel 3: 19) His growth in the Lord consisted of, “The Lord continuing to appear at Shiloh, and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His word. And Samuel’s word came to all of Israel.” (1 Samuel 3: 21)
- When God brings revelation, we just never know how far it will travel.
- Let God reveal Himself to you, continually. There are many facets of Himself He is waiting to give away.
Israel goes to battle against the Philistines and they are defeated. The ark of God is captured and Eli’s two sons die. When Eli finds out about the ark being moved, he falls off his chair, breaks his neck, and dies.
Eli’s daughter-in-law, who is with child, finds out he and her husband are dead, and goes into labor. It was a rough delivery, but before she dies, she names her son Ichabod, which means, No glory! “She said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.” (1 Samuel 3: 22)
Where was the ark taken? The Philistines placed it into Dagon’s temple and set it right beside their principal god, Dagon. Those dummies!
The next morning, they discover that Dagon fell face down with his head and hands broken off, and only his body remaining.
- God has said, “Have no other gods before me.”
We don’t need any other God. He is more than enough–three in one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Oh! There is no other god like our God! With the Trinity inside of us and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are a well-oiled people, who are flourishing.
Olive trees live hundreds of years. We saw one in Israel that might have been growing when Jesus was walking the earth. It was enormous, just like the mighty power of His unfailing love inside of us for ever and ever. (Shared from 1 Samuel 4-5, Paraphrased)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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