Trees: an extended study of the significance of trees in the Bible.

Introduction.

When God creates all things good for human beings, a specific tree is mentioned: the Tree of Life (Gen 2. 9). It is put in the middle of the Garden of Eden: this garden planted by God (Gen 2. 8).

At the pivot point in the history of humanity is the Tree of the Cross, the life-giving tree.

History comes to an end as the Tree of Life is again mentioned. At the very end of time, it flourishes, perhaps as a group of trees, on both sides of the River of the Water of Life which flows from the Throne of God (Rev 22. 1 – 3). This is in the Holy City of the New Creation.

All through the Bible there is mention of trees and they are often used in familiar stories and events, in poetry and prophesy. They play a part in the story of redemption. In this set of reflections various aspects of trees (some admittedly fairly tenuous) will be examined. Hopefully this will lead to further thought or investigation on the part of the reader.

In general a chronological or historical approach will be used but some freedom and flexibility may also be applied if deemed appropriate or expedient.

This theme has been chosen to take us through the Trinity season because the liturgical colour for this season is green, evoking thoughts of new life, flourishing and hope.

Good trees

‘Every good tree bears good fruit …’ [Mat 7. 15 – 20; 12. 33; Luke 6. 43]

When the people came into possession of the Promised Land they found ‘vineyards, olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance; so they ate, and were filled and became fat, and delighted in [your] (God’s) great goodness’ [Neh 9. 25].

In the instructions given to Moses by God there is advice on planting fruit trees and when to harvest fruit from them [Lev 19. 23]. For the first three years the fruit must not be picked, then in the fourth year the fruit ‘shall be set apart for rejoicing in the Lord’ and only in the fifth year may the fruit be picked and eaten for food[Lev 19. 23 – 25]. At the festival of Booths, Sukkot, ‘the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook’ are to be used to decorate the booths [Lev 23. 40; Neh 8. 15].

The importance of trees is well recognised and so if a city is being besieged the trees around it that produce food must not be destroyed. Only trees that are to be used as timber for construction may be cut down [Deut 20. 19 – 20]. However, in the time of Elisha the prophet, when they were besieging the Moabite cities, the Israelites covered the land with stones, stopped up the water springs and cut down the trees [2 Kings 3. 25].

In the end times there will be destruction: ‘Open your doors, O Lebanon, so that fires may devour your cedars! Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, for the glorious trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan, for the thick forest has been felled!’ [Zech 11. 1 – 2]. However, the marauding locusts are instructed ‘not to damage the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree’ [Rev 9. 4].

Those who follow God’s law are likened to ‘trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper’ [Ps 1. 3]. Those who are righteous will flourish and ‘in old age they still produce fruit’ (Ps 92. 14). When Isaiah (second, chapters 40 – 55) describes his vision of the return from exile he speaks, in a global context, of the last days and redemption. Part of the Lord’s renewal is described: ‘I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together’ [Isa 41. 19]. The third section of Isaiah includes the promise of long life for the people [Isa 65. 22]. Those who trust in the Lord ‘shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit’ [Jer 17. 7 – 8].

Good trees are known by their fruit. John the Baptist warned the people: ‘Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire [Mat 3, 10, Luke 3. 9]. Jesus reminds the people: ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits … every good tree bears good fruit …’ [Mat 7. 15 – 20; 12. 33; Luke 6. 43]

Father God, we ask that you make our roots deep
and our crowns broad
that we may bear beautiful blossoms
and wholesome fruit
to the glory of your Holy Name. Amen.