Untitled Sermon (2)

I have a confession to make with you all. I love plants a little too much. Trees, specifically. I don’t know if it is the olive-green color, or the sound the leaves make when the wind blows through them, or the shade they give off on a hot day. There is something about being surrounded by a bunch of trees that just brings me peace. This summer, I got to drive from Michigan to Southern California. Throughout that drive, I got to experience all different types of trees. From large, looming cedar trees to Joshua trees to palm trees. Now, while I love plants, I have to be honest with you. I cannot take care of one to save my life. My dorm room at Ozark is filled with plants of all kinds—cacti and ferns and snake plants. The problem is that they are allfake. That is because I don’t have the time or the patience to take care of them.

I learned my lesson with this several years ago. I bought my first palm plant from a local Walmart. I always wanted to have a palm tree in my room. I thought palm trees live in a dry, tropical climate. They can withstand blazing heat! Barely are they watered. Surely, I can keep this thing alive. It wasn’t until I got back to my dorm room that I realized that the little tag that is sticking out of the soil… yeah…that’s not just a price tag. No, It gave details on how to care for the plant. I couldn’t believe this living thing that just exists out in nature has an instruction manual!

I mean, I had to water this thing every week. I had to check the soil and make sure that the top two inches were always wet to the touch. I started to ask; do I need to buy a ruler? It was recommended that the plant stay within a climate between this temperature and this temperature, otherwise it would die. It told me to buy special fertilizer to keep the plant healthy. It was suggested that I buy pest control spray if I noticed brown spots starting to show up on the leaves. Now, it should be known when I bought this plant, I was a poor college student. Just having enough money to buy this plant was a rare financial feat! So, when I saw that I needed to invest all this extra time and money, I started to become frustrated. It is like when you buy a toy for your children or grandchildren thinking they will just be able to open it up and start playing with it but you missed the fine print on the box that says, “Batteries not included.” That is how I felt with this plant! I started to ask myself: why do I need to invest so much into this plant? Why are all these factors so necessary for this thing to survive? [Pause] It’s the roots. My naïve, college-aged brain didn’t piece together that I bought a young plant. The reality is that its roots needed more care and time to grow. The roots needed to be grounded in good, healthy soil and be planted in an ideal environment for growth.

Whether you know it or not, we all have roots. Just like roots, they work to develop us into who we truly are. Our roots represent our hearts, our minds, and our souls. They are the inner-most parts of ourselves. Without these parts of us, we would be nothing more than skin and bones. How we think, feel, and live out our lives are what make us, well, uniquely us. No plant is the exact same as another. They all have unique roots. What makes one plant more successful in its growth, what makes a plant healthier than another, is how its rooted and whether or not it is in the right conditions for growth. It leads me to ask, how are we rooted? How deep are our hearts, minds, and souls invested in living godly lives? How focused are we in becoming more like Christ every single day?

Maybe you feel good about where you are rooted. You wake up every morning with your Bible on your nightstand, and you spend the first thirty minutes of your day in quiet devotional time with the Lord. Your days consist of spending time with your spouse, kids, and grandkids. You have walked them through family devotional time every day and have baptized them. Maybe they are with you here in church today. You give the Lord thanks, even when it is hard, and you pray before every meal. You quietly meditate throughout the day as you are driving around town. You find the homeless and provide them with a gift card and a Bible. You look after the new widow and you bring meals to her home. You tithe, way more than your ten percent, and you befriend a struggling waitress at a restaurant and give her a generous tip whenever she serves your table.

However, maybe some of you don’t feel this way. You wake up with just enough time to get to work. You become distracted by so many things throughout the day that you struggle to give time to your daily Bible readings. In fact, your Bible slowly starts developing dust on your nightstand. Your day is spent stressing and worrying about your job. “Am I making enough money? Am I doing enough? Does my wife still respect me?” You have struggled giving thanks to God for things in your life. You find that you are impatient with yourself and with others. You gossip with your friends about the neighbors that you don’t really like or the coworkers that have started to drive you crazy. You have struggled making church a commitment every Sunday. You start noticing that that addiction that you thought you had under control has started seeping back into your life. You are reaching for that bottle or that cigarette just to make life feel more normal. You feel empty and helpless. Now I say these things not to make you feel guilty. Please hear me saying that. The God we serve is a gracious God who loves you and forgives you for all of these things. But maybe for some of you, this is how life has been for you lately. You feel like your roots have withered, and you are not in an ideal environment to grow spiritually.

So… where are you rooted? And are you in an ideal environment to thrive?

Now, I would like to say that the psalmist of Psalm 92 loves plants as much as I do, because in this Psalm, the writer demonstrates to us how vital it is that we are being rooted in the right things and shows us the lasting impacts of how we live our lives. In this Psalm, the writer compares what it is like to live a foolish life which will lead to destruction and ruin, verses a righteous person who will surely grow and bear much fruit. If you have your Bibles with you, go ahead and open them to Psalm 92, verse five. [Repeat]. We read:

How great are your works, O Lord!

Your thoughts are very deep!

6 The stupid man cannot know;

the fool cannot understand this:

7 that though the wicked sprout like grass

and all evildoers flourish,

they are doomed to destruction forever;

8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever.

9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord,

for behold, your enemies shall perish;

all evildoers shall be scattered.

Movement #1: The Grass

We see from the first three verses what a life will look like if we do not establish godly roots. If we allow our ways to reflect our own fleshly desires. In verse five and six, the psalmist is telling us that when we live foolish lives, when we are not rooted in faithfulness, when we do not live our lives in worship to Jesus, we can quickly become arrogant. We forget all of the things God has provided for us. The psalmist says, “How great are your works, O God, your ways are very deep,” but the foolish people, the people living in wickedness will not understand this. The psalmist is telling us that these words will go right over their heads. They will not see any value in it. When we live foolishly, we become like the Israelites, who sang the song of Moses after crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, singing…

Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

We become like the Israelites in that we admire the works of God and praising him for his faithfulness in parting the Red Sea and delivering us from our enemies, but then soon forget all about that song when times get difficult for us in the wilderness. Our songs became silent. Our words of worship become words of cursing after God. We soon forgot the depth and richness of his Kingdom. Our attempts to go deeper in our faith though our prayers, reading of God’s word, and worship through service are swallowed up, and we remain stagnant, we become surface-level Christians, only chasing God when it is convenient. We fail to understand that we will never have a mind as intricate and as loving as the Lord’s, so instead of acknowledging this in a state of awe and wonder, we try to assert that God hates us or does not understand us. We become arrogant in that we fail to see that God may be using our time of difficulty to build us up and to strengthen us.

The word “stupid” in this verse is translated to mean brutishness. We see this used in other parts of scripture to describe someone who loves creating division among family and friends, someone who hates receiving backlash or pushback for their unjust behaviors, someone who commits themselves to idol worship. It is this word that is used to describe shepherds who did not listen to the Lord, and therefore their sheep were scattered. When we do not listen to the Lord, we become stupid, and we can lead others astray.

Why then, in verse seven, does the Psalmist say that these foolish, stupid people will succeed? He says in verse seven that the wicked will sprout like grass and that evildoers will flourish! That doesn’t seem fair now, does it?

Friends, it can be easy, especially when we go through hard times, to look at our neighbor and compare ourselves to them. You may find yourself wondering from time to time, “Why are they doing so well? They don’t even know Jesus.” They may take advantage of people. They may lie and steal. They might talk bad about you or your family. Whatever it is, it is really easy when we are struggling to look at our enemies and wonder why they are not suffering like we are as Christians. It can seem unfair. Let me challenge you however by saying this: when we think like this, we must see that we are just as foolish as they are.

Remember what we just talked about. Verse five says,

“How great are your works, your ways are deep.”

We need to remember that we may not always understand why God acts the way he does, but we should never try to argue with God, or question his ways. When we say that our lives are unfair, we are second-guessing the creator of the universe and his greater plans for our lives. Isaiah writes a God-given warning to us about this way of thinking in chapter fifty-five, verses eight and nine:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God’s ways will always be greater than anything we can come up with ourselves.

We also need to understand that those who walk in foolishness are living in the best that life has to offer right now. The reality is that those who live their lives like this, committing intentional evil and walking in wicked ways, will not inherit the eternal Kingdom of God.

A couple years ago, I watched a video of an experiment some scientists did on children where they put them in a room and a chocolate bar was put in front of them. They told the children that if they did not eat the chocolate in the next ten minutes, that they would instead give them an entire chocolate cake! It was fascinating to me that despite the promise of the chocolate cake, the children were squirming at the sight of the chocolate bar in front of them. Clearly not as good as a full chocolate cake, but the children struggled with being impatient. Many children throughout the ten minutes would cave into the pressure and dive their faces into the chocolate bar, knowing full-well this was the best treat they were going to get. They were never going to bask in the glory of the chocolate cake. However, there were some children that stuck the battle out. Yes, it was tempting. It was hard for them. They had to stare the temptation down for far longer. But the reward was, quite literally, a lot sweeter. The time of waiting was much more trying and difficult, but the payoff was certainly worth it!

Similarly, those who walk in wickedness and are not rooted in godly living will appear to flourish. They will be eating the “chocolate bars” of earthly life. They may have more money than you even though you think you work twice as hard. They may have a successful family life. They may have more influence in your jobs or in your schools. People may love them and respect them. You may be tempted to get angry at this. Why are they so successful? Why is my life so much harder than theirs?

But then we read the second half of Psalm ninety-two, verse seven that these evildoers “…are doomed to destruction forever.” Later, in verse nine, it says,

“For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers will be scattered.” What does this mean?

It means that the final judgment is reserved for God and God alone. While these wicked people are exalted here on earth, while they may appear on the outside to live lavish, successful lives and don’t appear to struggle all that much, they will suffer greatly once they are met face-to-face with the divine judge, and God may even intervene before that time even comes. The problem with these people is that they are rooted in their own flesh. They appear to be strong and righteous until they are exposed. Until God blows the roof off their inner selves for everyone to see. When they find themselves having to account for their actions. They lose influence quickly and are often left with nothing.

Not only that, but this verse says that they become scattered in the same way God scattered the people in Babylon. These men and women in Babylon worked together to erect a tower that they claimed would reach the heavens and act as a pillar of worship, but God knew their inward desires. He knew that they were only in it for the spectacle. The tower they were erecting was to be large and grandiose. They wanted to use it to assert their power and influence. God knew this, and so he took away their ability to work together. He left them struggling to their own devices.

The prophet Isaiah appears to highlight the fleeting prosperity of people like this in chapter forty, verse six. He writes,

“All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.”

Fleshly desires will seem admirable for a season. When we follow the ways of the world, it will often appear to benefit us, or make us look good. Isaiah does a 360-degree shift in verse seven:

“The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it.”

We see this today with prominent leaders of the church that were once at the top of their game. Mark Driscoll, Bill Hybels, Ravi Zacharias. These men were, at one point, highly esteemed for their ability to communicate and care for people. They sprouted up like grass. They appeared beautiful. They were successful. The churches God entrusted them with flourished. They wrote books and spoke at conferences. But at the core, at their roots, they were rotting. It was only a matter of time before God would give a deadly blow to their ministries, uprooting them violently and exposing them for the world to see. At the surface, their ministries appear to reach to the heavens. It appears to be a pillar of worship and service to the Lord. But God knew their inner desires. Whether that was money, sex, fame, or influence, God knew. So, he scattered them. These men lost many of their closest allies and resources overnight. They were left struggling to their own devices.

So let us not let us get involved in comparing ourselves with such people and let us also strive to not become these types of people! God’s sovereign nature is overlooking all of it. We need not concern ourselves in this way of living, and rather should root ourselves elsewhere.

That leads us with an obvious question: where are we to root ourselves then?

Movement #2: The Palm and Cedar Trees

In Psalm ninety-two, verses twelve through fifteen, the writer is now contrasting what it means to be foolish as grass to being righteous trough a palm tree and a cedar tree. In these verses, the psalmist gives us a good idea of how we as Christians are too root ourselves. We read:

12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree

and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;

they flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They still bear fruit in old age.

they are ever full of sap and green,

15 to declare that the Lord is upright.

he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Now, the last thing I want to do is give you a botany lecture. But I think there is something intentional about these two specific trees being mentioned. Let’s uncover it together.

When we think of a palm tree, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of being on vacation. You think of warm weather. You think of its majestic branches swaying in the breeze. Maybe you think of the fruit they produce. Maybe you think of its skinny trunk that towers into the sky.

Palm trees are mentioned quite often in scripture, and are usually represented as symbols of grace, elegance, and dignity. Its branches, known also as “fronds,” are talked about in Isaiah as indicating the highest and most respected members of society. Isaiah 9:14 seems to refer to this when he says that the Lord cut off from Israel the head and the tail, palm branch and reed in one day. This “head” refers to those who are out in front. The most esteemed leaders of society. These would have been the chief priests and elders. These would be equivalent in our day to those we see as spiritual mentors and leaders in Christianity today. The pastors and ministers we highly value—those we want to emulate our lives around.

While many scholars go back and forth on what palm is specifically mentioned in this specific Psalm, many have resorted that it is the date palm. As the name suggests, this palm produces dates, an edible fruit that many of us enjoy today. These trees are stocky, and hanging from their fronds are clusters of brightly colored dates. It is these dates that were the prominent source of nutrition of many ancient near-eastern cultures during the time of the Old Testament writings. So, it would come as no surprise that a date palm is the specific tree being referred to here.

One of the most beautiful things about palm trees to me, however, is not their majestic branches or the fruit that they produce, but it is their resiliency and flexibility to whatever the world tries to throw at them.

I have always found natural disasters fascinating. At one point in my life, I even wanted to be a meteorologist, that was, until I realized that it is quite honestly the most hated job you can have. People constantly blaming you for getting the forecast wrong? No thank you! I watched a lot of The Weather Channel. I always enjoyed seeing the men and women that would go into the thick of hurricanes and tornadoes and chase them. With this, I was also exposed to the utter destruction that these storms left in their wake. I remember watching a special once that covered the aftermath of a prominent hurricane. Quite honestly, I couldn’t tell you which one it was, but it was significant. The destruction was, as you could expect, devastating. Whole houses leveled. A once thriving community flattened in a heap of wood, steel, and concrete.

But out of all that destruction, one thing seemed virtually unscathed: the palm trees. Sure, they looked a little battered, they seemed to be a little wind-whipped, but for the most part all their branches were still intact, and their trunks were left standing tall.

Another beautiful thing about palm trees is that their roots grow stronger after a storm! When the wind tries its best to uproot the palm tree, when it beats and batters it around, underneath the roots are slowly embracing the tension by stretching out. They dig deeper and get even stronger in the face of the storm.

But this isn’t the only tree that the psalmist talks about. In verse seven, the Psalmist also says that the righteous will grow like a cedar tree.

With cedar trees, their seeds take 2-3 years to grow, and their growth is slow. Like the palm tree, their growth may not be noticeable above ground, but below ground their roots are growing deeper and deeper. Cedar trees are also flexible: being able to bend and bow to strong winds. What is unique about cedar trees is that it is once their roots are fully established that they begin to grow tall, and once they grow tall, their leaves begin to grow dense. The cedar tree was and still is notorious for providing shelter for all kinds of animals. All kinds of birds, squirrels, and other living creatures make their home in these trees.

Cedar trees are also very reliable for building purposes. In fact, the wood of a cedar was very valuable during the days of David and Solomon. 1 Kings 10:27 says,

The king [referring to the king of Jerusalem] made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah.

In this verse, silver is seen in similar value to cedar wood! Cedar was a luxurious wood. It was this wood used to construct parts of the temple in Jerusalem and the palaces of David and Solomon. It was highly sought after for its durability and strength.

Friends, I think we can learn a lot about these two trees. I don’t think the psalmist included these two trees specifically on accident. These trees represent what it means to live righteous lives. To live our lives faithfully to the Lord.

These two trees are strong and flexible.Unlike the wicked person that does not know how to react when destruction is brought upon them and will end up scattered and uprooted, the righteous embrace the difficulties of life. They embrace the changes and live out what Paul says in Romans 5:3:

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character brings hope.”

When the wicked see storms as a setback, the righteous see storms as a season for growth.

Maybe you know somebody who has grown in their faith because of a horrible situation. I think about one of my professors at Ozark. When he was in his late teens his sister was killed in a terrible car crash. Out of the hurt and anger he felt towards God he started to wrestle with his faith. However, instead of ignoring God, he leaned into the hurt. He asked God to reveal himself in this broken situation. He started working through the questions he had about God with himself and other people in his life. It was through this season that Chad discovered his calling for ministry, and he has faithfully followed that calling for over twenty years now.

I think of my friend Jack, who was struggling with a heart condition that nearly killed him. I will never remember that conversation after service one Sunday where he pulled me aside and shared his testimony with me—How the pastor’s simple words: “trust in him,” gave him enough faith in the Lord to see him through his difficult and confusing season of life. Jack did not get angry with God. He did not wrestle in doubt and fear. He took his pastor’s three little words and believed. He has told me that those three little words, maybe three little words we take for granted, changed his life.

Second, both trees are patient and intentional in their growth. Both trees take years to mature and grow. They do not sprout overnight. Unlike the wicked that quickly sprout up like grass, the righteous take their time growing tall. Their roots, their heart, mind, and soul, are established in godliness, which in turn is expressed in their outward actions. They are more focused on taking the time to make sure their hearts are in the right place than making a show for themselves. Their integrity matches their character.

Lastly, both trees serve those around them. With date palms, once they have grown tall and are firmly rooted, they produce fruit for people to eat and be filled. With Cedar trees, their branches are dense and provide shade for living things to abide in. The righteous utilize the gifts that God gave them to provide for those around them. They understand that without God’s grace over their lives, they would be absolutely nothing.