Walking With God in the Desert

HELP IS HERE (Continued)

p.112

Trees

Psalm 92:12-15

Psalm 92:12–15 NASB95

12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Planted in the house of the Lord, They will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green, 15 To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Other Places Trees Referenced:

Leviticus 23:39

Leviticus 23:39 NASB95

39 ‘On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day.

Booths to “remember”

What things are in my life to remind me of what God has done for me?

Isaiah 41:17-20

Isaiah 41:17–20 NASB95

17 “The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, And their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself, As the God of Israel I will not forsake them. 18 “I will open rivers on the bare heights And springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water And the dry land fountains of water. 19 “I will put the cedar in the wilderness, The acacia and the myrtle and the olive tree; I will place the juniper in the desert Together with the box tree and the cypress, 20 That they may see and recognize, And consider and gain insight as well, That the hand of the Lord has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Talks about God doing things for those in need –

Matt 7:15-20

Matthew 7:15–20 NASB95

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Fruit is external witness to our nature (imperfectly though)…sheep/wolves

But God will be looking for “fruit” and He can’t be fooled

Rom. 11:16-24

Romans 11:16–24 NASB95

16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

Illustrative of God’s Work, Rejection of the Messiah, Acceptance of the Messiah – God’s patience.

Rev. 2:7

Revelation 2:7 NASB95

7 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’

Symbolic reference to the TOL? Or something more?

Rev. 22:2, 14

Revelation 22:2 NASB95

2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:14 NASB95

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

Continuing the original story/plan

What are some “trees” that God has provided for you in your life?

People

Circumstances/Providence

Material Blessings

The Church/Xian Fellowship

Godly Homes

Godly Spouses

Can we be “trees” for others?

What kind are we?

Ar’ar Tree – looks beautiful – has fruit – but good for nothing… entire existence is just “for itself”

(READ Bk. P.119 bottom)

Acacia Tree – Handles heat/drought well… perhaps used as a “type” for Christ – Isa. 53.2

Isaiah 53:2 NASB95

2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

The acacia wood used as the foundation of the Tabernacle symbolizes the humanity of Christ while the gold overlay of the boards and poles symbolizes Christ's deity.

(READ Bk. P.125 and 127 and 130-131 and 132)

Tamarisk: Slow-growing – thoughtfully prepared/cared for … for future trials… and for those who come afterwards

READ Bk. P.136 and 139 and 141

Also Genesis 21.31-34

Genesis 21:31–34 NASB95

31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba; and Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, arose and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days.