The Productive Tree

Bible Reading:  Psalm 1

Key Verse: Verse 3 - “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Key Words: He shall be...planted 

From our text we see the psalmist comparing the believer to a productive, fruitful tree.  The psalmist gives us at least two reasons for the tree’s productivity.

First of all, it is planted!  Verse three says, “And he shall be like a tree planted...”.   The idea is well-grounded – a good root system.  If you buy a tree and never plant it, it will never be fruitful and will eventually die.

Secondly, where you plant the tree is important: verse three goes on to say, “...by the rivers of water.”  Trees planted by the riverbank have good soil (which is symbolic of the heart [see Mark 4:20]), and plenty of water (which is symbolic of the Word of God [see Ephesians 5:26]).

Just as the tree must be planted and have the right location, good soil, and plenty of water; so must the fruitful believer.

The psalmist gives us three things that will destroy our productivity. 

First of all, whom you listen to:  “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.”  Be careful to whom you listen.

Secondly, whom you linger with: “nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”  Be careful with whom you run.

Thirdly, what you take heed to: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord.”

It is easy to tell whom one listens to, the worldly or wise.  It is easy to tell whom one runs with, and it is easy to tell who spends time in God’s Word.  It shows all over them.

I heard of a man who was digging for oil.  It seemed that his well was going to be a dry hole, but he believed that there was oil at that place.  So he kept digging, and the people thought he was crazy to keep on spending money on that worthless well.  But he said that there was oil in there.  He kept digging and spent all the money he had and borrowed about all he could get.

Finally he went down until he struck a gusher.  He took his old hat and stuck it under the oil gushing out of the ground, filled it up, and put it on his head.  He ran down the main street of town.  He did not have to say anything.  He had oil all over him, on his face and clothes.  Everyone could see that he had struck oil, for he had it all over him.

Can others easily tell that we have Christ all over us?

The next time you see a tree growing by the water, ask yourself, “Where am I planted, and what am I producing?”

                                                                    Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do:

✞Apply the above and ask yourself, “Where am I planted, and what am I producing?”

The Willow Tree

Bible Reading: Psalm 137

Key Verse: Verse 2 – "“We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof."

Key Words: We hanged our harps upon the willows 

The willow tree represents the tree of lost joy.  The psalmist was talking about Israel.  He was talking about the day they hung their harps in the willow trees and gave up hope.  It would be like a preacher putting his Bible on a shelf and saying, “I give up!”

Have you ever hung your harp upon the willow tree?  Have you ever said you were not going to sing anymore or play anymore?

It seems as though the writer of this Psalm is writing during a time of captivity, the captivity has led them to hang their harps and lose their joy.  But there is no doubt, no matter what the reason, they have lost the joy of their salvation.

Where is joy found?

Not in unbelief – Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type.  He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.” 

Not in money – Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of money.  Yet when on his deathbed he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable devil on earth.”

Certainly joy is not found in infidelity to God!  Thomas Payne cried out during his last moments: “O Lord, help me!  God, help me!  Jesus Christ, help me!”  Voltaire said, “I am lost!  I am lost!  Oh, that I had never been born!”  Colonel Charterius is reported to have said, “I would gladly give 30,000 pounds to have it proven to my satisfaction that there is no such place as hell.”

Joy is not found in pleasure.  Lord Byron, who reveled in pleasure all his days, wrote on his last birthday: “My days are in the yellow leaf.  The flowers and fruits of life are gone.  The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone!”  He was twenty-five years old when he wrote that!

J. Wilbur Chapman wrote: “In church last Sunday I noted a small child who was turning around smiling at everyone.  He was not gurgling, spitting, humming, tearing the hymnbooks apart, or rummaging through his mother’s purse.  He was just smiling.  Suddenly his mother jerked him around, and in a stage whisper that everyone could hear, said, ‘Stop grinning.  You’re in church.’  With that she gave him a slap on his hindside, and as the tears rolled down his cheeks she added, ‘That is better,’ and returned to her prayers.  If you cannot grin in church, where can you be happy?”

So the next time you hear of the willow tree, remember it is the tree of lost joy.  That need not be. 

                                                                                                             Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

✞For the believer, sin and joy never run together.  Sin and worldly fun are cohorts, though; and we should know the difference

The Sycomore Tree

Bible Reading: Luke 19:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 4  - “And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way."

Key Words: and climbed up into a sycomore tree 

The sycomore trees in the Middle East were and are often planted by the roadside.  They are planted there because they offer shade and protection from the weather to the traveler.

The trees can grow quite large depending on the soil and moisture.  The wood of the sycomore tree was often used for fire and carpentry.  While it is not as abundant as it was in Jesus’ day, you can still find many sycomore trees along the roadside of the Holy Land.

In Zaccheus’ time it was a tree that allowed him to see Jesus as His Savior.  D. M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia.  At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, “I do not like the way you spoke about the cross.  I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example.” 

Stearns replied, “If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?” 

“I certainly would,” said the stranger without hesitation. 

“All right then,” said the preacher, “let’s take the first step.  He did no sin.  Can you claim that for yourself?” 

The man looked confused and somewhat surprised.  “Why, no,” he said.  “I acknowledge that I do sin.”

Stearns replied, “Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!” 

                                                                                    Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do: 

      ✞If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, do so today.

      ✞Every time you read about or hear about the sycomore tree, praise God for your salvation.

The Juniper Tree

Bible Reading:   I Kings 19:1-8

Key Verse: Verse 4 - “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down   under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O   LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."

Key Words: and came and sat down under a  juniper tree 

The juniper tree is the tree of despair.

Have you been under the juniper tree of despair?  I am sure the answer for each of us is a resounding yes!  The problem is not when we sit under the juniper tree of despair.  The problem is when we pitch our tent there.  Despair is the product of focusing on our self rather than on God and others.

We need to be optimistic about our situation rather than be pessimistic.  A pessimist finds a problem in every opportunity while an optimist finds an opportunity in every problem.

During his days as President, Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions were traveling across the country on horseback.  They came to a river that had left its banks because of a recent downpour.  The swollen river had washed the bridge away.  Each rider was forced to ford the river on horseback, fighting for his life against the rapid currents.  The very real possibility of death threatened the riders, which caused a traveler who was not part of their group to step aside and watch.  After several had plunged in and made it to the other side, the stranger asked President Jefferson if he would ferry him across the river.  The President agreed without hesitation.  The man climbed on, and shortly thereafter the two of them made it safely to the other side.

As the stranger slid off the back of the saddle onto dry ground, one in the group asked him, “Tell me, why did you select the President to ask this favor of?” 

The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the President who had helped him.  “All I know,” he said, “is that on some of your faces was written the answer ‘No,’ and on some of them was the answer ‘Yes.’  His was a ‘Yes’ face.”

So let me challenge you, do not spend your life under the juniper tree of despair, invest your life in others for God’s glory. 

                                                                             Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

       ✞Do not camp under the juniper tree of despair.

      ✞Invest your life in others for God’s glory.

      ✞Every time you think of a juniper tree, remember victory not despair.

The Oak Tree

Bible Reading:   I Kings 13:1-32                                

Key Verse: Verse 14 - " And went after the man of   God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said   unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.”

Key Words: and found him sitting under an oak 

The oak tree is symbolic of disobedience!! 

The Bible declares that the donkey stood right there with the lion, and the lion did not even try to eat the donkey.  The donkey and the lion stood looking at this dead preacher that the lion had killed.  It was then that the prophet came and took the old dead preacher and put him on his donkey and took him back into town and put his body into a strange tomb.

As you read the story of the young man of God, it becomes very clear that he disobeyed God (verses 16-17).  The principle is that disobedience will always lead to destruction.

If you will remember, it was Absalom who disobeyed the command of God to honor his father; and as a result, his hair was caught in an oak tree, which eventually led to his death.

The oak tree is symbolic of disobedience!!

In the Houston Zoo in Texas you might find an unusual phenomenon.  Although you pay to see and learn about animals, the alligator exhibit can tell you much more about people.  In every other cage you do not find a large display of scattered coins.  You see normal habitat, as you might expect, without a spattering of loose change.  So why is there frequently money in with the alligators?  Is it because there is water, and people seem enamored with throwing pocket change into water? 

There are other exhibits with plenty of water, but they do not have all the nickels, dimes, and quarters.  The reason for this abundance of money stems from a sign by the alligators.  As you read to learn more about these interesting creatures, the zoological society presents a reminder not to throw money into the water, as it only takes one coin, digested by an alligator, to kill the huge reptile.  To the chagrin of the zoo staff, coins are often thrown all around the alligators.  Whether it is coins in the alligator pit or just one tree in a garden called Eden, sinful man has a tough time obeying the rules. 

                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do:

      ✞When you think of the oak tree, remember the importance of obedience to God. 

The Mulberry Tree

Bible Reading:  II Samuel 5:17-25

Key Verse: Verse 24 - “And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the   Philistines."

Key Words: in the tops of the mulberry trees

In our key verse, we see God advising David – do not move until you hear from Me; but when you hear the sound in the mulberry trees, that is your queue to move.  So the mulberry tree is the tree of awareness.  David was aware of the presence of God by the moving of the mulberry trees.

For some, their mulberry tree is a hospital bed; but for others, it is a revival meeting; still to others this mulberry tree may be standing in front of a casket.  But the mulberry tree is the tree of being aware of God’s presence.

A number of times in my forty-five years in the ministry, I have been keenly aware of the presence of God, but never more so than when we buried my grandson on April 17, 2004.  Our family could have never made it through such a trial if it were not for the presence of God.

One Christmas Eve the telephone rang in the office of the Pastor of a church in Washington, DC.  “Tell me, Reverend,” the voice inquired, “are you holding a Christmas Eve service tonight?”  When advised that there would certainly be a service that evening, the caller asked, “And do you expect President Roosevelt to attend your church tonight?” 

“That,” explained the Pastor patiently, “I cannot promise.  I am not sure about the President’s plans for the evening.  But I can say that we fully expect God to be in our church tonight, and we feel secure in the knowledge that His attendance will attract a reasonably large congregation.”

My prayer for you is that you desire the presence of God in your personal life, in your home, and in your church more than you desire anything else. 

                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do:

✞Remember the mulberry tree and the presence of God.

The Cassia Tree

Bible Reading:  Psalm 45

Key Verse: Verse 8 - "All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad."

Key Words: and cassia 

The cassia tree grows ten to fifteen meters tall.  It has grayish bark and elongated leaves that are ten to fifteen centimeters long and reddish in color.  Cassia is a close relative to the cinnamon.  Did you know that most of the spice sold as cinnamon in the United States and Canada is actually cassia?

Cassia is mentioned in the Bible on three occasions.  While it is a tree or plant that grows in the Mediterranean region, it is primarily grown and harvested today in China and Viet Nam.  The cassia tree is associated with a sweet smell and is symbolic of righteousness (Psalm 45:7).

The other day I jumped in my car and was heading to make a visit at the hospital.  As I sat down in the car seat, I thought I smelled – well, a not-so-pleasant odor.  I looked around but I could not see anything that would be causing such a stench.  Eventually I became used to the odor, and it did not bother me anymore until I got out of the car and walked in the fresh air and went into the hospital.  When I came back and got back in the car, there was again a distinct odor. 

This went on for a couple of days until eventually I could no longer take it.  I began an all-out search for the culprit causing such a horrendous smell.  Finally, I saw it!  There it was – a baby bottle filled with milk (sour, corroded milk).  It looked and smelled as if - well, you get the idea.  Not only did I get rid of the bottle, I put one of those sweet-smelling car fresheners in my car.  You see, it was not enough to simply put a car freshener in the car; I had to first get rid of the cause of the odor.

When we get rid of sin and replace it with that sweet smell of righteousness, our heart can then produce a sweet smell again.  So the next time you think of cassia, think of the sweet fragrance of righteousness.

                                                                                Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do:

✞Get rid of the sin in your life and replace it with some cassia, the smell of righteousness.