Overwhelmed by how tough life is. When storms hit relentlessly we are reminded about the Palm Tree.
Sep 30 in Overwhelmed by hard times
I am hearing of so many going through hard times of testing at the moment. It seems that we are overwhelmed by winds that hit in all directions and never seem to let up. My conviction that the Lord is allowing this in order to prepare His church for the times ahead. He is calling us to come closer, to come deeper. He wants us to grow deep roots, so that when the storms do hit, we will not waver nor fall but stand no matter the circumstances that surround us.
It was then that I came accross the scripture on the Palm Tree
in Psalm 92 and so I did some further digging:
“The righteous man will flourish like a palm tree” Psalm 92:12-15
The palm tree is shaped by the wind, bends with the wind but does not break, storms make it stronger. It always seeks out the sun. It grows tall.
Every part of the palm tree is useful, it is used for shelter, its palms give shade, are used in making thatched roofs, has many medicinal purposes, it is used for food (edible all year round), produces fruit (dates) and oil. It is not affected by draught, it is an evergreen (green throughout the seasons).
Palms were laid down to proclaim the Kingship of Jesus. A Palm tree is a sign for where there is water. It lives long. Palm trees were symbols of righteousness, beauty and victory, they are connected with places of rest and refreshment in the desert and their branches used during the Feast of Tabernacles as a means of Praise, as well as for constructing temporary shelters during the feast of booths.
The palm tree is never toppled by heavy winds, the root system (roots go deep to reach water : like believers into the Word) is so strong that no matter how much the tree sways in the storm it is never uprooted. It stands tall and straight (no crookedness) cannot be uprooted by the strongest forces and is always fruitful.
Different and distinctive in the landscape are impossible to miss (your vitality will not diminish) The palm tree brings forth its best fruit in old age – the best dates are said to be gathered when it has reached 100 years (as Christians who grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus, grow in wisdom).
A palm becomes stronger and more resistant the more it is pushed and buffetted by strong winds. It is a strong and stable tree. Planted in the house (in the Church) we flourish. His life flourishes through us.
Palm trees are described as ‘upright’, Deborah in the book of Judges sat under a palm tree whilst hearing and judging the people, she was wise and settled disputes amongst them. Tamar (name meaning palm tree) decided her own fate when Judah decided to silently put her away, from her lineage later came King David and the Messiah.