The Secret of the Olive Tree
In my travels last year through the ancient cities of Turkey, I was struck by the sight of the olive trees. Some were lush and green; others stood bare and gnarled, looking almost lifeless against the dry hilly landscape.
Unlike the towering cedars of Lebanon, these trees aren’t known for their height. Their strength is in their base which is made of thick, twisted trunks (sometimes unsightly) with expansive root systems. In the arid climate of the Mediterranean, an olive tree’s roots perform a dual miracle: they spread horizontally just beneath the surface to catch the slightest morning dew, but they also push deep and vertically into the earth, searching for hidden water tables to survive years of drought.
David’s Desert Season
This imagery provides a profound backdrop for Psalm 52. When David wrote this, he was in the midst of a “winter” season. He had been betrayed by Doeg the Edomite, hunted by Saul, and forced to flee from cave to cave.
To the casual observer, David likely looked “bare”. He was likely disheveled, weary from hunger, and dressed in tattered clothes rather than kingly robes. He looked like an olive tree in the harshest season of dryness. Yet, while his circumstances were brittle, his roots were reaching deep into the character of God. While waiting for God’s deliverance David said, “…the steadfast love of God endures all the day…” (Psalms 52:1, ESV).
Sustenance in the Dryness
As David ran, he determined that the goodness, favor, and mercy of the Lord would be his portion. He understood the secret of the olive tree: the external environment does not dictate the my internal life. Even when the rain stops, the tree lives because its foundation is connected to a source the sun cannot reach. David’s “water table” was the promise of God, hallelujah!! This is why he could confidently write in the end:
”But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever”. (Psalm 52:8, ESV)
Encouragement For Your Season
If you find yourself in a dry season today, do not be discouraged by your “bare branches”.
Be encouraged. You may feel weathered, but because you are planted in the house of God, you will show green leaves again. Amen!!
Love & Blessings,
Pastor Z. Adderley
Unlike the towering cedars of Lebanon, these trees aren’t known for their height. Their strength is in their base which is made of thick, twisted trunks (sometimes unsightly) with expansive root systems. In the arid climate of the Mediterranean, an olive tree’s roots perform a dual miracle: they spread horizontally just beneath the surface to catch the slightest morning dew, but they also push deep and vertically into the earth, searching for hidden water tables to survive years of drought.
David’s Desert Season
This imagery provides a profound backdrop for Psalm 52. When David wrote this, he was in the midst of a “winter” season. He had been betrayed by Doeg the Edomite, hunted by Saul, and forced to flee from cave to cave.
To the casual observer, David likely looked “bare”. He was likely disheveled, weary from hunger, and dressed in tattered clothes rather than kingly robes. He looked like an olive tree in the harshest season of dryness. Yet, while his circumstances were brittle, his roots were reaching deep into the character of God. While waiting for God’s deliverance David said, “…the steadfast love of God endures all the day…” (Psalms 52:1, ESV).
Sustenance in the Dryness
As David ran, he determined that the goodness, favor, and mercy of the Lord would be his portion. He understood the secret of the olive tree: the external environment does not dictate the my internal life. Even when the rain stops, the tree lives because its foundation is connected to a source the sun cannot reach. David’s “water table” was the promise of God, hallelujah!! This is why he could confidently write in the end:
”But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever”. (Psalm 52:8, ESV)
Encouragement For Your Season
If you find yourself in a dry season today, do not be discouraged by your “bare branches”.
- Trust the Root System: Just as David did, use this time to push your roots deeper into God’s faithful love. You can trust God’s character!
- The Season is Temporary: The same tree that looks dead in the winter is the one that buds with new life in the spring.
- Focus on the Source: Your sustenance doesn’t come from your circumstances, but from your connection to the Living Water.
Be encouraged. You may feel weathered, but because you are planted in the house of God, you will show green leaves again. Amen!!
Love & Blessings,
Pastor Z. Adderley
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