“And I will raise up for them a GARDEN OF RENOWN. They shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land nor bear the reproach of the nation any longer.
Thus they shall know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they the house of Israel are my people saith the Lord God. And ye the flock of my pasture are men and I am your God, saith the Lord God.” – Ezekiel 34:29-30
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
thedailylily.com 
Matthew Henry Commentary on Ezekiel 34:17-31
The whole nation seemed to be the Lord’s flock, yet they were very different characters; but he knew how to distinguish between them. By good pastures and deep waters, are meant the pure word of God and the dispensing of justice. The latter verses, 23-31, prophesy of Christ, and of the most glorious times of his church on earth. Under Him, as the good Shepherd, the church would be a blessing to all around. Christ, though excellent in himself, was as a tender plant out of a dry ground. Being the Tree of life, bearing all the fruits of salvation, he yields spiritual food to the souls of his people. Our constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is preached; and that all who profess the gospel may be filled with fruits of righteousness.
Jesus said, “By their fruits you shall know them…or they will be known. John said that they will know us by our love for one another. How hard is that? We have a natural love for our blood kin. Moms and dads love their children, (mostly). Children love their parents, (mostly). I know there are extenuating circumstances that might mitigate that love but in the physical realm of things familial, love is sort of the norm…..altho things are changing rapidly!
But John warns us in his Epistles that we must love our brother and sister in Christ. He says, if you don’t love your brother whom you have seen how can you profess to love Christ Whom you have NOT seen? How can the church of Christ draw souls under her wing if we do not show love for one another? That is the first mentioned fruit of the Spirit LOVE, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, kindness,self control and faithfulness. But the greatest of these if LOVE.
God’s Garden of Renown is a model of companion planting. Just as the Lord created uniquely diverse interdependent plants that can assist each other in their growth when planted in proximity, so He has placed us in His church or body (I Cor 12:18). We are each different but have something valuable to contribute to enable others in the (body of Christ) garden to grow.
And from reading Matthew Henry’s commentary it seems clear that we must grow as companion plants in His garden. Dependent on Him, we recieve nutrients and protection from the disease and insects of sin and are strengthened and enabled to provide food for others to become sheep in His pasture also.
Speaking of COMPANION PLANTING, in another sense…..The Scriptures report that Heavenly Father Creator looked at all He had created and placed in the Garden and it was good. He saw that each animal, bird, mammal, that He created was good and He commanded them to reproduce and fill the earth. Therefore, we can deduce that He created COMPANIONS for each species, primarily, so that they could reproduce.
But in Gen. 2 18, God saw that there was no companion for THE MAN because the Lord said, “it is not good that man should be alone” And so He created Eve from Adam’s rib. So God, surely as a good Shepherd and also as a good Gardener has provided companion planting for all that He has created.
“Our constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is preached; and that all who profess the gospel may be filled with fruits of righteousness.” from Herny’s commentary above
I have been asking those with more success, wisdom and might how to have a constant desire and an effective prayer so that where I and others preach, profess and proclaim the gospel that hearers will be filled with the fruits of righteousness which is Christ Jesus and His divine life.
Even, I, in my limited knowledge can find a tomato off my tomato plant but I sure desire to grow with my words of righteousness; righteous fruit. I am sure my tomato plant which gives me nice ripe juicy red tomatoes will die and end. But, I am not so sure that my plants in the “Garden of Renown” will die and end. Each plant will live forever to give an account of their fruitfulness.
I want to share something that connects to a “Garden of Renown” and ‘of the most glorious times of his church on earth’.
Recently the Monroe Technology Center held its annual Spring Plant Sale. This is a public Career and Technical high school that serves students in Loudoun County, Virginia. I teach 11th and 12th graders Environmental Plant Sciences at Monroe and oversee this large plant sale whose proceeds go to provide scholarships for the agriculture department’s students. The sale attracts well over a thousand people from the community and school system. During the sale, I had my CD “Gardening Therapy” (found on this website under ‘Gardening Therapy”) out for sale. It is a CD where I play my guitar and sing songs the Lord has given me interspersed with hymns. My principal, Mr. Grier, came to the sale and asked me, “where’s the music?” He looked at my CD and said “play your CD.” I immediately put it on to play. He also asked to buy one. Several other people at the sale bought my CD.
I thank the Lord for this and for the opportunity for seeds of the gospel to be planted in people’s hearts at this public school sale.
I rejoice with you Debi, and applaud Mr. Grier, a man of integrity obviously led by the Holy Spirit as your songs tell about the Lord Jesus and His healing touch and how plants and flowers correlate to comfort and healing. I have your cd and love especially the song you dedicated to my Mother, Sister Grandma, VIOLETS ARE FOREVER. Those were her most glorious favorite plants and we had a myriad of them in our home, growing up. ( We sort of grew up with the violets) That song has touched my heart every time I hear it and I remember my beautiful mother and her teachings. Your cd songs are clever with lovely melodies. I am so glad that your music wafted throughout the plant and flower areas of Monroe Tech, telling the story of redemption, grace, love, mercy and reconciliation through Jesus and the flowers. Praise the Lord for His unspeakable grace. Who can know its depth and perception.!!
Debi, Praying that you will sell or give or distribute many in St. Louis as you go to the World Convention where nations from around the world will gather. May you have many doors open to you in the nations. Maybe many trips to the nations to take the Word of God and teach horticulture and sing and play your guitar. The time is now and you are multi-talented for the hour.
Thank you for these prayers.
Debi, I have listened to some of the songs on your cd, also. You have certainly been gifted by God to sing, write, and play music, to bring glory to God. Thanks for being a “worker”, in the field of harvest. God’s Word tells us that the harvest is ready, but the workers are few. (I may not have the words exactly correct)
Needles, something in this verse for all of us…..Matthew 9:37, Jesus says to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” And, then vs. 38 pops the eyes, ears and hearts, if one would listen and obey. “So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” And, then look what Jesus did in 10:1…”He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
I seem to be consumed lately wanting to see some workers in the harvest field. Maybe, I forget to pray and just been stressing. Please let us pray as Jesus asked us to do for more workers in the field. Looks like the garden of renoun will be ready for harvest when love and mercy becomes the sower in the field.
Listen to the footnotes for Matthew 10:1, “Jesus called his 12 disciples. He didn’t draft them, force them, or ask them to volunteer; he chose them to serve him in a special way. Christ calls us today. He doesn’t twist our arms and make us do something we don’t want to do. We can choose to join him or remain behind. When Christ calls you to follow him, how do you respond?”
Needles, “remain behind.” O my, that will put a little fire in you.
Not only, as Needles said, do we want to follow Him when He calls us, for example, to become born again but how do we respond when He calls upon us to do something for Him. How do we respond? Do we say, ‘ ok, Lord, like the young man in the parable that Jesus told. His father asked him to go work in the fields and he immediately responded, ‘ok’ (paraphrased) but he did NOT go. The other brother told his father ‘NO’ to begin with but quickly changed his mind and he went and obeyed his father’s request . Jesus asked which brother was justified? Of course, the people answered Jesus….’ the one who finally did go and fulfill his father’s wishes. So we may say, YES to the Lord but if that Yes is just lip service we are still in disobedience. It’s easy to tell someone, ‘oh, I’ll pray for you about this or that” and then forget what we said and/or to whom we said it. Jesus said it is better not to make a vow if we are not going to keep it.
A true follower of Jesus, follows through
Following Him or remaining behind. We make the choice to stick close or to separate ourselves. Apparently some of Jesus disciples made a choice to depart from Him when He spoke what seemed to them to be ‘hard things’ for John 6:66 tells us,”From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”
He obviously gave them a choice, like Needles footnotes said, because He responded, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. ”
Instead of turning or remaining behind, Simon Peter, one of the twelve disciples answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
It was not easy, but those twelve worked the harvest field and helped build God’s church.
Interesting scripture, Debi. Listen to the footnotes for verses 66-68. “Why did Jesus’ words cause many of his followers to desert him? (1) they may have realized that he wasn’t going to be the conquering Messiah-King they expected. (2) He refused to give in to their self-centered requests. (3) He emphasized faith, not deeds. (4) His teachings were difficult to understand, and some of his words were offensive. As we grow in our faith, we may be tempted to turn away because Jesus’ lessons are difficult. Will your response be to give up, ignore certain teachings, or reject Christ? Instead, ask God to show you what the teachings mean and how they apply to your life then have the courage to act on God’s truth. There is no middle ground with Jesus, when he asked the disciples if they would also leave, he was showing that they could either accept or reject him. Jesus was not trying to repel people with his teachings. He was simply telling the truth. The more people heard Jesus’ real message, the more they divided into two camps–the honest seekers who wanted to understand more, and those who rejected Jesus because they didn’t like what they had heard. After many of Jesus’ followers had deserted him, he asked the 12 disciples if they were also going to leave. Peter replied, ‘To whom would we go?’ In his straightforward way, Peter answered for all of us–there is no other way. Though there are many philosophies and self-styled authorities, Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. People look everywhere for eternal life and miss Christ, the only source. Stay with him, especially when you are confused or feel alone.”
Thank God, those 12 stayed and “worked the harvest field”. Lord Jesus, please send the workers into your fields, so that no one will miss Your mercy, grace, blessings, and most importantly, the plan of salvation. Thank you, Father, for sending Your One and only Son, to die on that cross, so that I and others would have a way out of hell. Help us not to take our salvation, and forget those who have not heard the good news, of You. Help us Lord, to be like these 12, and be “workers in the harvest field.” In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.
Needles those footnotes draw some very straight lines and clear directions for how to get in the honest seekers camp or how to leave through the gate that swings both ways.
And Matt 7:13-14 lets us know there is more than one gate…looks like there’s a wide one for the ‘philosophies and self-styled authorities’ you wrote about.
Jesus warns us to “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Needles, ‘no middle ground’ reminds me of the Biblical account of Lazurus and the rich man. There was no middle ground in this true story …only a chasm.
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
Luke 16:19-26
It s said within these comments that their is ‘no middle ground.” Life or death, good or evil, heaven or hell… seems to be the choices given? And, we have the choice?
“Joshua said to all the people,… ‘choose this day whom you will serve…; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’” — Joshua 24:15