But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on Thy name; for it is good before thy saints. And to all who mourn in Zion He will give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise instead of despair. They will be like great oaks of righteousness that the LORD has planted for his own glory. Is 61:3
Oh, come!! See the tree against which He leaned heavily that evening, that night of horror …that fateful evening when the raucous sound of soldiers and ruffians, thugs and ne’er do wells came stomping into that beautiful, ancient garden. His tears watered that tree for the centuries to come. It stands like a chronometer in the midst of a now imperfect Eden; old, ancient, worn but still gloriously beautiful in its staunch determination to stand as an ensign, a landmark; a signal to the world where He….that wonderful He; that beautiful, compassionate, merciful, perfect and glorious HE launched the most supreme act of Love ever committed on the face of planet Earth. From the Tree in Gethsemane to the Tree of Golgotha…Christ Crucified for me!
So amazing to see a tree that has weathered so many seasons, seen generations of men come and go, and still lives on. That in itself seems a symbol of eternity and everlasting Life that endures through the years. And though its trunk and branches are gnarled and it leans and bends under the load of age, yet is remains productive. Its roots are anchored and immovable. The world’s peoples are dependent on it… on its fruit, oil and wood. In the photo, it seems to be supported by the rock wall, as if to remind us the importance of always leaning on the Rock, Jesus Christ.
Debi, your story makes me think of; “Bloom where you are planted.” It seems so often we want to run, skip, jump and leave things undone and never really Bloom. She survived and we can too when we lean on The Rock wall!
“So amazing to see a tree that has weathered so many seasons, seen generations of men come and go, and still lives on.” Debi, look at the following scripture and footnotes: (Psalm 52: 8) “But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.” (footnotes) “With God by his side, David compared himself to an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. Not only is an olive tree a thriving tree, it is one of the longest-living trees. David was contrasting God’s eternal protection of his faithful servants with the sudden destruction of the wicked (52: 5-7)”
King David compared himself to an olive tree. Interesting.
What stood out to me as I read the scripture and footnotes you shared was that David regarded himself as a thriving olive tree, not a fruitless or dying one. (Thriving: To make steady progress; prosper; to grow vigorously; flourish). As I read more in Psalm 52 about David’s description of the wicked, I can see that if one examines a dying, fruitless tree, the cause for the disease becomes evident …wicked behaviors.
“All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you’re an expert at telling lies. You love evil more than good and lies more than truth. You love to destroy others with your words, you liar!” (vs 2-4)
Debi, sounds like David has some wisdom here for us, doesn’t he?
Oh, how I love picture and story! It gives me a vibrant message with energy to spare as one loves and does!
Sara, that photo stirs up such images of Jesus Christ during His last days on earth before He was glorified. The places He walked and the surroundings that had the privilege of being objects of service to Him. The trees from which He plucked fruit to eat…the well where He drank water; the boat from which He preached the Kingdom; the nard that anointed His body for His burial; the donkey upon which He rode in triumph; the rod by which He drove the greedy out of His Father’s temple; even the sponge that held the vinegar offered to His parched and dying lips.
This elicits a Rosary of images of the the precious Lord Jesus, beautiful beyond description, holy beyond measure; glorious beyond imagination. And we can only imagine~~~
I am a green olive tree who entered life with HOPE I would grow tall and strong
on this earth. As I aged, the Earth brought storms that caused me to twist and turn and take on an unusual shape which strengthened me. As I became victor over the storms, it was due only to my keeping my eye on the Lord Jesus who held me in His hands, strengthening me with each storm. My fruits came forth and fed many who were hungry.
“He would pick them one by one, the olives,”
A wife writes about her husband after his death. He was a news reporter and had been covering all the latest wars. She writes; “In Lebanon, the way they pick olives, they just beat the tree until all the olives fall. But Anthony would pick them up, one by one. He would have a pile of the perfect olives, a pile of the less perfect olives. It was an art. He would be so happy doing it.”
“For a writer who documented brutality, who survived attacks and death threats, gentleness — in even the smallest things — became of vital importance. Shadid could scarcely tolerate the ordinary roughness of the harvest.”
Oh, Jesus sure knew about the “Olive Tree.” How His loved overflowed to this reporter through the art of an old olive tree.
You Do remember me!! The ancient but heroic Olive Tree. I was there at the very beginning of the story of the “God of the Second Chance”. When all the earth lay expectantly in a watery womb of vegetation I burst forth, first! It was I that offered my first twig, Jehovah Jesus’ sign of peace and consolation. She found me there in my genesis of rebirth, directed by the Holy Spirit of God. She requested ; I offered and a new world was awakened, to start again. As the little dove disappeared over the horizon, I looked up and saw it. It was glorious to behold. A Rainbow over my green green leaves. I knew I had done the right thing. I am the heroic OLIVE TREE.
There are two of us olive trees that stand before the Lord. We are the prophets, the witnesses. We testify with power for 1,260 days, but then the beast arises to conquer and kill us. All is not ended for us, however. Mighty God breathes life into us! You can read what happens after that… and other things about us in Revelation 11.
I have read that if the top part of an olive tree is destroyed, it is able to regrow from its strong and enduring root system. As I think about this and look at the roots in the Olive Tree picture above, the scripture from Ephesians 3:17 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,” comes to mind. If we find we have been pruned back or even broken off by damaging storms in our lives, we can grow again as we stay rooted in Jesus. Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.” (Romans 15:12)
The God who made the Olive Tree and stood it in the midst of the earth as a sentinel is faithful to assure it of its immortality. He restores the leaves of the Olive Tree;He restores the ear of the soldier in the garden; He raises His Son from the dead’ He restores the broken hearts.
Who is like unto our God? There is none like You, great Jehovah Jesus, God.
“For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors out of olive wood…” (I Kings 6:31). King Solomon built this temple for the Lord. How the olive tree weaves its symbolic footprint throughout history reminding and instructing us in so many significant spiritual things.
Jesus said, “I Am the door.”John 10:9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” This statement is a part of Jesus’ teaching after He had healed the man born blind. Jesus walking through Jerusalem miraculously healed him. This man had been familiar to those in Jerusalem. Maybe begged for his sustenance at a busy market or roundabout. It was a powerful miracle. And, by faith in Jesus the same miracle can grow in our lives giving sustenance to others that beg at His door.
Jesus also said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6). The “Light of the World” is still shining and leading each of us through The Door of truth….”The Olive Branch family.”
“The LORD said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.” Leviticus 24:1
The olive tree, chosen to provide oil, so that the lamp light representing the “Light of the World” could never be extinguished.
The light of this olive tree you speak of, Debi, gives me wisdom for my journey. Hope in my prayers? Self control for my id. Love with spandex. Faith with elastic waist. Joy with an extension cord reaching beyond my present use. Patience that expands my borders. Light that cannot be extinguish; gives prayers for the weary, poor, and war torn. O, let me see the light within The Light when I pray.
The Light you describe surely has a vast spectrum like no other. I would like to say a prayerful ‘amen’ to your statement, “O, let me see the light within The Light when I pray.”
I read on ASK.com that in earlier history some LIGHTHOUSES were built with OLIVE WOOD. And some used OLIVE OIL in their crests to keep the flame aglow so that ships in the night might not lose their direction but be guided safely into port. How so like Jesus THE OLIVE TREE, is that!!
Oh, mighty Olive Tree, [representative of the Lord Jehovah Jesus, the Ancient of Days], you have been a bulwark and a mighty tower in the garden of the earth, enduring and thriving throughout the centuries of time. John the Baptist spoke of you in the Gospel of Luke when he cried out, “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!” But you, Oh mighty Olive, have withstood the tides and have consistently brought forth fruit in great abundance for mankind to partake of. How can we not emulate your faithfulness and stability, your consecration to God and your steadfastness. All the fruit of the Spirit is yours, abiding eternally, oh mighty Olive!
“And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.” Mark 6:13 NLT
….healing for the nations in this ancient tree
The Olive tree seems to symbolically represent the love and character of God. It is enduring and must have been the first tree to spring back after the Flood. It faithfully gives food season after season. It is regenerating and doesn’t give up. It is healing. It gives light.
thedailylily.com 
But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on Thy name; for it is good before thy saints. And to all who mourn in Zion He will give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise instead of despair. They will be like great oaks of righteousness that the LORD has planted for his own glory. Is 61:3
MG, sure seems like you are friends with the olive tree that talks and tells brilliant stories.
Oh, come!! See the tree against which He leaned heavily that evening, that night of horror …that fateful evening when the raucous sound of soldiers and ruffians, thugs and ne’er do wells came stomping into that beautiful, ancient garden. His tears watered that tree for the centuries to come. It stands like a chronometer in the midst of a now imperfect Eden; old, ancient, worn but still gloriously beautiful in its staunch determination to stand as an ensign, a landmark; a signal to the world where He….that wonderful He; that beautiful, compassionate, merciful, perfect and glorious HE launched the most supreme act of Love ever committed on the face of planet Earth. From the Tree in Gethsemane to the Tree of Golgotha…Christ Crucified for me!
MG, you sure have a story to tell to the nations
So amazing to see a tree that has weathered so many seasons, seen generations of men come and go, and still lives on. That in itself seems a symbol of eternity and everlasting Life that endures through the years. And though its trunk and branches are gnarled and it leans and bends under the load of age, yet is remains productive. Its roots are anchored and immovable. The world’s peoples are dependent on it… on its fruit, oil and wood. In the photo, it seems to be supported by the rock wall, as if to remind us the importance of always leaning on the Rock, Jesus Christ.
Debi, your story makes me think of; “Bloom where you are planted.” It seems so often we want to run, skip, jump and leave things undone and never really Bloom. She survived and we can too when we lean on The Rock wall!
“So amazing to see a tree that has weathered so many seasons, seen generations of men come and go, and still lives on.” Debi, look at the following scripture and footnotes: (Psalm 52: 8) “But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.” (footnotes) “With God by his side, David compared himself to an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. Not only is an olive tree a thriving tree, it is one of the longest-living trees. David was contrasting God’s eternal protection of his faithful servants with the sudden destruction of the wicked (52: 5-7)”
King David compared himself to an olive tree. Interesting.
What stood out to me as I read the scripture and footnotes you shared was that David regarded himself as a thriving olive tree, not a fruitless or dying one. (Thriving: To make steady progress; prosper; to grow vigorously; flourish). As I read more in Psalm 52 about David’s description of the wicked, I can see that if one examines a dying, fruitless tree, the cause for the disease becomes evident …wicked behaviors.
“All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you’re an expert at telling lies. You love evil more than good and lies more than truth. You love to destroy others with your words, you liar!” (vs 2-4)
Debi, sounds like David has some wisdom here for us, doesn’t he?
Oh, how I love picture and story! It gives me a vibrant message with energy to spare as one loves and does!
Sara, that photo stirs up such images of Jesus Christ during His last days on earth before He was glorified. The places He walked and the surroundings that had the privilege of being objects of service to Him. The trees from which He plucked fruit to eat…the well where He drank water; the boat from which He preached the Kingdom; the nard that anointed His body for His burial; the donkey upon which He rode in triumph; the rod by which He drove the greedy out of His Father’s temple; even the sponge that held the vinegar offered to His parched and dying lips.
This elicits a Rosary of images of the the precious Lord Jesus, beautiful beyond description, holy beyond measure; glorious beyond imagination. And we can only imagine~~~
I am a green olive tree who entered life with HOPE I would grow tall and strong
on this earth. As I aged, the Earth brought storms that caused me to twist and turn and take on an unusual shape which strengthened me. As I became victor over the storms, it was due only to my keeping my eye on the Lord Jesus who held me in His hands, strengthening me with each storm. My fruits came forth and fed many who were hungry.
“He would pick them one by one, the olives,”
A wife writes about her husband after his death. He was a news reporter and had been covering all the latest wars. She writes; “In Lebanon, the way they pick olives, they just beat the tree until all the olives fall. But Anthony would pick them up, one by one. He would have a pile of the perfect olives, a pile of the less perfect olives. It was an art. He would be so happy doing it.”
“For a writer who documented brutality, who survived attacks and death threats, gentleness — in even the smallest things — became of vital importance. Shadid could scarcely tolerate the ordinary roughness of the harvest.”
Oh, Jesus sure knew about the “Olive Tree.” How His loved overflowed to this reporter through the art of an old olive tree.
I, the Olive Tree, was mentioned in the Genesis story of Noah. What was said of me?
You Do remember me!! The ancient but heroic Olive Tree. I was there at the very beginning of the story of the “God of the Second Chance”. When all the earth lay expectantly in a watery womb of vegetation I burst forth, first! It was I that offered my first twig, Jehovah Jesus’ sign of peace and consolation. She found me there in my genesis of rebirth, directed by the Holy Spirit of God. She requested ; I offered and a new world was awakened, to start again. As the little dove disappeared over the horizon, I looked up and saw it. It was glorious to behold. A Rainbow over my green green leaves. I knew I had done the right thing. I am the heroic OLIVE TREE.
There are two of us olive trees that stand before the Lord. We are the prophets, the witnesses. We testify with power for 1,260 days, but then the beast arises to conquer and kill us. All is not ended for us, however. Mighty God breathes life into us! You can read what happens after that… and other things about us in Revelation 11.
I have read that if the top part of an olive tree is destroyed, it is able to regrow from its strong and enduring root system. As I think about this and look at the roots in the Olive Tree picture above, the scripture from Ephesians 3:17 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,” comes to mind. If we find we have been pruned back or even broken off by damaging storms in our lives, we can grow again as we stay rooted in Jesus. Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.” (Romans 15:12)
Isaiah 42:3 says, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;”
Israel…
The God who made the Olive Tree and stood it in the midst of the earth as a sentinel is faithful to assure it of its immortality. He restores the leaves of the Olive Tree;He restores the ear of the soldier in the garden; He raises His Son from the dead’ He restores the broken hearts.
Who is like unto our God? There is none like You, great Jehovah Jesus, God.
“For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors out of olive wood…” (I Kings 6:31). King Solomon built this temple for the Lord. How the olive tree weaves its symbolic footprint throughout history reminding and instructing us in so many significant spiritual things.
Jesus said, “I Am the door.”John 10:9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” This statement is a part of Jesus’ teaching after He had healed the man born blind. Jesus walking through Jerusalem miraculously healed him. This man had been familiar to those in Jerusalem. Maybe begged for his sustenance at a busy market or roundabout. It was a powerful miracle. And, by faith in Jesus the same miracle can grow in our lives giving sustenance to others that beg at His door.
Jesus also said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6). The “Light of the World” is still shining and leading each of us through The Door of truth….”The Olive Branch family.”
“The LORD said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.” Leviticus 24:1
The olive tree, chosen to provide oil, so that the lamp light representing the “Light of the World” could never be extinguished.
The light of this olive tree you speak of, Debi, gives me wisdom for my journey. Hope in my prayers? Self control for my id. Love with spandex. Faith with elastic waist. Joy with an extension cord reaching beyond my present use. Patience that expands my borders. Light that cannot be extinguish; gives prayers for the weary, poor, and war torn. O, let me see the light within The Light when I pray.
The Light you describe surely has a vast spectrum like no other. I would like to say a prayerful ‘amen’ to your statement, “O, let me see the light within The Light when I pray.”
I read on ASK.com that in earlier history some LIGHTHOUSES were built with OLIVE WOOD. And some used OLIVE OIL in their crests to keep the flame aglow so that ships in the night might not lose their direction but be guided safely into port. How so like Jesus THE OLIVE TREE, is that!!
The Oil of the Olive!
Oh, mighty Olive Tree, [representative of the Lord Jehovah Jesus, the Ancient of Days], you have been a bulwark and a mighty tower in the garden of the earth, enduring and thriving throughout the centuries of time. John the Baptist spoke of you in the Gospel of Luke when he cried out, “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!” But you, Oh mighty Olive, have withstood the tides and have consistently brought forth fruit in great abundance for mankind to partake of. How can we not emulate your faithfulness and stability, your consecration to God and your steadfastness. All the fruit of the Spirit is yours, abiding eternally, oh mighty Olive!
“And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.” Mark 6:13 NLT
….healing for the nations in this ancient tree
The Olive tree seems to symbolically represent the love and character of God. It is enduring and must have been the first tree to spring back after the Flood. It faithfully gives food season after season. It is regenerating and doesn’t give up. It is healing. It gives light.