Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-11
Today’s Verse: For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:8 KJV
This was a tree to have one’s heart set on.
It was growing on a riverfront. It did not have to worry about weather reports. Winter temperatures or an uncertain future.
It was nourished and cooled by the river. All day it would lift its branches to the sun. It would hold the earth with its roots. It would clean the air with its leaves. Offering shade to all who needed to find covering from the sun.
In this passage, Jeremiah is pointing out the noticeable differences.
He pointed to a shrub (Jeremiah 17:6 KJV).
How the rain stopped, and the summer sun turned the ground to dust. How the bush shriveled into itself, offering no shade or fruit to anyone.
We wonder why the prophet would compare a flourishing tree to a withering bush.
He did it because he wanted the people to remember what had happened since their amazing rescue from their bondage in Egypt.
It was forty years that they lived in the wilderness like a tree planted by a river (Jeremiah 2:4-6 KJV).
During this time of prosperity in their promised land, they forgot their own story.
They were relying on themselves and on gods of their own making.
Forgetting where their real blessing came from.
That “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (Jeremiah 2:7-8 KJV).
They began to struggle.
They even went back to Egypt looking for help (Jeremiah 42:14 KJV).
The lesson here is that those who trust to their own righteousness and strength, and think they can do without Christ, make flesh their arm. Making it where our souls cannot prosper in graces or comforts.
But when we make God our Hope, we shall flourish like a tree always green. The one whose leaf does not wither.
We will have peace and satisfaction of mind. We will not be anxious in a year of drought.
Through Jeremiah, God lovingly urged the forgetful children of Israel.
His desire for them to live a prosperous life.
He desires the same for all of us.
To this day, He urges us to put our hope and trust in the Lord.
To be like the tree planted by the water that flourished and not the bush that shriveled into itself.
A WORD OF PRAYER
Father, no matter what we are going through, You can be trusted. Even when it seems like You are not around. May we grow even wiser the more we remember that through the Word You have already shown us how to manage things. That You are always lovingly reminding us that we are like a tree planted by the water, and You will always give us life. We want to be wise in all our ways. Thank You for being our refuge and our strength.
In Jesus Name We Pray, Amen