The Green Tree

Scripture refers to the Tree of Life as our source of life-giving relationship with our creator, God.

Throughout the Bible, there are many references to the Tree of Life, or the Green Tree. “When the tree is green” represents a time of life, favor, righteousness, presence of God, protection, refuge, and shelter. For the believer, this is to be found only in Christ. There is a scripture in which Jesus declares Himself to be our Messiah, using the picture of the Green Tree.

Luke 23:31 says “For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” These are the words of Jesus, spoken to the women mourning and lamenting Him on His way to the Cross.

If we were to understand that Jesus was using a rabbinic form of teaching by hinting at an Old Testament passage, then we would see that this passage should be more correctly translated: “For if they do these things to a Green Tree…”  as a reference to Ezekiel 20:47 which was recognized by the sages and the people of that day as a reference to the Messiah in Ezekiel 20:47. Thus when Jesus referred to Himself as the Green Tree, He was declaring Himself to be the Messiah.The Green Tree https://www.chaimbentorah.com/2014/05/word-study-green-tree/

Not only is Jesus referred to as our Green Tree, but we are referred to as His specially planted trees as well. 

“…that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified (display His beauty).” (Isa 61:3)

“The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.” Psalm 104:16-17)

Among the trees of the Lord is found a place of holy community. Look at this beautiful description of community as God’s design for His people.

High in the Colorado mountains where the air is thin and the snows are heavy lives a community of singing trees: the quaking aspen. If you listen carefully you just might hear the poetic chorus of their leaves humming in the wind. Yet this white barked mountain choir depends on each other for more than music, aspen groves share a singular root system. The life and health of one affects the whole, similar to us in the spiritual life. I’ve come to believe that we need each other in ways often unseen. When you hurt, the rest hurts. And when you walk in new life, it feeds and nurtures others in profound ways. Contrary to popular belief, we are nothing close to islands unto ourselves. Of course we see our interconnectedness as humans in global and environmental affairs, but in God’s Church our connectedness is paramount. It is no coincidence that Paul referenced us as a body, interconnected and interdependent. This is God’s design for his children. The spiritual life is highly personal but not private. Community by its very nature takes time, lots of time. It’s only through seasons after seasons of living life together, struggling, suffering, rejoicing and addressing conflict, that a deep Christian community is birthed. It’s when we know each other, the good and bad, it’s when it’s no longer fun, exciting and safe, yet we choose to continue to do life together and remain committed to a shared vision. Much like a grove of aspen is years in the making the real fruit of life together cannot be fully matured in just a few short years. Go pour into some people for the next twenty years and we just may find our lives hum together with great beauty.” Lessons from the Trees” Nathan Foster (Renovare)

Laurel trees are also seen in scripture as a symbol of accomplishment and achievement.  This can be either a positive or negative connotation, i.e. “…spreading himself like a green laurel tree…” (Psalm 37:35)

A number of writers have proposed symbolism for the Laurus nobilis to include notable, victory, merit, accomplishments, honor, praise, martyrdom, and old age. Psalm 37 seems to fit most of these concepts; however…the best description is flourish. Flourish means to grow luxuriantly, to achieve success or prosper, and to reach a height of development or influence. (God as a Gardener) 

Banyan trees, first native to India, are known as a place of shelter. The common name, banyan, is very similar to “banians,” the Hindu traders who rested under the shade of these magnificent trees. Huge specimens can spread out and cover the equivalent of an acre, providing shade from hot sun. Reports vary but trees have been known to grow as large as 98 feet tall and more than 50 feet in diameter. The overall effect is more like a forest than one single tree. 

The pagan nations surrounding  Old Testament Israel perverted the green tree, using it as a place of idol worship.  [“…the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. (Deuteronomy 12:2)

The first indication that trees were held to be divine, is that two words frequently appearing in the bible, alon (oak) and ela (terebinth – a kind of pistachio tree), apparently derive etymologically from “el” – the Hebrew word for “god.” It is not clear that the ancients distinguished between the two genuses of tree. Some scholars suspect that in biblical-era Hebrew alon and ela, were synonyms for “large tree”. In any case, the biblical writers seemed to assume that some of these great trees were generally known to all, and used them as geographical landmarks . One such landmark was the the alon bekhot – “weeping tree,” under which Rebecca’s nurse Deborah was buried (Genesis 35:8). Another is the elon moreh – a tree outside of Nablus, visited by Abraham (Genesis 12:6).  …The King James version translates “elon moreh” as “the fields of Moreh.” Some other translations turn “elon moreh” into some form of “great tree of Moreh”. (Haaretz.com)

The way to stay under the shelter of the Green Tree provided by God is through keeping covenant and faithfulness. The promise is conditional to our devotion and obedience to God and His Word, allowing us to find shelter under THE TREE of LIFE. Our ”roots go down deep into the soil of God’s love” (Ephesians 3:17, Living Bible) and we are established in Him. 

Genesis 49:22 says,  “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall.”

Hosea 14:5-8 also uses the picture of fruitful boughs and sturdy trees:  “I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; His beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wind of Lebanon…It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from Me comes your fruit.”

“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  (Ephesians 3:17-19)

When we abide in Him, He abides in us, and we find shelter, blessing and fruitfulness.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As  the branch cannot brr fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:1-10)

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and is leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” (Psalm 1:1-4)

“Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord…he is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8)

Ezekiel saw the River of Life issuing from the temple…”on the bands of which were trees for food. Their leaves do not wither, not their fruit fail, but will bear fresh fruit every month because the water for them flows from the sanctuary of God.” The fruit is for food, the leaves are for healing.” (Ezekiel 47:12)

“…On either side of the river (of life), the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations…” (Revelation 22:2)

The image of the River suggests the continual flow of the Holy Spirit and the Life, blessing, and spiritual power that He gives. Even in heaven, which is being described by this scripture, we will still depend upon the Lord for our very life. He is our Everything. The image of the tree of life refers to that eternal life given by God in Jesus. The leaves for healing indicate that there will no longer be anything present that brings physical or spiritual harm.

“The oracle of Balaam, the son of Beor, whose eye is opened…who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.” (Numbers 24:6)

The blessings of God are often compared in Scripture to the attributes of a strong, flourishing tree: 

“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright: He is my Rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” (Psalm 92:12-15)

“See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and found refuge in his own destruction ! But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.” (Ps 52:7-8)

“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.” (Psalm 128: 1-4)

“May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace.” (Psalm144:12)

Disobedience, unbelief, rebellion, pride and sin cause us to come out from beneath the shelter of the Lord

 “Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree…”  (Ezekiel 20:47)

During a time of judgment, the Lord sent fire to devour the green tree. He removed His protection from His people and they had no shelter from His chastisement. In the parable of the trees choosing a king to reign over them …”If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”  (Judges 9:7-15)

The Cedars of Lebanon and Oaks of Bashan are scriptural symbols of strength.

“…against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up. and against all the oaks of Bashan…the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lost pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day…” (Isaiah 2:12-17)

(speaking of Tyre) “they made all your planks of fir trees from “Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you. Of oaks of Bashan they made your oars…” (Ezekiel 27:5-6)

(speaking of all who are treacherous) “You (Lord) plant them and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; You are near in their mouth and far from heir heart…pull them out like sheep for the slaughter…” Jeremiah 12:2-3

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” (Proverbs 11:28-30)

“The Lord once called you a green olive tree, beautiful with good fruit. But with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it and its branches will be consumed. The Lord of hosts, Who planted you, has decreed disaster against you, because of the evil…” (Jeremiah 11:16)

“Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard, planted by the water, fruitful and full of branches by reason of abundant water. Its strong stems became rulers’ scepters; towered aloe among the thick bought; was seen in its height with the mass of its branches. But the vine was plucked up in fury, cast down…withered…consumed…Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land…there remains in it no strong stem, no scepter for ruling.” (Ezekiel 19:10-14)

God, in His graciousness, planted the Green Tree (sent the Messiah) not only for His chosen people, the Jews, but for ALL who believe and call upon His name for salvation from sin. His church, the Body of Christ, is the grafted vine which He lovingly placed upon the Tree. There is room for all beneath the Green Tree, all who believe and rely upon Him for their salvation.

 “…if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.  Then you will say, “B ranches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For is God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cute from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafter, contrary to nature, in =to  a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.” (Romans 11:16-24)

(Psalm 91)

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,  Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.  Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

Prayer: Lord, You are my Tree of Life. Keep me forever in Your shelter and cause me to flourish as a tree that You have planted.