Psalms 52
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good. Psalms 52:8-9 NKJV
David uses a simile to compare himself to an olive tree. Why is an olive tree a good example for those that are devoted to God, and what can we learn from an olive tree that will help us to flourish in our Christian walk?
1. We can grow and thrive regardless of the situations we face in life. The quality and fruitfulness of our lives are not determined by our circumstances, but rather by the power and life that our God provides for us. Olive trees actually prefer poor soil such as limestone and even clay. They flourish and produce good fruit despite not having perfect, nutrient-rich soil to grow in. God designed us to be like the olive tree and equipped us with His strength so that we are more than capable of thriving in life regardless of what is happening to us and around us. We simply have to trust in His love and in His power so that we can become that person who “…is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither– whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:3).
2. The key to spiritual prosperity and stability is having a deep, substantial root system. Unlike our Heavenly Father, who “…is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), life is unpredictable and always changing. There may be times in life when we feel that our spiritual tank is overflowing. This is especially common after attending a Christian conference, listening to a powerful sermon, participating in amazing worship, receiving a personal revelation from the Bible, hearing from God, or witnessing a miracle. But there are also times in life when our spiritual tank seems dry and empty. This may be because we have inadvertently neglected making time for God, or because of a certain circumstance in our lives that has pulled our attention away from Him. No matter where you are at today, it is essential to remember how important it is to have deep and substantial spiritual roots. Your roots will keep you grounded, humble, and thankful when you are filled up spiritually and your life is going great. These same roots will be there for you to tap into when you are desperate and seeking God’s guidance or help. The more roots we have secured to the teachings of Jesus, the easier it will be to withstand times of spiritual drought. Olive trees grow best in hot weather and are drought tolerant, specifically because of their sturdy and extensive root systems. So how do we expand our spiritual roots? It takes time and faithful devotion to studying God’s Word, spending time in prayer, and living life God’s way. Jesus said “…Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). What steps do you need to take to ensure the health, depth, and stability of your spiritual root system?
3. We need to be pruned regularly. Olive trees can live for several centuries and can remain productive if they are pruned correctly and regularly. There are some olive trees in Portugal and Montenegro that are known to be over 2,000 years old! How does God prune us? He may expose a certain sin in our lives to prompt us to repent and make positive changes. He may motivate us to remove unproductive habits or activities from our lives. He may reveal a weakness that we have so that we can aim to work on it. He may even lead us to break off certain relationships that are not life-giving, either temporarily or permanently. No matter how much it may hurt to be pruned, Jesus reminds us that God is the perfect gardener: “He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:2).
Feel free to seek God and ask Him to show you areas in your life that need to be pruned in order to make you stronger and more fruitful.