WEDNESDAY May 21st
Genesis 13:18
‘So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.’
In case it has slipped your mind, these devotions are being based on scriptures that refer in some way to an agricultural or horticultural theme, hence why the last few days it has been about Abram’s livestock and the oak trees and in this devotion, I have returned to the oak trees.
The oak tree is a magnificent tree, they are strong sturdy trees, back when I was growing up on the farm, we had a copse at the top end of the farm that had a lot of oak trees, there were also two of which we could not ignore as they were alongside the lane that we drove along getting to and from the farm. Now, the King James Version doesn’t make any reference to trees, rather it uses the phrase the plain of Moreh or the plain of Mamre, the NIV uses the phrase great tree and great trees.
The reference in the ESV makes an alternative reading for the Terabinth tree. In the NIV study bible, a note is added that there was a famous sanctuary located at Shechem and that a large tree was often a conspicuous feature at such holy places.
But I want to take us to another reference to the oak tree in Isaiah 61:1-3:
‘The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.’
Jesus read these words to announce in the synagogue to those who heard him that they were spoken about him, he had come to proclaim good news to the poor, and those who responded to the good news which is that of the gospel would be released from the domain of darkness into his kingdom which is a kingdom of light and of love and of joy and of praise and all who come to salvation, that is you and I who have believed on Jesus would become oaks of righteousness, planted by the Lord so that we may display his splendour.
The oak tree is described as a majestic tree, a strong tree, it is a well rooted tree, and an oak tree will withstand storms that many other trees would not be able to withstand.
In Christ we are oaks of righteousness, and we need to ensure that we stand tall,
well rooted by the steams of living water enabling us to withstand the storms that life will throw at us.
Psalm 1 says this:
‘Blessed is the man . . . (whose) 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 season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.’