The Sap of the Green Tree

UV 1487/10000 The Sap of the Green Tree

And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.

Ezekiel 17 v 24

The Lord God is sovereign over all His creation. He determines which of us will grow, to what height. He determines which of us is to be lifted up and which one to be brought down, which one to flourish and which one to be allowed to dry up. Whatever the Lord speaks is done. Each of us should resolve in our heart that we will live in such a way that we honour God in our thoughts, words and actions. The Lord is sovereign. He brings down rulers and lifts up beggars from the dunghill to sit with princes of His people. As Mary praised the Lord, “ He causes the barren woman to bear child.” God is not overcome by our circumstances. Our faith in Him enables us to overcome circumstances.

Arrogance angers the Lord. Humility pleases Him. The impossible excites Him. Sometimes, we with our finite understanding wonder why nothing is happening for a long while. The Lord is patient. He is also just. He cannot violate His own character or His principles. He acts just on time, never too late or too early. He feeds the hungry but sends the rich away empty. He allows the sap of spirituality or the Word to rise in those who cling to Him and makes those who are indifferent to Him dry, empty, dissatisfied with whoever they are and whatever they own or do. The “ trees of the field” are the people of God who see and experience the grace of God and witness the testimonies of people and the tragedies of people who do not acknowledge the mercy and love of God. Whatever the Lord has spoken had been done, is being done and will be done as He is the One who is, was and is to come. The Lord unifies and reconciles our past, present and future with the mandate of the eternal. There is a possibility of a dry tree becoming green and a green tree becoming dry. A person may appear green and prosperous today but may not remain so. A person may appear dry and fruitless but he may become green and fruitful. The quality of the tree does not determine its longevity or productivity. It is the grace of God that determines which tree shall grow and which shall be cut down. Our rootedness in the Word has the power to change what is dry and lifeless into green and fruitful. Our being grafted to Jesus makes us productive and creative leaders.

Each of us is expected to be a fir tree or a myrtle tree and not a thorn tree or a brier. Our leaves or words should bring healing to people and nations. Our roots should run deep into the Word. We should grow tall like a cedar of Lebanon. We should bear fruit right through the year, a different fruit for every month. Streams of living water or the Word and the Holy Spirit should flow from our hearts. The Lord prunes us or sends trials and tests our way so that we will be even more fruitful. He will turn the sapling into a tree of righteousness whose branches or all that we do would point to the greatness and glory of God. He will cause us to rejoice as one who has heard great news. He will truly satisfy us with His goodness as revealed in His Word. The tree will become a garden with fountains, well watered and fenced and the garden will turn into a forest.

Prateep V Philip