Today I was studying Isaiah 55 and I found my looking up the
myrtle tree in verse 13. This is an ever
green tree that has deep roots but grows about 12 inches a year. In the context
of this verse, God is telling the Israelites that they will come up as a myrtle
tree.
The word of God is in many places said to clean us, as if
water. Psalms 1:3 says we shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water;
Jesus told the woman at the well that he has life giving water; John 1 calls
Jesus the word, in John 15, Jesus says he is the vine. Naturally, we all know
that water is essential for tress to grow. So I find it interesting that the
tree and water symbols are used often to describe our dependence on Jesus.
Jesus (the word, the living water, the vine) sustains us
(the tree, the branches) so we can produce fruit. Without him, all our works
will count for nothing but with and in him, we will be strong ever fruit-producing
branches that are ever green and even when in drought we shall not be afraid
and shall always yield fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
Isaiah 55:13-“Instead of the thorn shall
come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle
tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign
[of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise], which shall not
be cut off.”
Psalm 1:3-“And he shall be
like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his
season, his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 [Amp]-“[Most] blessed is the
man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and
confidence the Lord is. For he shall be like a tree
planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not
see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not
be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease
yielding fruit.”
