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56 Meaningful Lines From The Book of Psalm

What are Psalms?

The Psalms are a collection of songs and poetry that construct the original hymnbook of the Old Testament Jews. 

They are songs of worship, blessings, praise, and lament. Often, they recount history, and some even provide insight into Christ’s coming. 

Who Wrote the Psalms?

There were several different authors who contributed to The Book of Psalm. 100 out of the 150 note their author. Out of those 100 named authors, King David takes the lead. 

+King David penned at least 73 Psalms. 

+David’s successor, his son Solomon, composed Psalm 72 and Psalm 127. 

+Moses wrote Psalm 90. 

+Asaph, one of King David’s head musicians, supplied 12 of the Psalms. 

+1 Kings 4:31 says: He (Solomon) was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. The aforementioned Ethan provided Psalm 89, and Heman wrote Psalm 88. 

+The sons of Korah are credited with writing 11 Psalms. 

+The remaining Psalms were penned by unknown authors, although there is speculation that King David could have written some of them. 

Christ Loved the Psalms

Jesus quotes various Psalms throughout His ministry on Earth. These quotes directly connect the Old Testament to the New Testament. There are several verses in the New Testament where Jesus echoes the Psalms, so we will only share a handful.

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”

Luke 24:44

Jesus references Psalm 41:9:

“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’

John 13:18

Psalm 8:2 is quoted here:

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?

Matthew 21:16

Psalm 118:26 is referred to by Jesus:

For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’

Matthew 23:39

Jesus refers to Psalm 35:19 and 69:4 here:

But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

John 15:25

Jesus quotes Psalm 22:1 on the cross:

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Matthew 27:46

And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Mark 15:34

Just Psalm More Facts 

Did you catch the play on words? Here are some more facts about The Book of Psalm. 

+The authors of the Psalms are called Psalmists

+There are 150 Psalms which are divided into 5 sections:

  • Section 1 contains: Psalms 1-41
  • Section 2 contains: Psalms 42-72
  • Section 3 contains: Psalms 73- 89
  • Section 4 contains: Psalms 90- 106
  • Section 5 contains: Psalms 107- 150 

+The Book of Psalms is the third largest book in the Bible. Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the entire Bible. It is comprised of only 2 verses.  On the flip side, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, consisting of 176 verses. 

+The word praise is written 211 times throughout the Book. 

Meaningful Lines from Psalms

When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

Psalm 73:16-17

Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.

Psalm 30:2

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Psalm 96:11-13

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:12-14

But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence, I bow down toward your holy temple.

Psalm 5:7

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

Psalm 46:4-5

My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.

Psalm 119:120

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8:9

The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children-with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Psalm 103:15-18

In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

Psalm 72:7

Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty-he is the King of glory.

Psalm 24:10

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

Psalm 112:5

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 33:20

You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.

Psalm 65:9-13

Your faithfulness continues through all generations;  you established the earth, and it endures.

Psalm 119:90

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible like gold refined seven times.

Psalm 12:6

My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp, and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

Psalm 57:7-8

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

Psalm 25:3

By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me-a prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 42:8

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

Psalm 14:1

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Psalm 30:11-12

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.

Psalm 16:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

Psalm 77:16-19

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2

For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Psalm 48:14

Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

Psalm 115:2-8

In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.

Psalm 75:8

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.

Psalm 25:21

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150:1-6

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 36:7

I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.

Psalm 119:32

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18:30

Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full.

Psalm 31:23

Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.

Psalm 125:4

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

Psalm 50:2

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Psalm 84:2

Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.

Psalm 21:13

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

Psalm 33:6

The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.

Psalm 116:6

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

Psalm 40:1-3

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Psalm 23:1

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.

Psalm 52:8

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:103

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Psalm 32:1

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Psalm 17:6-7

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Psalm 128:2

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.

Psalm 19:7-9

Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98:7

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:13-14


To Conclude

We hope you enjoyed reading this list of verses of Psalms and were able to discover profound significance and wisdom within the words. 

-Torrance Church of Christ

25 Bible Verses for Hope and Encouragement

Sometimes we find ourselves overcome with worry and tension. We may find ourselves questioning our courage and our strength. At times, it may seem as though our trials are never-ending, causing us to become discouraged and defeated. 

God knew we would have mortal struggles, He knew that there would be suffering. That’s why He gave us his word, so we could reflect on it, enabling us to endure. He gave us His word as an outlet to push forward, and be reminded of all we have to look forward to. 

We’ve made a collection of 25 Bible Verses for Hope and Encouragement for you to read when you need a little pick me up.

Bible Verses for Hope and Encouragement

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

-Romans 15:13

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

-Isaiah 40:31

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

-1 Peter 1:3

But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

-Psalm 39:7

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

-Romans 15:4

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

-Deuteronomy 31:6

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

-2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

-Zephaniah 3:17

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

-Matthew 11:28

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

-Romans 5:3-4

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

-Psalm 33:22

Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

-Proverbs 24:14

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

-1 Corinthians 13:6-7

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

-2 Timothy 1:7

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

-John 16:33

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

-John 14:27

The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?

-Psalm 27:1

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

-Proverbs 28:1

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

-Proverbs 3:5-6

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

-1 Corinthians 10:13

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

-Isaiah 12:2

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

-Ephesians 6:10-18

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

-Psalm 16:8

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

-Joshua 1:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

-Galatians 6:9

Be Sure To

Seek wisdom and strength from the Word of God. He blessed us with His word, so take hold of that opportunity. Pray consistently and always. He can and will calm your heart. 

-Torrance Church of Christ




What Are All The Mentions Of Trees, Fruits, and Plants In The Bible About Anyway?

There are A LOT of Trees in the Bible

Have you ever noticed that the Bible mentions trees regularly? It seems to be a recurring theme throughout the Bible. In fact, the word “tree” is mentioned 257 times throughout the whole Bible. 213 of those times are in the Old Testament alone! With the exception of God and people, trees are the most mentioned living creature in the Bible. 

Trees Mentioned in the Bible

But Let Us Not Forget About Fruit

The word fruit pops up a total of 198 times throughout the Bible! 

Fruits Mentioned in the Bible

So, What Significance Do Trees and Plants and Fruit Hold?

Every major character in the Bible has an association with a tree or a plant. Every major Biblical event has an association with a tree or plant. The Bible starts with a tree and ends with a tree. 

God Provides:  Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1: 11-12)

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. (Genesis 1:29-30)

Noah Knew the Flood had Ended: When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. (Genesis 8:11)

Abraham Sitting: The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. (Genesis 18:1)

Moses Talks to God: There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:2-4)

Joseph is a Vine: Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. (Genesis 49:22)

Zacchaeus and the Sycamore: So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. (Luke 19:4)

The Blind Man: He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” (Mark 8:24)

Job Wishes he was a Tree: At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant. (Job 14:7-9)

The Disciples Gathered on the Mount of Olives:  Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.  (Luke 22:39)

Paul Suggested Christians are Branches Grafted into Trees: If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. (Romans 11:16-20)

After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! (Romans 11:24)

Micah Refers to the Second Coming of Christ: Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken. (Micah 4:4)

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Mustard Seed: He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32)

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” (Luke 13:18-19)

Pay your Tithing: Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. (Proverbs 3:9)

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree: Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:13-14)

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” (Mark 11:20-21)

Following Him will Lead to Blessings: The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. (Deuteronomy 28:4)

Heed the Warning of Not Following Him: The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. (Deuteronomy 28: 18)

….. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit. (Deuteronomy 18:30)

Mary Magdalene Confuses Jesus for a Gardner:  He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” (John 20:15)

Eden Becomes Restored: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22: 1-2)

Jesus is referred to as a tree: “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16)

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2)

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Fig Tree:  Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ”Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9)

Remain in Christ and LOVE: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:1-17)

 Jesus wants us to help others: “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” (John 4:34-38)

The Righteous will Flourish: The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;  he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him (Psalms 92:12-15)

Ancestors of the Israelites: When I found Israel,  it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved. (Hosea 9:10)

Stay True to your Values: The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored. (Proverbs 27:18)

God Knows What Path we are Taking: Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33)

You Must Repent for your Wrongdoing:  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:8-10)

Jesus Died for us on a Tree: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (Galatians 3:13)

The Faithful get to Eat from the Tree of Life: Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)

Even Though Some Mentions are Literal, Most Mentions are Metaphors

What does the myriad of metaphors about trees, fruit, and plants represent? 

Well, for one, many references are about God providing the nourishment and strength we need in order to be with Him again. But there are so many meanings wrapped up in this. They are:

  • Christ
  • Our Faith
  • Our Choices
  • Our Tithes
  • Our Relationship with Christ
  • Blessings and Curses
  • Redemption
  • Abundance
  • The Holy Spirit
  • The Creation of Man
  • The Fall of Man

The Takeaway?

We need to root ourselves in the words and actions of the Lord. We must Follow him without ceasing. If we do so, He will bless us and we will partake in the fruit of the Tree of Life. 

-Torrance Church of Christ

 

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