Tree shade
by Pastor Reid Matthias
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People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain (Hosea 14:7).
When I was young, my family went Christmas tree hunting at the end of November. It was an annual rite of passage. We would journey to a tree farm where we would walk down the endless rows and choose one – the special tree that would seemingly call out to us. After we had attached it to the roof of our car to take it home, we stopped inside the shop to have hot apple cider and connect with other tree hunters.
When we set up the tree at home, we spent hours decorating it. Mementos of the past – small things we kids had made, tiny photos embedded in cutesy ornaments – hung from the boughs with care. Christmas lights weaved in and out of the pine needles, blinking brightly in the darkening night.
It was indeed the most wonderful time of the year.
For pleasure, I would sometimes scooch under the tree face up to stare through the greenery and the beautiful ghostly lights that illuminated an entirely different world. I found that in that place, I could rest.
In the text today, Hosea describes a tree that gives both shade and rest. Whether the cedar of Lebanon or the olive tree, the people could dwell in its shade and then flourish.
Have you come to a place in your life where you would like to lie in the shade of a tree, stare up through the branches into that mysterious place and contemplate the goodness of God? Would this tree be like the cedar or olive? How do you think God would have decorated a cedar of Lebanon or an olive tree?
I think there would be memories of the wilderness experience, perhaps symbols of fire and cloud. Maybe an ark and commandments. Perhaps on this tree where the Israelites flourished was a prophetic symbol for their Messiah.
In the shade of the cedar or olive tree, the chosen people of God could hear and sense again that sin and death would soon be finished.
I don’t think that’s changed today.
Jesus Christ, guide me to the place of flourishing. Guide me to a place where I can experience your love and mercy every day. Amen.
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