“But I am like a green olive tree in the House of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.”
Psalms 52:8
With all the problems and distractions we face in our lives, how are we able to live an abundant life?
The Bible is full of examples of Christians living victoriously in the midst of oppressive times. One such example is in Psalms Chapter 52 when David compares himself to the green olive tree. The context of chapter 52 is that of David fleeing for his life from Saul. While on the run David comes to Nob and meets Ahimelech the priest who feeds David and provides Goliath’s sword as a weapon. This act ultimately leads to Ahimilech being killed by Doeg the Edomite and King Saul.
While writing Psalms chapter 52, David is lamenting the evil done to Ahimelech. And yet, David doesn’t become consumed with bitterness and hatred at the evil shown. While he is acknowledging the wickedness done by Doeg and King Saul, instead of fixating on what was done, we find he turns his attention to the Lord. Choosing to “trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.”
David compares himself to that of a “green olive tree”. In the Strong’s Concordance that word green means:
-
- Prosperous
- Verdant
- New
- Flourishing
- Fresh
Despite the troubles in David’s life, he recognizes that he can still live a flourishing life as long as he has the Lord.
To better understand what David is saying, let’s look at some of the characteristics of an Olive Tree.
The average life span of an Olive tree is around 500 years.
Olive trees are certainly resilient. There is even an olive tree in the village of Al-Walaja near Bethlehem that is believed to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old.
Psalms 55:22 says “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Our only hope of being resilient in this day and age is to rely on the Lord for our sustenance. As long as we are continually casting our burdens and troubles onto the Lord, we have no need to worry about what may or may not happen in our lives. The Lord has promised to sustain us and to keep us from being moved.
Olives trees are drought friendly.
Once established, olive trees are able to handle dry conditions and lengthy periods of drought. However, younger trees with less developed root systems will need more frequent watering. This is why it is so important to establish ourselves and build a strong foundation on the Word of God.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 says “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”
Olive trees produce an abundance of fruit.
A mature olive tree can produce around 30 – 40 pounds of olives each year. And some of the oldest olive trees have been known to produce 400+ pounds of olives in a year. Those olive trees that have withstood the dry times end up producing such an abundance of fruit, that it makes the time of drought worthwhile.
Jesus says in John 15:4-5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Although we may go through dry desert times in our lives, as long as we are abiding in Jesus and trusting Him, He is more than able to bring forth “much fruit” in our times of drought.
The root system can regenerate even if the above ground tree is destroyed.
Olive trees are so resilient that even if the tree is extremely damaged or almost dead it can be revived. Although frost, drought, or even fire may affect the above ground wood. As long as the root system is unaffected the tree can regenerate.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 says “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
No matter what we may face in this life, and no matter how weak or broken we may feel. As long as our hope is in the Lord, we cannot be destroyed. Nothing and no one is a match for the Lord.
Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
The wood from the olive tree is valued for its beauty, rarity, and usefulness.
It is one of the hardest and most durable woods available. And it is considered to be at least 2 times as hard as oak.
Olive wood is easy to identify by its striking patterns and irregular shapes. The colors of olive wood tend to get more intense and beautiful over time. Olive wood also gives off a sweet, fruity aroma that seeps out of the wood for years and years.
Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
That word peculiar in the Strong’s Concordance means: special or being beyond usual.
We as Christians are to be different. We should live in such a way that we are easily identifiable with Christ. And we should strive to live our lives pleasing to the Lord. He gave His all for us, we should have no excuses in giving our all to Him.
Olive trees grow best where the soil drains well.
A well draining soil with good aeration is best for olive trees. Poorly drained or overwatered soil prevent roots from being able to absorb necessary oxygen. Which then progresses to a fungal disease that takes over the roots. If there is no place for the water to drain it will quite literally smother the roots. Eventually leading to the decay of the olive tree. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to identify root rot until it starts showing up outwardly on the olive tree.
It reminds me of Hebrews 12:15 where it says “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”
“Bitterness is the poison you drink expecting someone else to die.”
Bitterness will only cause misery. Our bitterness almost never affects those who have caused us harm, but almost always affects those who are closest to us. As hard as it is to forgive those we feel have done us wrong, bitterness if left in our lives will certainly destroy us.
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
The Lord tells us to forgive because He knows how much bitterness and unforgiveness will absolutely eat us alive. He knows what’s best for us, and He doesn’t want us to be miserable or cause those around us to be miserable. We should forgive not only because the Lord commands us to, but because it will allow us to move on with our lives. Bitterness and unforgiveness only keeps us in the past, and overshadows our future.
Even though David was on the run, fleeing for his life. He compares himself to a green olive tree because he knew that in spite of his troubling times, as long as he had the Lord he could continue. The same can be said in our lives, no matter what comes our way. No matter what health complication, what heartache, what persecution, what grief or loss we may experience in this life, we are not alone. As long as we have the Lord we can make it. It may not be easy, but the Lord has promised that He will be with us through it all.
Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
I hope this study has been an encouragement to you. If you have any questions or anything you’d like to add please feel free to comment below.
Abundantlee♥