"The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree..."

"The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon."

(Psalm 92:12 NKJV)

    The psalmist describes the righteous as flourishing like a palm tree. Where do palm trees typically grow? In hot, dry, sometimes harsh conditions, right? Yet they flourish! How? By reaching their roots deep down into the ground in search of life-sustaining resources! When they find it they anchor themselves on that stream of nourishment and soon become an oasis for parched souls seeking reprieve from the relentless heat of the desert!

    We, too, had to stretch and reach our roots in search of life-sustaining nourishment. When we dug our roots into God's Word (Ephesians 5:10, 17) we found the living water - the very fountain of life (John 4:14; 7:37-39, Isaiah 55:1-3) and we anchored our roots there, gaining nourishment (Matthew 5:6) and strength (Philippians 4:11-13) to weather any condition (2 Corinthians 12-9-10, Jeremiah 17:7-8)!! We soon become an "oasis" in the world's desert - a place where people find relief as we share with them the living water from God (Matthew 5:13-16), in hopes that they too may dig in and anchor themselves in the pure source of truth, wisdom, and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3, John 14:6; 17:17)!

    The psalmist goes on to describe the righteous person as growing like a cedar in Lebanon. Cedars from Lebanon were specifically sent for and used in the constructing of both the king's palaces and the temple (2 Samuel 5:11, 1 Kings 5:2-10, 2 Chronicles 2:3-16). They were known for being very strong, having a pleasant fragrance, being easy to work with and shape, having ability to weather storms with minimal shrinkage or distortion, and resisting decay. They were sought after for both their beauty and their strength.

We, as Christians, are known by our fragrance (2 Corinthians 2:14-17), an aroma that is pleasing to God (Ephesians 5:1-2). We have hearts that can be worked with and shaped/transformed (Romans 12:1-2, Isaiah 64:8), through God's blessings we have strength to weather the storms of life and because of His blessings we are not distorted or jaded by the troubles we endure, and we do all we can to resist the decay of sin (James 4:7, Psalm 119:59-60; 67-69, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 15:58; 16:13-14)!

Now, consider for a moment King David's prayer for the people who would be blessed by God, specifically what he said about females: "...that our daughters may be as pillars, sculpted in palace style." (Psalm 144:12) David's envisioned the women serving God as being strong like the cedars from Lebanon that supported his dwelling, and able to bear up with elegance - they would be useful, strong, and beautiful (1 Peter 3:3-4, Proverbs 31)! 

Keep digging your roots into God's holy word, drink from the living water, anchor your roots in God's Truth! Let your faith continue to flourish as you study and obey so you can be an oasis for a parched soul lost in sin! Stand tall, be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10), and bear up under your burdens with elegance!

You can do it! So can I!!