Bible Reading: Psalm 92
“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age: they shall be fat and flourishing;” – Psalm 92:12-14(KJV)
Living a righteous life presupposes your planting in the house of God as a believer. Two things are said about such person; you will flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. You are called as a believer to flourish in the presence of our God. Our calling is for flourishing not for suffering and failure. It is not in the character of our God to identify His followers by poverty and lack as some preach. Poverty and lack are not the fruits of righteousness, but abundance and God-induced prosperity.
We need to look at the two trees mentioned in today’s test. The palm tree is a known for its economic viability. From the palm tree comes multiple economic products such as Palm oil, body cream or pomade, palm wine, broomstick, palm kernel nuts and shell. These products from age to age commands economic values. The cedar is a very strong tree with great economic value. Woods from cedar are used for producing very solid furniture of high demand and it is also used for building houses. The fragrant wood from the cedar is also used as moth repellant. The palm tree and cedar can outlive generations and will continue to produce for a very long time if properly cultivated. They are firmly rooted to the ground and can resist storms over the years. A well nurtured palm tree can be very economically productive. The Cedar is known as one of the strongest wood in the forest, especially the cedar of Lebanon.
From the above analyses of the benefits of the palm tree and the cedar the use of the word “flourishing” gets clearer. The bible even affirms that “They shall still bring forth fruit at old age; they shall be fat and flourishing” Psalm – 92:14(KJV). When you are planted in the house of the LORD it means you belong to God’s household. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” – Ephesians 2:19(KJV). As a member of God’s household it is God’s responsibility to take care of those of His household. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” – 1 Timothy 5:8(KJV). God cannot deny the faith neither is God an infidel, so be rest assured God will take care of His own. That is why we will be fat and flourishing even at old age.
Dear reader, this is our privilege of redemption. If you have not surrendered your life appropriately to God, please do so in order for you to become a beneficiary of God’s sworn blessing for His household. The whole essence of our planting in the house of the LORD is clearly revealed in Isaiah 61:3(KJV), “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified” Your life as a believer is ordained to glorify God.
Prayer: Father, thank you for planting me and making me to flourish in your house
Bro. Joel Ezeugo