A Note from DT
In Jeremiah 17:5-8 we find a contrast of two types of people symbolized by a shrub and a tree:
5 Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
The shrub symbolizes a person whose source in life is their own strength and does not trust in God. This is the one who is living under the curse. They are described as someone whose life is so led of fear that they miss out from stepping into the goodness and victory that God is desiring to release to them. The good comes and they do not see it. They are so focused on watching for that which could harm them that they are blind to the goodness that God has made readily available to them. Anxiety is a crippling disorder for so many people and those who suffer it often find themselves in a constant state of torment. They live under the delusion that God is not really with them and so they spend their life running from everything that they fear. They are compelled to catastrophize and plan the path of their life according to the way that feels the safest. Because of this, they are fruitless. This is the curse.
On the contrary the one who is blessed is described as a tree and they are the the one who put their trust in the Lord. I can’t think of a worse scenario for a tree than a drought. Jeremiah states that even when the worst case scenario does come the tree will still thrive and will continue to bear fruit. This is a profound statement about living a life of faith and trust in the Lord. No matter the natural conditions that come this tree is planted into something that never runs dry. It is not dependent on the conditions of the natural realm in order to thrive as God has called it to. This is the condition of those who trust in the Lord. They are fruit bearers. Their life is a blessing to all whom they encounter. Also, trees grow a lot slower than shrubs but they are not fearful about their progress. They live in the moment and feed upon the faithfulness of God and it is He who brings them into maturity.
God is calling His house into a place of maturity. We are called to bear heavenly fruit in every sphere of our lives. That fruit is meant to touch, inspire, and heal those who we come in contact with and it starts with us entering into this reality. This is not a religion…it’s the family business and it is our calling and our destiny to participate. Have faith, refuse to be driven by fear and put your trust in God… don’t act like a shrub, you’re a tree.
-DT
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