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According to some, they're only food       for beavers!

A tree is just a tree, isn't it? Aren't all of them good for wood and for burning?   Don't they mostly provide shade, and a place to climb, or tie things to?

They're good for lumber and good for fruit and nuts (careful now...) but whoever heard of eating a tree just for information??

I've heard it said that fish is a kind of brain-food, but even the most extreme naturalists don't advocate eating trees! Not even trees planted by the water are considered capable of imparting knowledge.

SO WHO SAID TREES WERE FOR EATING??

GOD said it, when he showed Adam the garden of trees, and for him NOT to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Gen2:17.   He still had all his ribs at that point, and it's debatable whether he knew about the critical (crucial) other tree (Tree of Life) at the time. Surely he would have sampled it, or recommended it to Eve, don't you think?

More than thirty different kinds of trees are named in the Bible: In addition to the majestic Cedars of Lebanon extolled in the Old Testament as building material for Solomon's Temple, there are also the Olive Tree and Fig Tree emphasized in the New Testament.

Now it's the Saints, the born-again believers ('trees of righteousness') who are building the spiritual temple!   See the analogy?

Algum tree - 2Chr2:8	Almond tree - Ecc12:5
Apple tree - SofS 2:3	Bay tree - Ps37:35
Box tree - Isa41:19	Chestnut - Gen30:37
Fir tree - Isa41:19	Hazel tree - Gen30:37
Juniper - 1K 19:4	Mulberry tree - 2Sam5:23
Myrtle tree - Isa41:19	Oak tree - Ezek6:13
Palm tree - Judg 4:5	Pine tree - Isa41:19
Pomegranate tree - 1Sam14:2	Poplar tree - Gen30:37
Shittah tree - Isa41:19	Sycamore tree - Lk 19:4
Vine tree - Numb 6:4	Willow tree - Ezek 17:5
Oil tree - Isa41:19

No pecan, no sequoia, no cherry, elm, or eucalyptus.

Noah used gopher wood to build the ark, and it's a star named "wormwood" causing the catastrophe in Revelation 8.   We don't really know what kind of tree Jesus hung on: some think it was a dogwood. The Greek word for 'cross' is "stauros" and reportedly didn't apply to two pieces of wood joined together, as is usually pictured, but was just a single stake or pole.

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree". Acts 5:30.

The Almond Tree   This "old-age" symbolism is found in Ecclesiastes 12:5, as is "the silver cord (umbilical?) be loosed", "the golden bowl be broken", and "dust shall return to dust". Nowadays we speak of "the pitcher that goes to the well too often", and when the "grinders" (teeth) are few, and the hearing is poor.

The Nebuchadnezzar Tree   This King of Babylon is called a tree in the 4th chapter of Daniel; a "tree" that would have an axe taken to it and be cut down to a stump.   Jesus said: "Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire". Mt3:10

The Jesse Tree   Jesse was the Father of David, and his 'family tree' leads all the way to Jesus. The Book of Isaiah, 11:1-10, uses this tree terminology when it says:"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots".

Joshua Tree   Because the name 'Joshua' in Hebrew translates to 'Jesus' in Greek, this can be interpreted as the 'Jesus Tree' and its sometime suggestive shape reminds some of the outstretched arms of Jesus on the cross. In the Old Testament Joshua was leading the Hebrews in their follow-up victory at Ai, Judg8:29, and he hanged their king on a tree until sunset.
The Joshua Tree National Park is in the Mojave Desert in Southern Calif.

The Dozen-Fruit Tree   From the final chapter of Revelation, 22:2, this tree produces twelve kind of fruit every month "and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations".   Like that other tree in the Garden of Eden, Gen3:24, it's also called 'the Tree of Life', and is found on both sides of the River of Life, so we know this is a symbolic tree instead of one that's tangible.

This concept of a tree with multiple fruit reminds us of our Christmas tradition of decorating a tree with assorted ornaments, and wise-man gifts to one another underneath -- to the "Christ within us", Phil 1:27. Those in Our 'One Family'.

Zacchaeus climbed a Sycamore tree to get a better look at Jesus. If you've ever climbed a fruit tree, like maybe a grapefruit with those long thorns, you'll realize the truth that it's easier to gather fruit from the lower branches, and you'll have to do some careful climbing if you want to harvest the whole tree.  Jesus is the Tree of Life that was in the Garden of Eden to begin with!

TREES THAT TALK and ARGUE !! REALLY?

These trees get into an argument, Judges 9:8, over who is going to be boss. Neither the olive, nor the fig, nor the vine tree, want the job and so the bramble wins out. The parable, told by Jotham, accurately describes the qualities of these particular trees. Does this account prepare us for the remarkable occasion when Jesus spoke to the fig tree in Mark 11:14, or for the time He hung on a tree?

Matthew, Mark, or Luke never mention it, but in John's Gospel, Jesus stated that He was the Vine, and we are the branches!   Calling himself a tree!   So, of course, logic compels us to recognize him also as that Tree of Life which was there in the Garden with God and Adam.   That's in addition to his being the Light of the World, the Living Bread, the Resurrection, Saviour, Lamb, etc.

Too bad all the false religions are simply barking up the wrong tree!

"And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it". Ezek17:24

"I see men as trees walking". Mark8:24. That's what the blind man said after Jesus laid hands on him, and I see it as the first step in opening our "eyes of understanding", Eph1:18, because after Jesus laid hands on him the second time, he saw clearly!

We all want to see clearly, of course; so maybe we should begin by seeing how we can be Trees of Righteousness,

and Jesus the Tree of Life!

"TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" - Isaiah 61:3

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."   Poet language is universal, as is teaching by analogy! If your heart is right, the Bible will read like God speaking to you in your own language, and the first fruit you'll taste is the Love, Joy, and Peace!

Jesus said "I and my Father are one.."   Jn10:30

The Two Tree's are ONE! The Jew & Gentile are ONE. Eph3:5. The male and female become ONE. The Old Covenant and the New Covenant are two halves of a whole. 1Cor12:13. When we eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (swallow & metabolize), we surely die unto ourselves and begin living for Him! Gal 2:20 Because, "by two it's established!" - Gen41:32.   Hallelujah!

The Pedigree Tree is a "family-tree" usually showing how the surname is handed down from father to the sons.

Surnames aren't used in the Old Testament though Isaiah 44:5 and 45:4 speaks of them. Neither do we see direct evidence of how the wife takes the name of the husband and utilizes the power-of-attorney. The generations of the Bible illustrate the importance of having a son to carry on the dynasty, just as we recognize today the need for a son to carry on the family name. The blessed virgin Mary probably did not have any brothers; which is to say, all her prior generations had at least one son in the family. Think about it! Now her son Jesus: "Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father" has enabled us to take the "Name above every name", Phil 2:9.   Glory!

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2006 © Prince of Peace Ministries, Inc. Permission is granted to freely copy these poems or unmodified Bible teachings in electronic form or in print. Freely I am giving, so freely pass it on!   Blessings!

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Last modified 28 February 2006 by Bob Smith.