Psalm 92:12-15
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
I recently learned that the oldest living thing on the planet is a bristlecone pine tree in California that is at least 4,600 years old and is aptly named Methuselah. This thing started growing before most cultures had recorded history. It shatters any conception we might have for a long life. Though it’s growth at this point is measured in millimeters per year it stands tall and proud as a symbol of the lifetimes that came before us and the lifetimes still to come.
In this Psalm, the tree is considered as something strong and flourishing. It is something that we should be trying to mimic in our faith. It has roots buried deep in God’s teaching. It grows tall as it reaches for the heavens. It is strong because it is fed by the word of the Lord. And though it reached maturity years ago it still bears good fruit that is able to encourage or sustain the people.
We all want to have the strength and longevity of a tree like this. We want our faith to be an ever-present reminder of where we are planted and why we are growing. While everyone of us, like every tree, will eventually pass away, the legacy we leave behind can have an impact for many generations to come.
Where are your roots planted? From what soil do you pull your nutrients and sustenance? As you age and grow tall what do you reach for?
Psalm 62:5, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”