The Righteous Man

The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree...Psalm 92:12 (NIV)

Last year on our vacation, I had the pleasure of relaxing in a hammock tied between two Palm trees.  The weather was gorgeous.  The wind was blowing slightly.  The Palm trees provided just the right amount of shade from the blazing sun.  The ocean waves were rolling against the shore with such rhythm that I was lulled to sleep in just a few minutes.  You just don't get any more relaxing than that.

After my quick nap, it was off to walk on the beach and enjoy other sights and sounds of our vacation.  Quite honestly, I would have rather stayed a few more minutes and enjoyed the shade of the trees and the comfort of the hammock, but I had too many other things that needed to be done at the time.  Such is the life of a vacation.

In our verse above, I've often wondered why the Lord compared the righteous man (or Christian) to the Palm Tree.  Why a tree?  Couldn't we be compared to something more impressive or majestic?  Surely, the Lord could think of something better than a Palm tree?

Now that my curiosity was peeked, I decided to read what I could find about Palm trees.  After all my reading, the comparison between a righteous man and the palm tree became obvious:

1)  Palm trees won't grow well in filthy soil.  It's important for the soil to be clean for a palm tree to flourish.  How important, as Christians, that we also learn that we must lead a clean life and have a firm foundation to flourish.  Trash in and trash out.

2)  Palm trees are impressive to look at and guide others to an oasis.  They're strong; tall and impressive.  They stand out on the beach or wherever they are planted.  They don't look like other trees.  As Christians, our life should also stand out in the crowd. Not in an arrogant way, but in a way that when others see us, they see a difference.

3)  Palm trees grow from the inside out.  Most trees grow from the outside-in which is why you can count the rings on the inside trunk of a tree to know how old the tree is.  Not a palm tree; it grows from the inside-out.  When we accept Christ as our savior, we are a new creature in Christ.  We grow from the inside.

4)  Palm trees grow in bunches for support.  Most of the time, you'll see palm trees in groups leaning on each other for support.  As Christians, not only do we lean on His Word, but we lean on each other.  We need Christian fellowship; if not in a church setting, at least with other Christian friends.

 

5)  Palm trees never stop bearing leaves.  As long as the tree is alive, new leaves and fruit are produced.  Likewise, we should never stop doing the Lord's work, whatever that may be that He has called us to do.

Where is your Christian Walk today?  It's not so bad afterall to be compared to a Palm tree.