Sunday, January 3, 2016

Can trees walk with the Lord?

Growing up in farm country and wooded areas with a purely Western mindset, I never really thought about our crops and the hedge apple trees doing much other than what we wanted them to do. We planted the crops, they grew, we harvested them, and we made a living from them. The Osage orange hedgerows protected the crops and homes from adverse weather and made for a cheap livestock fence.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
   let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
   let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
Let the trees of the forest sing,
   let them sing for joy before the Lord,
   for he comes to judge the earth.
I Chr 16:31-33

A shared purpose with a tree

But as I grow myself, it seems like the Lord has a purpose for the fields and the trees as well. Or David at least knew something about combining the total effort of all living things into a unity of praise. I like to think of my walk with the Lord being similar to the walk that each living thing also is doing in order to complete the purposes that we were made for including that of praise.

I think of trees having a walk the Lord. But one that is unimpeded by sin but bound to the constraints of this earth. And they have a walk much like the metaphorical walk with God that Enoch had. (Gen 5:24) They are continually showered with life sustaining rain and encouraged to grow with an unencumbered sun on the plains. They respond by bursting out of their seeds reaching out to the heavens to sing for joy. And the song is unique and harmonious with the rest of nature.

How can those lowly hedge trees be so grateful to produce so much fruit for making more trees, shelter for the wildlife, protection for the croplands, and so much more? They are valuable in craft circles for making archery bows, guitars, and harps. They just have a strong walk with the Lord reflecting His qualities.

Joy in this moment of life

May we find our praise in a walk with God that puts Him first in our lives. If we have to find examples in the simplest of God's creations, His truth will not be less because of it, So like David, let's ask that all the creation will rejoice, whether it be sea, the fields, the trees, or us because we all find joy in the life we have been given in a walk with the Lord. Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and brought us to this moment!

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