Why You Should Want To Be Like An Olive Tree

Psalm 52:8-9
8 But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God's unfailing love
for ever and ever.
9 I will praise you forever for what you have done;
in your name I will hope, for your name is good.
I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

This portion of scripture is a beautiful depiction of the heart of David, the psalmist, to please God and make Him the focus of worship. Verses 8-9 are a contrast to verses 1-5 & 7 which speaks about the wicked. In those verses it is made clear that God will destroy the wicked for their evil deeds. In verses 8-9, David makes it clear that he will flourish because he has placed his hope and trust only in God and His love. Therefore, this psalm provides a stark contrast concerning the fruit of evil vs. the fruit of those who love and obey their God.

In verse 8, David likens himself to an olive tree that flourishes in the house of God. This is a rich illustration that offers us great insight into the blessing of God upon our lives when we make Him the object of our affections, worship and trust.

A flourishing olive tree speaks of many things. Typical of the Mediterranean where they grow, olive trees are a sign of life, abundance and fruitfulness, in an otherwise barren landscape. By nature, they are quite hearty with strong, deep roots. They are also known to be very sturdy – living for hundreds of years, and, in many cases, even over a thousand years. Olive trees thrive in either very dry or very wet weather and bear fruit every year. Technically, olive trees are evergreens and keep leaves all year long.

God wants our lives to be like the olive tree – full of life, abundant, strong with deep roots in Him, as well as living long fruitful lives. Psalm 1:3 says that those who delight in the law of God are like trees planted by streams of water, yielding fruit and growing leaves that don't wither, prospering in whatever they do. In Jeremiah 11:16, God said that he once called His people a thriving olive tree with fruit beautiful in form. This is a very honorable title He bestowed upon His people and one that He wants to bestow upon us today.

In terms of harvesting, there are a couple of different methods that are commonly employed. The first method, used particularly in ancient times, was to beat the tree with sticks causing the olives to fall on sheets. The olives harvested in this way were used, for among other purposes, the golden lampstand in the Temple in Jerusalem (see Leviticus 24:1-3).

The second method was to allow the olives to ripen and fall from the trees. These olives were pressed/crushed by feet or with the use of stone mortars and mills. Today, hydraulic presses are commonly used. The oil, then as now, is extracted from the fruit along with water and sediment. It is allowed to separate and is then drawn off and later stored. Multiple pressings of the fruit can be done to the derive oil of varying quality and uses in cooking, lamp oil, soap, and medicinal ointments. Olive oil has always been a very valuable fruit with many uses and was considered essential to life in biblical times. It is also frequently spoken of in scripture as used for anointing and figuratively represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit on our lives.

The harvesting and process of producing olive oil is rich in symbolism and meaning for our lives. The beaten olives and the crushing process remind us of how Christ was stricken by God, smitten and afflicted, pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and punished to bring us peace (Isaiah 53:4-5).

This beating and crushing process also speaks to us about our own afflictions, oppression, temptations and trials. During difficult times, just like the crushed/pressed olive, there are things that come out of us. When pressed, we either release the sweet smell of God's anointing from our lives or the putrid smell of sin.

The most precious "oil" of our lives comes from when we are severely tried yet still honor God and praise His name. This drives us into His presence where He becomes our habitation, refuge and fortress. The humble and loving disposition of our hearts, as well as the fruit of our lips (our praise, worship, and proclamation of His love and faithfulness), gives Him the highest degree of glory and honor. Our lives then become an offering, just like the offerings in the Old Testament, that has a sweet fragrant aroma. Our aroma then enters the Most Holy Place and richly blesses God. When in His presence we are one with Him. How sweet, intimate and deep a communion we have with the lover of our souls. This is the secret place, the secret place of the Most High. As we develop a longing and thirst for His presence, we flourish because we are connected with the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is our beloved and we are His.

There is no purer and holier desire than to be, metaphorically speaking, like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God. We are beckoned by God to love Him and to express that love with all our hearts and with everything within us. We must lay aside every ambition except to glorify God with all our being and to bear abundant fruit so we can present our lives and the fruit of it to The King. Our heart's desire should be as David's – to be like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God, trusting in His unfailing love, and praising Him forever in the presence of others because of His great deeds and holy name.


(See 1 Samuel for the background to and context of this psalm. However, here's a brief summary: David is on the run from King Saul and he went to Nob to see Ahimelech, the priest. He asked Ahimelech to provide him and his men with food. Ahimelech did not know that David was fleeing the king. Instead, he was led to believe that David was on a mission for the King Saul. Doeg, Saul's head shepherd, told the king that Ahimelech helped David. Doeg failed to tell the king that Ahimelech did not know that David was fleeing from him. King Saul was enraged and ordered Ahimelech and all the priests to be killed, but none of Saul's officials dared do it. So, Doeg killed Ahimelech and all the other priests as well. Out of this situation David writes this psalm and focuses, beyond the pain, on the One over the pain – God! )

The Transformational Cry

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

2 O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.

6 My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.

8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.


This is a beautiful psalm written by one who cried out to God, with a heart of humility, longing to be heard by the Most High.

The writer states that he cries out to God from the "depths". It is a place (in his heart and situation) that is like deep turbulent waters threatening to engulf and overwhelm with its fury. All of us find ourselves in situations like this at one time or another. While in the depths we are forced to cry out to God with all our might because we realize that He is the only one who can rescue us from all our troubles.

This is the most vulnerable place we can be in because we are either going to drown or be rescued. Everything is on the line. But, just like the psalmist, we come to completely depend upon God during this very threatening hour. Our cry to Him is birthed out of desperation, however, it is then transformed into one of faith and devotion. As we stand on His Word in faith, we will not drown. Our Lord uses the depths to lead us from despair to faith and trust in Him. He hears our cry and delivers us because He is faithful. He is a God of His Word!

When we see God move on our behalf we also see His nature – His holiness and the purity of His love, grace and mercy. How can this not move us? We come face to face with a totally righteous God. This causes us to realize our own unrighteousness which then humbles us and produces a holy fear for Him. Because He is a God who completely forgives and unconditionally loves us, the right response is to fall down in worship of Him with overwhelming love and gratitude in our hearts.

As love takes its rightful place in our hearts, we long for God's presence and eagerly await His embrace. More than watchmen who wait all night, we watch for our God. The watchmen waits because he is duty-bound, but we wait because we are love-bound. How enriched we become when such love drives us. In His presence is where we come to know the depth of His character and heart. It is here that we experience the fullness of His love and mercy which restores and fortifies our souls. He beckons us to come, as a lover beckons the one he loves.

Experiencing God in this way causes us to place all of our affections, trust and hope in Him. With the Lord is unfailing love and complete redemption. No one loves or redeems like our God. He alone is the one who saves and delivers us from the raging deep.

Set Your Face Like Flint and See God Provide The Victory!

Isaiah 50:7-8 – Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

There are many times in life when, through no fault of our own, we are at risk of being disgraced in some very real ways. It can be that we are under attack because of our testimonies, trials in our lives, etc. However, God will not allow His children, who love and obey Him, to be disgraced. We are assured that we have His help.

I recently wrote an article posted 5/9/10 on one of my other blogs (www.thepathoffaith.blogspot.com), titled "God is a Yasad". In that article I mentioned that our God, by His very nature, as well as by His actions, is a deliverer/rescuer. He loves us and promises to rescue us. His Word promises that He is a very present help in our time of need (Psalm 46:1). It also says that the Lord is with us so we don't have to be afraid (Psalm 118:6). And, because we belong to Him, we have the victory (1 Cor. 15:57). In addition, God promises that He will not leave or forsake us (Hebrew 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6). Be assured, God is with us, no matter what the situation, to protect and to reveal Himself to us, even in our most difficult hours.

When we go through seasons where life is on the edge, we must take that time as an opportunity to deliberately and wholeheartedly turn to God. By doing so, we turn away and say "NO" to ALL fears, anxieties, and thoughts of impending disgrace and ruin. If we don't do this, we will be overwhelmed and will succumb. I'm not diminishing the reality, seriousness, or enormity of such situations. However, this becomes the appointed hour in our lives to take a stand and refuse to look at the situation, circumstances and the seemingly "inevitable" failure that we face. Instead, we must only look to God. This is how we set our faces like flint. This is also the essence of faith.

Abraham is a wonderful example in this regard. In Genesis 15, God promises him a son and an heir, Isaac. Though Abraham's body was as good as dead and Sarah's womb was dead, he had faith that God would do exactly what He promised (Romans 4:19). Romans 4:18 says: "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…" Abraham refused to waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He promised (Romans 4:20-21).

The stakes were very high for Abraham. What a magnificent promise, yet seemingly so impossible to believe in, at least from a human point of view. Abraham had to choose what or who he would believe in - his fears or God. Abraham exercised some very real courage and chose to fully trust God and His promise, no matter how improbable hope may have seemed for his situation, at that time. By doing so, he set his face like flint against all doubt, fear and unbelief. He was absolutely undeterred in believing that God would be anything other than faithful to His Word. Because of his faith, Abraham received a very big reward. Not only did he receive a son and an heir, but his descendants are as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore (Hebrews 11:12).

Rather than weakening in his faith, Abraham's faith strengthened during this trial, according to Romans 4:20. This verse also says that he gave glory to God, meaning that he thanked and praised God for the promise, even before it was fulfilled. That is biblical faith! It is also the appointed way God has given all of us to obtain our victories. Psalm 50:14-15 says: "Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me".

Just as Abraham was strengthened in his faith during his trial, we too can experience great victory in any situation, no matter how dire, by doing the same. When we do, we will see God do amazing things in our lives – things that will take us to a deeper level of blessing and bring greater glory to Him.

God Wants You To Be His Delight!

Did you know that God not only loves you (John 3:16-17), has forgiven you (Romans 4:7-8), and has a future for you (Jeremiah 29:11), but He also wants to delight in you?

When we turn from our sins and trust completely in our God He sets in motion a whole series of blessings that cannot be contained. First, He chooses to not remember our sins anymore. He literally erases them from His mind and will never bring them up again. Hebrews 10:17 says: "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." By doing this, He restores us to the position of being able to receive from Him.

Second, He makes Himself known to us and gives us access to Him. John 14:21 states: "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Third, He restores us and shows us His mercy. Deuteronomy 30:2-3 says: "and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you..."

As a matter of fact, Deuteronomy chapter 30 provides us with a great understanding of the progressive restoration process God places us in when we forsake our sins and turn to Him. The truths in this chapter of scripture provide us with deep insights into the heart of God and His intentions/plans for us.

Fourth, He renews our love for Him by healing the deadening effects that sin has had in callousing our hearts. We don't have to worry about how to love God and how to conjure up emotion and feeling for Him. He is the one who gives us a new love for Him. Deuteronomy 30:6 states that: "The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live."

Fifth, God promises to prosper us and what we do. Verse 9 states: "Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land." Simply everything about our lives is blessed by God because He is a God of all blessing and He shares who He is and what He has with His children who love and obey Him.

Sixth, God promises to delight in us. In other words, He will take great pleasure in us and our lives. Also, He is full of joy for us, and is greatly satisfied with who we are. Verses 9b-10 say: "The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as He delighted in your fathers, if you obey the Lord your God and keep His commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul".

God desires, with all His heart, to delight in us and to bless our lives. As we delight in Him, He will delight in us. What a beautiful Savior, what a wonderful God! Read and meditate upon these truths in his Word, be blessed and experience His delight!

Have You Received The Obed-Edom Blessing?

Do you remember the story of Obed-Edom in 2 Samuel 6? As you may recall, King David assembled 30,000 men to bring the ark of God (where God's presence resided) by ox cart from Baalah to Jerusalem. As they transported it, David and the whole house of Israel celebrated with all their might before the Lord. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reach out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. Uzzah's act was irreverent and God struck him down because he treated that which was Most Holy in an unholy manner. King David became afraid of the Lord and was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. There it remained for three months. While it was there the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and his entire household.

So, Obed-Edom was entrusted with caring for the ark of God. In 2 Chronicles 25:24, he is described as one who had charge of the temple treasures. 1 Chronicles 15:16-21 tells us that Obed-Edom was a singer and worshipper. 1 Chronicles 16: 5, 38 says that he was a minister before the ark. He is also described as a guardian and doorkeeper in 1 Chronicles 26:4-8, 15. This was a good and holy man who had deep reverence for God.

It is obvious that Obed-Edom spent a lot of time on a regular basis, probably daily, worshipping God and ministering to Him when the ark was in his possession. Because of his devotion and service before the ark of presence, God richly blessed him and his household, as mentioned previously. 1 Chronicles 26:4-8, 15 bears this out in stating that his sons were blessed, respected, responsible men, who oversaw important tasks. There is no mystery as to why Obed-Edom was so blessed. It was because of his reverence, ministry, and worship before the ark of God. This was a man who was dutiful and sacrificial in attending to God.

God wants to bless us just like He blessed Obed-Edom. No one can help but be blessed when in the presence of the God of all blessing. Ephesians 1:3 says that we have every spiritual blessing in Christ. But, are we apprehending every blessing? Are we sacrificing our time worshipping Him and honoring His presence? When we do, expect to become an Obed-Edom. When we worship God, His presence is in, over and around our lives. He transforms, strengthens, and anoints us. His presence and blessing is so strong and radiant that it blesses those around us, as it did with Obed-Edom.

Obed-Edom was no novice worshipper. He was a man whose life was devoted to ministering before his God. He knew how to enter the secret place of the Most High. He also knew how to petition and pray because he devoted his life to doing so. We are all called to be Obed-Edoms. Our lives are to be defined as those who worship and minister in the presence of our God. When we do, we receive the Obed-Edom blessing!

The Power of the Names of God

The names of God are beautiful in representing God's character, as well as different aspects of His person. These names have been revealed to us so we can know about the incredible depth of our God and rely upon Him with regard to each of His attributes.

I have often meditated upon the names of God and have prayed calling upon each of these names. There is prophetic revelation that can be received when this is done. I encourage you to read the following list and meditatively consider, as well as call upon God utilizing these names. The names of God are powerful for standing strong in Him, overcoming the enemy in Christ, growing in our knowledge of Who God is, and for making petitions to the Father concerning the blessings that each of His names impart.

El Shaddai - The Lord God Almighty
El Elyon - The Most High God
Adonai - Lord, Master
Yahweh - Lord, Jehovah
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord My Banner
Jehovah Raah - The Lord My Shepherd
Jehovah Rapha - The Lord That Heals
Jehovah Shammah - The Lord Is There
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness
Jehovah Mekoddishkem - The Lord Who Sanctifies You
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Will Provide
Jehovah Shalom - The Lord Is Peace
Jehovah Sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts
El Olam - The Everlasting God

Expect the Holy Spirit to minister to you as your pray and meditate upon these names. Reciting and calling forth these names can be an important means through which your worship and praise is energized and to propel you into the Holy of Holies.

His names are powerful and mighty!

The Lord Really Is Our Rear Guard

I've been going through some very real stresses lately that have driven me even deeper and further in prayer. I think I have a pretty good prayer life, but it is getting better.

God spoke to me last night, after a very trying day, and led me to Isaiah 50: 7-8a which says: "Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near".

It is a wonderful truth that God will not let His children, who love and obey His commands (Jn 14:21), to be vanquished. He is the one who upholds us by His righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 gives us this wonderful promise and hope in stating: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand". After meditating upon this truth for about an hour, I entered into His presence with thanksgiving and praise. As a result, I truly was not encumbered by the effects of my very trying day. I became victorious because I entered into the presence of the Victorious King.

Isaiah tells us in 50:7b to set our faces like flint. God's presence changes our hearts which, in turn, causes us to change our disposition, which include even our facial expressions. Because the Lord helps us, we must dictate to our natural man/woman (our emotions and will) how it will act, regardless of the outward circumstances and situations. We overcome by entering into God and His Word, confessing His Truths, and then proclaiming it to our circumstances. Either our lives or circumstances (or both) will change because all things come under the authority of the Word, as we surrender those things and our lives to the Father. Watch Him change us and the world around us, when we take our stand on the Word of God.

God is our rear guard, side guard and vanguard. He is the one who preserves, protects, and causes us to live in victory.