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! )